Sotheby’s Hong Kong, Important Jewels & Handbags, July 9th, 2021
As most of the industry has been prevented from traveling to Hong Kong during this challenging period, this Auction Analysis could help those who would like to bid without physically inspecting the goods.
Our Sotheby’s Hong Kong Pre-Auction Analysis focuses on elements that are hidden from the unprofessional eye. We will describe the important visual elements for those who cannot attend the preview and discuss characteristics such as: Undertone, Color Dispersion, and Inner-Grade (UDI; a detailed explanation appears at the bottom of this article). We analyze and grade Fancy Color Diamonds relative to their GIA grade.
We use grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, 1 being the lowest grade. Grade “+” is granted in rare cases and stands for stones with an exceptional characteristic. Stones that receive a minimum total UDI score of 8, without a red remark, pass the industry threshold and can be traded easily. Fancy Color Diamonds that are graded 10 or above, (without a quality remark) are usually sought after by high-end jewelry brands, collectors and the investment community.
For your convenience, we have added direct links for the GIA reports.
- All images in this article review were taken with an iPhone 12 pro, no filters were applied.
- All auction valuations are per carat and in US Dollars.
Lot: 1827
Description: 3.81 ct, Fancy Purplish Pink, Pear
And a pair of triangular-cut Fancy Blue diamonds, 0.31 ct VVS1 and 0.29 ct VVS2
High Auction Estimation: $966,338 Total
Didn’t reach the minimum
GIA Report: View
Analysis: A Fancy Pink Pear-shape with a color-only report dated 2012. The inclusions in the stone are visible to the naked eye and the fluorescence seems to be Strong Blue. The Fancy Blue triangles flanking the pink Pear shape, appear to have a significant gray undertone.
Visual Assets:
Inner Grade Hue |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
|
3.81 ct, Fancy.P/P, PS |
3 |
2 |
3 |
Color- only report. I1 clarity, strong blue |
Inner Grade Hue |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
|
A pair of triangular-cut Fancy Blue diamonds, 0.31 ct VVS1 and 0.29 ct VVS2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
Gray undertone is visible |
Total Average Score 7.5 out of 12
Lot: 1707
Description: 1.01 ct, Fancy Pink-Purple, Radiant, SI1
High Auction Estimation: $76,519 pc
Price realized: $68,124 pc
GIA Report: View
Analysis: A purple diamond with approximately 40% pink hue in the color mix. The stone depth is 58% which gives the stone a large appearance relative to its weight.
Visual Assets:
Inner Grade Hue |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
|
1.01 ct, F.P/P, Rad, SI1 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
Total Visual Score 11 out of 12
Lot: 1809
Description: 17.01 ct, Fancy Vivid Yellow, Radiant, VS1
High Auction Estimation: $53,015 pc
Didn’t reach the minimum
Rarity: An extremely small number of similar diamonds enter the market yearly… Check Rarity Here
GIA Report: View
Analysis: A large Vivid Yellow cushion cut diamond set in a semi-open gold cup which positively impacts the inner-grade. Dark colorless patches are scattered around the crown. The diamond’s hue exhibits a primary yellow hue with no green or brown undertone.
Visual Assets:
Inner Grade Hue |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
|
17.01 ct, F.V.Y, Rad, VS1 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
– |
Total Visual Score 10 out of 12
Lot: 1749
Description: 8.15 ct, Fancy Vivid Yellow, Cushion, VS1
High Auction Estimation: $50,588 pc
Didn’t reach the minimum
Rarity: A small number of similar diamonds enter the market yearly… Check Rarity Here
GIA Report: View
Analysis: An elongated Fancy Vivid Yellow cushion cut diamond with high grade on all three visual assets. Although mounted in yellow gold, the inner-grade seems to be above average. The color is well dispersed across the face up view of the stone and no green or brown undertone is visible in the hue, exhibiting a primary yellow.
