The Rarest of the Rare

Though many things on earth are considered rare, natural blue diamonds are truly among the rarest of the rare.

Leading Fortuna’s upcoming December 6th Magnificent Jewels Auction, is a spectacular 3.05 carat Fancy Intense Blue diamond ring. Offered for sale from a private Asian collection, this exceptionally rare diamond is a pear-shaped cut, with even color saturation, and a clarity grade of SI2. It is accompanied by a 2018 certificate from the Gemological Institute of America.

As with all natural fancy colored diamonds, color hue and intensity are the top priorities when it comes to determining value. While the clarity grade is still an important factor, it is the color that makes these diamonds the most rare and valuable of all gemstones.

Occurring in less than 0.02% of diamonds mined, blue diamonds gain their color from the presence of the element boron. Arguably the most famous gemstone in the world, the Hope Diamond is one of the largest natural blue diamonds known to man.

While many collectors own large colorless diamonds and Fancy Yellow diamonds (the most common of the colored diamonds), the opportunity to own a Fancy Intense Blue diamond from a private collection is quite extraordinary.

Lot 311, An Important 3.05-Carat Fancy Intense Blue Diamond Ring; Estimate $1,200,000 - $1,800,000

Investing in Colored Diamonds

Blue diamonds have continued to show a strong and steady increase in value, as can be seen in the graph below. When analyzing the performance of similarly sized Fancy Intense Blue diamonds at auction in the past thirteen years, the average price per carat has increased by more than 500%.

In addition, not only are diamonds—especially colored diamonds—some of the rarest and most valuable treasures on earth, they are also amongst the smallest. Historically, diamonds and gemstones have been collected by affluent families and individuals because of their high transportability.

In times of global economic stability, diamonds are often looked to as one of the best transportable forms of wealth. Whether it was a royal family fleeing their country in times of upheaval, or someone escaping a natural disaster, diamonds played a vital role in allowing them to transport their wealth and re-establish themselves after leaving nearly everything behind.

Lot 311, An Important 3.05-Carat Fancy Intense Blue Diamond Ring; Estimate $1,200,000 - $1,800,000

Next Steps

Whether you are considering acquiring a blue diamond for investment purposes only, as a gift for a loved one, or as an addition to your private collection, how and where you make your purchase has a strong influence on the price you pay.

If you want to find the best method to purchase a high value item, it is often best to look to the professionals. This is especially important if you are considering purchasing something as valuable as a colored diamond. Because of their rarity, colored diamonds have a very high markup once they reach the retail level.

Purchasing such an asset alongside professional buyers at an auction, however—especially when it is entering the market fresh from a private collection—represents an opportunity to acquire one of earth’s rarest treasures at a value that is almost as exceptional as the stone itself.

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