Magnificent Jewels & The Pink Supreme
Our Christie’s Magnificent Jewels & The Pink Supreme Pre-Auction Analysis focuses on elements that are not always visible to the untrained eye. We discuss characteristics such as Inner-Grade, Color Dispersion, and Undertone – collectively termed IDU. Professionals use the IDU method intuitively when analyzing a Fancy Color Diamond. The acronym we use makes these elements easier to remember.
Members who read this analysis should see it as a valuable supplement to the GIA report. A detailed explanation of the FCRF’s grading methodology can be found at the end of this article. We recommend reviewing it closely to broaden one’s professional vocabulary for describing fancy color diamonds to clients.
Please note that we analyze and grade diamonds under LED lights and relative to their grade on the GIA report.
The Grades
We use grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, with 1 being the lowest grade. Grade “4+” is granted in rare cases and denotes diamonds with exceptional characteristics. Diamonds that receive a minimum total IDU score of 9 without a red remark pass the industry premium 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 jewelers and collectors.
For your convenience, we have added direct links to diamonds’ GIA reports and FCRF rarity stats.
- All images in this analysis were taken with an iPhone 13 Pro; no filters were applied.
- All auction valuations are per-carat and listed in US Dollars.
- The FCRF evaluates chosen diamonds during each auction based on expert judgments.
Disclaimer
This analysis reflects the opinions of the FCRF professional team. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or not buy a particular diamond. Buyers assume the responsibility of verifying any information with the auction house. At times, mistakes can happen in the visual analysis and report placement. Therefore, one should not rely solely on this analysis for buying purposes.
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Lot: 1866
Description: A pair of earrings with 3.62 and 3.31 ct, Fancy Intense Yellow old round brilliant cut diamonds.
Analysis:
A pair of earrings featuring yellow and colorless diamonds set in a symmetrical inverted design. All four diamonds, both yellow and colorless, appear to have been polished in the first half of the 20th century. The color dispersion in the yellow diamonds is low, a typical characteristic of round brilliant shape diamonds. The inner-grade is not strong, and there are no brown or green undertones present in the hue.
- all other yellow diamonds don’t have a GIA report.
High Auction Estimation: $51,750 pc
Price Realized: $32,679 pc
Visual Assets (3.62 ct, Fancy Intense Yellow):
Inner Grade..……………….2
Color Dispersion.……….1
Undertone..…………………3
Total Visual Score….6 out of 12
Visual Assets (3.31 ct, Fancy Intense Yellow):
Inner Grade..……………….2
Color Dispersion.……….1
Undertone..…………………3
Total Visual Score….6 out of 12
Quality Remark: low dispersion
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Lot: 1870
Description: A pair of pink and blue heart Shape diamonds with a 1.30 ct, Fancy Blue, Heart, SI2 and a 1.26 ct, Fancy Purplish Pink, Heart, I1.
Analysis:
The 1.26-carat fancy purplish-pink heart-shaped diamond with a low inner-grade. The indented natural on the crown is visible to the naked eye. The pink color sensation is pleasant, with no brown or gray undertone. The 1.30-carat fancy blue heart-shaped diamond has a pleasant color and dispersion. Both diamonds are covered with a gold cup on the bottom, so please note that our ability to conduct a responsible analysis is limited.
High Auction Estimation: $75,047 pc
Price Realized: $___ pc
Visual Assets (1.3 ct, Fancy Blue):
Inner Grade..……………….3
Color Dispersion.……….3
Undertone..………….………3
Total Visual Score….9 out of 12
Visual Assets (1.26 ct, Fancy Purplish Pink):
Inner Grade..……………….2
Color Dispersion.……….3
Undertone..………….………3
Total Visual Score….8 out of 12
Quality Remark: I1/SI2 clarity
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Lot: 1872
Description: A ring with 2.01 ct, Fancy Vivid Blue, Cushion, VS2. 2 ct, Fancy Vivid Pink, Cushion, VS2. 1.01 ct, Fancy Intense Purple-Pink, Cushion, SI1 and 1.01 ct, Fancy Intense Blue, Cushion, VS1.
Analysis:
A double ‘Toi et Moi’ ring with two pink and two blue fancy color diamonds, each with intense and vivid saturations.
- The 2.01-carat vivid blue cushion cut diamond appears to have a low inner-grade and a colorless crown. Notably, no gray undertone is visible, exhibiting an absolute blue color. Its symmetry is graded as Fair, and recutting the diamond to achieve a higher grade will likely reduce its weight below the 2-carat mark.
- The 2.00-carat fancy vivid pink cushion cut diamond has a low inner-grade, a colorless crown, and presents a pleasant, cool pink sensation.
- A 1.01-carat fancy intense purple-pink cushion cut diamond with pointed corners and high dispersion. Its SI1 clarity results from a feather surfacing near the table. Pink diamonds with a purple modifier, such as this one, typically exhibit a cold and pleasant undertone.
- A 1.01-carat fancy intense blue cushion cut diamond with a gray undertone, offering a different color sensation compared to the adjacent vivid blue diamond.
High Auction Estimation: $1,064,503 pc
Price Realized: $4,708,304 Total
Visual Assets (2.01 ct, Fancy Vivid Blue):
Inner Grade..……………….1
Color Dispersion.………3
Undertone..…………………4
Total Visual Score….8 out of 12
Visual Assets (2 ct, Fancy Vivid Pink):
Inner Grade..……………….1
Color Dispersion.………3
Undertone..…………………3
Total Visual Score….7 out of 12
Visual Assets (1.01 ct, Fancy Intense Purple-Pink):
Inner Grade..……………….3
Color Dispersion.………4
Undertone..…………………4
Total Visual Score….11 out of 12
Visual Assets (1.01 ct, Fancy Intense Blue):
Inner Grade..……………….3
Color Dispersion.………4
Undertone..…………………2
Total Visual Score….9 out of 12
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Lot: 1910
Description: 3.51 ct, Fancy Vivid Blue, Pear, VS2.
Analysis: An elongated (1.67 ratio) vivid blue pear shape diamond with a solid inner-grade and a small amount of gray undertone in the hue. The crown area is mostly colorless.
High Auction Estimation: $2,407,407 pc
Price Realized: $1,837,065 pc
Visual Assets (3.51 ct, Fancy Vivid Blue):
Inner Grade..……………….3
Color Dispersion.………3
Undertone..…………………3
Total Visual Score….9 out of 12
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Lot: 1911
Description: 15.48 ct, Fancy Intense Pink, Cushion, IF.
Analysis: Important fancy color diamonds from the mid-20th century are considered rare finds. This large pink oval diamond was cut at a time when only one polishing method was known, and the presence of color was merely incidental. Consequently, the color dispersion on the face-up view of this diamond is very low and does not realize its full potential. A side view reveals a very pleasant pink hue, indicating the diamond’s true potential to exhibit a fully colored face-up appearance if polished correctly.
Diamonds that could significantly improve in value after a recut procedure usually attract more interest from wholesale bidders than from private collectors, who often seek spontaneous purchases at auctions.
High Auction Estimation: $839,793 pc
Price Realized: $695,595 pc
Visual Assets (15.48 ct, Fancy Intense Pink):
Inner Grade..……………….2
Color Dispersion.……….1
Undertone..…………………4
Total Visual Score….7 out of 12
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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 diamond.
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 diamond with a warm undertone (such as orange or brown) will receive a low undertone grade. A pink diamond 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 diamond 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 diamond as even. A diamond with many colorless areas will receive the grade 1, while a diamond 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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