Due to marketing and trade patterns, there is a bit of competition between gemstones and coloured diamonds. Supply is definitely a factor. In one of the estimates, it is said that less than 2% of all gemstones are can be considered fancy coloured diamonds, while white and colourless diamonds are so common that they are considered mass market consumer goods. This is especially true among smaller carat sizes.
The rarity of fancy coloured diamonds allows for some of them to go for more than £100,000 per carat. In fact, at private invitation on auctions by some of the mines, bids of more than £200,000 have been reported for fancy pink and reddish coloured diamonds. It has been a passionate fight among connoisseurs for such stones as they are widely regarded as the non plus ultra of status symbols.
Top gemstones are sold at equally high amounts as well. Like in the case of rare rubies, especially Burmese stones of three carats and above will only be made available at specialty auction events with prices rivalling that of the pink diamonds.
In the case of rare and truly real Kashmir sapphires, they are pegged at £100,000 per carat when they are available in the market at all. Tiffany and Christie auctions continue to push the mark higher for these stones whenever they appear. Even in the 2–10 carat range of brown and chocolate diamonds they compete fiercely for market share against emeralds and sapphires.
In the end, the ultimate winner is the consumer who has a unique piece of jewellery and the retailer who keeps a healthy mark up on the stones due to the lack of price list for direct comparison. Since coloured diamonds can’t be as exactly graded as expensive colourless diamonds, their value is more volatile.
Mar 31, 2014
New Price Records at Christie’s in Hong Kong Auction
 |
| This Burmese ruby and diamond Flora necklace by Bulgari earned $3.79 million. CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2011 |
Results were described as robust with 86% purchased by lot – 266 of 309 lots offered. The top lot of the auction was a circular-cut D Flawless diamond rivière comprising 52 stones that weigh an overall total of 105 carats. It was sold to an exclusive Asian collector for $8. 14 million (HK$62. 8 million) along with buyer’s premium, within its $7. 26 – 9. 33 million (HK$56 – 72) estimation.
It was followed by a Burmese ruby and diamond necklace by Hong Kong-based jeweller Etcetera, which weighs an overall total of 87. 8 cts. At $6. 4 million (HK$49. 4 million), including buyer’s premium. The jewellery was also sold to private Asian collector, made a new world record price for a ruby necklace last November 26.
Another new record was set by lot 2063, an oval-shaped fancy intense orange pink VVS1 clarity diamond of 12. 9 cts. The coloured diamond is set within a brilliant-cut diamond border with a pear-shaped diamond surround, and is mounted in a platinum and 18k rose gold ring. The item release for $4. 95 million (HK$38. 2 million) with buyer’s premium, within its $4.28 – 6.48 million (HK$33 – 50 million) appraisal. The piece sets the record price for an orangey pink diamond, as well as the per-carat price for an orangey pink diamond.
The showstopper from this event was Lot 2048. A stunning rare purple star sapphire, tsavorite garnet and diamond ring by Wallace Chan. Its estimate of between £54. 8 – 71k ended up being totally smashed when the hammer dropped at £85, 072. The star, or asterism, is due to the needle-like crystals of rutile that have formed parallel to the crystal faces so that when cut en cabochon will form a 4 or 6 ray star. These are superb stones and to get a purple one is quite unusual. Set with green garnets (tsavorites) and also diamonds, with the shank surrounded with scroll titanium inlay is a very attention grabbing jewel, created by one of Asia’s most talented jewellery designers. This is a present any woman would like to find in her Christmas stocking.
Mar 25, 2014
Ruby, Birthstone for July
Nobody trully knows where the origins of the birthstone came from. Rubies have been found in both western antiquity along with in ancient asian traditions. However numerous believe that the concept of the birthstone was based with the book of Exodus, where there is a list of twelve precious stones, one for each and every tribe of Israel – here is the first time Ruby is put against the month of July.
Rubies had been worn and with all this month as they were thought to improve the wearer’s decision making powers and also to give the person physical energy – subsequently why these were worn and even now are by many monarch! People also used to believe that when the ruby you have been wearing turned dark red it meant that you were in mortal risk! In the last hundred years however the ruby has tackled on a lot more romantic meaning as it's been given to improve passion, vitality and also confidence by lovers wooing their intended! Maybe this is why rubies are becoming prominent by and by to have in an engagement ring, either on its own or as a centre piece.
Rubies are certainly very expensive, often much more costly than diamonds, thus not just about all pockets run deep enough. With the fame of fine rubies growing, and their supply not keeping up with the demand, the expense of high grade, clean rubies is proving to become an astounding investment opportunity.
Some Famous Rubies In History
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)