New York: Analysis of pricing data by the Fancy Colour Research Foundation (FCRF) for the second quarter of 2017 indicates overall pricing stability across all categories over the same quarter in the previous year.

A deeper look at the data reveals that blue fancy colour diamond prices continued to appreciate, climbing 5.5 percent over last year, while yellow fancy colour diamond prices declined by 2.5 percent for the year. Overall, the Fancy Colour Diamond Index for all shapes and sizes was flat for the period. According to RAPI™ during the same period, most white diamond categories experienced meaningful price declines, the FCRF said in a statement.

The strongest performing price categories during Q2 2017 were 10 carat fancy intense blue diamonds, 5 carat fancy vivid blues and 8 carat fancy intense blues, which appreciated by 2.5 percent, 2.4 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.

On a year-on-year basis, when compared to Q2 2016, the strongest performing categories were 1 carat fancy vivid blues, 8 carat fancy intense blues and 1 carat fancy intense blues, appreciating by 13.1 percent, 11.5 percent and 11.4 percent respectively.

The weakest categories were large yellow fancy colour diamonds. As in recent periods, across all colour segments, fancy intense and fancy vivid broadly demonstrated price increases, whereas colour diamonds in the “Fancy” category maintained price softness.

FCRF Advisory Board Chairman Efraim Zion said, “Demand in China and other Asian markets for extremely rare fancy colour diamonds is still robust. However the pipeline is experiencing continued supply shortages, which results in price stability and in some categories continued appreciation. We will not be seeing changes in the foreseeable future. Yellow fancy colour stones are enjoying healthy demand as well, however their price behavior, especially for the commercial categories, more closely resembles that of white diamonds.”