Pre-Auction Analysis: May 23rd 2021, Christie’s Hong Kong, Magnificent Jewels

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 Christie’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.

Christie’s Hong Kong, Magnificent Jewels, May 23rd 2021 

Lot #2011

15.81 carats, Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink, Cushion, IF

A similar diamond enters the market once every… Check Rarity Here

High catalog estimation: $2,403,542  per carat

Price realized: $1,843,367

A large and exceptional Pink diamond with ~40% purple hue in the color mix. The considerable contribution of the purple modifier creates an attractive “sweet” and tender chroma, aligned with how most people expect a pink diamond to be. The 56% depth percentage makes the stone look larger than its weight. However, the same shallow facet alignment reveals some colorless patches under the table and in the crown area. Surprisingly, the GIA report indicates a double laser inscription of the same number on the stone.     

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 10+ out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 15.81 ct, F.V.P/P, CU, IF, Click here 

Lot #1993

4.19 carats, Fancy Vivid Pink, Heart, VVS1 

A similar diamond enters the market once every… Check Rarity Here

High catalog estimation: $1,789,967 per carat

Price realized: $1,556,942 pc

A Fancy Vivid Pink heart shape, with a significant amount of internal graining and a considerable number of colorless areas on the face up view. This is as a result of the traditional facet alignment. The pink undertone is slightly warm although pleasant. 

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 8 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 4.19 ct, F.V.P, HS, VVS1, Click here 

Lot #1936

31.17 carat, Fancy Vivid Yellow, Emerald, VS2

A similar diamond enters the market once every… Check Rarity Here

High catalog estimation: $48,123 per carat

Price realized: $68,964 pc

A large Fancy Vivid Yellow square Emerald-cut diamond with average visual assets. 

The “Excellent” Polish and Symmetry grades on the GIA report give the feeling that the stone is made perfectly. However, in Fancy Color Diamonds, the visual contribution of this grade is negligible and therefore poses a great challenge in the attempt to create high color dispersion, as seen in this case.

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 9 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 31.17 ct, F.V.Y, EM, VS2, Click here 

Lot #1992

2.02 carat, Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink, Pear, SI1 

A similar diamond enters the market once every… Check Rarity Here 

High catalog estimation: $569,306 per carat

Didn’t reach the minimum

A Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink Pear Shape diamond, with a low Inner-Grade, bordering to the Intense grade. The cold Undertone contributed by the purple modifier gives a very pleasant appearance. The SI1 clarity is scattered under the table. Buyers of this lot will need to consider renewing the GIA report dated from 2013.    

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 8 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 2.02 ct, F.V.P/P, PS, SI1 Click here 

Lot #1991

3.18 carat, Fancy Gray-Blue, Pear, VS2 

High catalog estimation: $110,062 per carat

Price realized: $131,632 pc

A Fancy Gray-Blue Pear shape with a high 71% depth percentage, making the stone appear smaller, relative to its weight. 

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score N/A

To review the GIA Report of 3.18 ct, F.G/B, PS, VS2, Click here 

Lot #1916

4.02 carat, Fancy Vivid Yellow, Pear, VS1 

An extremely small number of similar diamonds enter the market yearly… Check Rarity Here 

High catalog estimation: $167,442 total

Price realized: $305,893 total

A Fancy Vivid Yellow Pear-Shape with no green or brown Undertone, exhibiting an absolute yellow hue. The color dispersion is high with very few colorless patches. The depth percentage is high and creates a smaller look relative to the stone’s weight. 

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 11 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 4.02 ct, F.V.Y, PS, VS1 Click here 

Lot #1989

1.02 carat, Fancy Intense Pink, Pear, SI2

An extremely small number of similar diamonds enter the market yearly… Check Rarity Here 

High catalog estimation: $225,490 per carat

Price realized: $220,975 pc

A Fancy Intense Pink with an attractive cold purple Undertone and a strong Inner-Grade. The color dispersion is very high, leaving no colorless patches on the face-up view of the diamond. The SI2 clarity is due to several feathers surrounding the stone. 

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 11 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 1.02 ct, F.I.P, PS, SI1, Click here 

Lot #1984

3.36 carats, Fancy Intense Yellow, Round, IF

3.30 carats, Fancy Intense Yellow, Round, VS1 

High catalog estimation: $28,528 per carat

Price realized: $24,173 pc

Two Round, brilliant Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds, with matching visual assets excluding the Undertone. The 3.30 carat has a millimeter deviation within the radius, which impairs the integrity of the circle. Color dispersion is low and the Inner-Grade is above average. 

Visual Assets

To review the GIA Report of 3.36 ct, F.I.Y, RS, IF Click here 

To review the GIA Report of 3.30 ct, F.I.Y, RS, VS1 Click here 

Total Average Score 7.5 out of 12

Lot #1905

10.17 carat, Fancy Yellow, Heart, VS2 

An extremely small number of similar diamonds enter the market yearly… Check Rarity Here 

High catalog estimation: $6,391 per carat

Price realized: $10,289 pc

A large Fancy Yellow Heart Shape, with a very low depth percentage (38%). Due to the fact that the stone’s pavilion receives a significant amount of reflection from the gold surrounding it, it is impossible to gauge the color inner-grade. The colorless patches are quite visible in the table area. 

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score N/A

To review the GIA Report of 10.17 ct, F.Y, HS, VS2 Click here 

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.