The price index of all fancy coloured diamonds as computed by The Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), remained flat overall during the last quarter of 2017, with Q4 prices of all fancy colours up 0.1% when compared to both Q3 2017 and Q4 2016 prices. During the quarter, in fact, white diamonds performed relatively better than fancy coloured diamonds, as per available data, FCRF said.

Fancy blue diamonds remained an exception to this trend, rising 2.6% quarter-on-quarter and 5.9% year-on-year, FCRF said, adding that fancy intense and fancy vivid blues performed best q-o-q, especially in the 1ct and 5ct categories.

During the same period, fancy pink and yellow diamond prices declined slightly by 0.4% and 0.6%, respectively. For the fancy yellow colour category, the overall 2017 results indicate stabilisation following a 2016 decline of 4.0%, FCRF reported. On a y-o-y basis, fancy yellow and pink prices were down by 1.8% and 0.8%, respectively.

FCRF Advisory Board chairman Eden Rachminov said:  “We are seeing a stagnant supply picture of important pink and blue fancy colour diamonds. Rare pinks and blues are very hard to come by and continue to command significant premiums. After more than 18 months, we are starting to see some price stability in commercial yellow fancy colour diamonds, in line with the performance of white diamonds, driven by lower availability.”

The index is based on pricing data for yellow, pink and blue fancy colour diamonds in three key global trading centers – Hong Kong, New York and Tel Aviv.