New York: The Fancy Color Diamond Index for the third quarter of 2017 indicates a slight rise overall of 0.2% over Q2 2017, for yellow, pink and blue fancy color diamonds in all sizes and saturations. Moreover, the index shows that in Q3 prices of fancy blue and pink color diamonds appreciated 0.4% and 0.3% respectively. Similar to Q1 2017 trends, the strongest performing price categories during Q3 2017 were fancy intense and fancy vivid blue diamonds across all carat sizes.

In Q3 2017, fancy yellow diamond prices declined by 0.1%, the lowest price decrease for the category since Q3 2016. There was price stability across most other fancy color diamond categories, continuing the trend in fancy color diamond pricing patterns during 2016 and early 2017.

On a year-on-year basis, when compared to Q3 2016, the Fancy Color Diamond Index is slightly down by 0.2%, with fancy blue up 4.7% and fancy yellow and fancy pink down 2.5% and 0.6%, respectively. Compared to the same period in 2015, the Fancy Color Diamond Index is up 0.7% with fancy blue and fancy pink up 8.1% and 1.2% respectively, and fancy yellow down 4.1%. For a complete data analysis, please visit www.fcresearch.org.

The Fancy Color Diamond Index is published by the non-profit Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), and tracks pricing data for yellow, pink and blue fancy color diamonds in three key global trading centers – Hong Kong, New York and Tel Aviv.

FCRF Advisory Board Chairman Eden Rachminov said, “As far as supply is concerned, 2017 and the year before were record low years for blue fancy color diamond production from mines. The majority of the blues that are coming into the market are pre-owned stones. Manufacturers have seen a significant drop in availability across all sizes and qualities, and consequently prices have continued to increase. Going forward the market will have to adjust to a lower “new normal” supply level for blue fancy color and pinks in the high saturations levels.”