Visual Assets:
Inner Grade Hue |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
|
8.15 ct, F.V.Y, CU, VS1 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
Total Visual Score 11 out of 12
Lot: 1746
Description: 3.18 ct, Fancy Vivid Yellow, Radiant, IF
High Auction Estimation: $32,404 pc
Price realized: $33,156 pc
Rarity: A small number of similar diamonds enter the market yearly… Check Rarity Here
GIA Report: View
Analysis: A Vivid Yellow radiant cut with solid inner-grade, a subtle undertone and some colorless patches surrounding the crown. Buyers should be aware the GIA is dated 2010
Visual Assets:
Inner Grade Hue |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
|
3.18 ct, F.V.Y, Rad, IF |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Total Visual Score 9 out of 12
Lot: 1826
Description:
5.01 ct, Fancy Yellow-Green, Pear, I1
4.01 ct, Fancy Yellow-Green, Pear, VS2
High Auction Estimation: $28,559 pc
Didn’t reach the minimum
GIA Reports:
5.01 ct, F.Y/G, PS, I1 – View
4.01 ct, F.Y/G, PS, VS2 – View
Analysis: Two Fancy Yellow Green pear-shaped diamonds with a high compatibility. In fact, looking at the identical color, the matching Very Strong fluorescence grade and the GIA date of issue, it is reasonable to assume they were cut and polished from the same rough. One stone has an I1 clarity which is visible to the naked eye.
Visual Assets:
Inner Grade Hue |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
|
5.01 ct, F.Y/G, PS, I1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
I1 – VISIBLE |
Inner Grade Hue |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
|
4.01 ct, F.Y/G, PS, VS2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
– |
Total Average Score 9 out of 12
Lot: 1706
Description: 2.07 ct, Fancy Intense Yellowish Green, Cushion, VS2
High Auction Estimation: $87,591 Total
Didn’t reach the minimum
GIA Report: View
Analysis: A Green Fancy Color Diamond with a ~15% yellow modifier in the color mix. The inner-grade is high, the undertone meets our expectations from the GIA report and the color dispersion is perfect. The strong Green fluorescence will intensify the green hue under direct sunlight, a fact that will grant a premium to the price in this case.
Visual Assets:
Inner Grade Hue |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
|
2.07 ct, F.I.Y/G, CU, VS2 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
– |
Total Visual Score 12 out of 12
General
We use 1, 2, 3, 4, and 4+ to grade the three visual elements that GIA is silent about, although they impact the value dramatically.
Inner-Grade refers to the strength of color within each GIA saturation category:
Grade 1 weakest, bordering the saturation below.
Grade 2 weak (most common).
Grade 3 full-bodied color (above average).
Grade 4 very strong saturation.
Grade 4+ applies to the vivid category only, exhibiting the strongest possible saturation (rarely seen).
Undertone refers to a subtle hue influence in the body color of the stone.
For example:
A Fancy Blue Diamond with a significant gray presence in its general appearance will be graded with a low undertone grade of 1. A Fancy Blue that has no gray influence that is close to a primary blue will receive the grade, 4.
In a Pink Fancy Color Diamond, a stone with a warm undertone (such as orange or brown) will receive a low undertone grade. A pink stone with a cold undertone (such as purple) will receive a high grade.
In Yellow Fancy Color Diamonds, low foreign influence or a light orange influence will grant the stone a high undertone grade. When the yellow undertone looks like a true primary yellow, it will receive the rare grade 4+. Green and brown undertones will grant a low grade in the yellow category.
Color Dispersion relates to how well the color is dispersed in the face-up view of a Fancy Color Diamond, regardless as to whether the GIA grades the stone as even. A stone with many colorless areas will receive the grade 1, while a stone that exhibits its face-up view with no colorless patches will receive the grade 4+. Unlike the first two elements, the color dispersion is not a gemological quality and is the result of cutter proficiency.
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