Fancy Colour Diamonds, From Hollywood Statement to the Ultimate Collectable

 

For generations, the traditional diamond engagement ring has been dominated by the classic colourless stone. But the world of exceptional diamonds is changing. Increasingly, collectors, celebrities and high jewellery connoisseurs are turning towards something far rarer and far more individual: natural fancy colour diamonds.

From vivid pinks and intense blues to extraordinary greens, yellows and the exceptionally rare reds, these diamonds are no longer simply an alternative to the traditional white diamond. They are becoming recognised as some of the most desirable and collectible gems in the world.

Jennifer Lopez Put Green Diamonds in the Spotlight

One of the most talked-about examples came in 2022, when Ben Affleck proposed to Jennifer Lopez with an extraordinary natural green diamond.

The choice was particularly appropriate for Lopez, who has long associated the colour green with good fortune and famously wore the iconic green Versace dress at the 2000 Grammy Awards.

But the ring represented more than a celebrity engagement.

It introduced millions of people to a diamond category that had traditionally been the domain of specialist collectors and serious diamond enthusiasts.

Green diamonds are exceptionally unusual. Unlike many other coloured diamonds, their colour is generally associated with natural radiation occurring over geological time. Importantly, green colour can be concentrated near the surface of the diamond, making the cutting and preservation of the stone particularly challenging.

The result is a diamond where colour, rarity, provenance and individuality can all become major components of its value.

According to GIA, natural fancy colour diamonds are among the rarest gemstones, with red, green, purple and orange among the rarest colours.

What Makes a Fancy Colour Diamond So Special?

With a conventional D-to-Z diamond, the absence of colour is generally desirable.

Fancy colour diamonds work differently.

Their value can increase with the strength, purity and quality of the colour. GIA’s grading system assesses factors including hue, tone and saturation, with descriptions such as Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid and Fancy Deep.

This creates a fascinating situation in the diamond market.

Two diamonds of exactly the same weight can have dramatically different values because their colours are different.

A small variation in hue or saturation can transform a beautiful diamond into an exceptional one.

And when the colour is extremely rare, the difference can be enormous.

The most coveted colours include:

Red – among the rarest of all natural diamond colours.

Pink – historically one of the most sought-after colours among collectors.

Blue – exceptionally rare, with its colour generally associated with boron.

Green – extraordinarily unusual and often associated with natural radiation.

Orange – rare and highly prized when the colour is strong and pure.

Yellow – more commonly encountered than green, blue or red, but spectacular vivid yellow diamonds can be exceptionally valuable.

GIA notes that saturated pinks, blues and greens are among the rarest and most valuable fancy colour diamonds.

Celebrities Are Changing the Conversation

Fancy colour diamonds have a long relationship with Hollywood and international celebrity culture.

The legendary Tiffany Yellow Diamond, weighing 128.54 carats, is one of the world’s most famous yellow diamonds. It has been associated with Audrey Hepburn, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, helping demonstrate how a coloured diamond can become part of popular culture rather than simply a gemological curiosity.

Other celebrities including Beyoncé, Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus, Angelina Jolie and Heidi Klum have also worn fancy colour diamonds on major occasions.

And the trend is very much alive today.

At the 2026 Oscars, Kate Hudson made headlines wearing more than 41 carats of rare green diamonds by Milan-based Garatti. Her spectacular jewellery included a 16-carat fancy green diamond necklace, a 15-carat Fancy Deep green diamond ring and matching green diamond earrings. The collection was reported at approximately US$35 million.

Lupita Nyong’o also brought green diamonds to the red carpet in 2026, wearing Garatti earrings incorporating Fancy Intense Green diamonds at The Odyssey world premiere in London.

At the 2026 Golden Globes, Kate Hudson again wore green diamonds, including a 5-carat pear-shaped Fancy green diamond and a 3.19-carat Fancy Deep green diamond combined with pink and white diamonds.

These appearances are important because they expose a much wider audience to a category of diamond that was once largely understood only by specialists.

The Rise of the Collector’s Diamond

The greatest appeal of a natural fancy colour diamond is that it can be much more than jewellery.

It can become a collectable gemstone.

Unlike mass-market jewellery, exceptional natural colour diamonds are finite. There is no guarantee that another stone with exactly the same combination of colour, saturation, size, clarity, shape and provenance will ever appear.

That individuality is fundamental to their attraction.

A collector may therefore look at a fancy colour diamond in much the same way an art collector looks at a unique painting.

The question isn’t simply:

“How much does it cost?”

It becomes:

“How rare is it, how exceptional is it, and will another one like it ever come onto the market?”

Green Diamonds Require Specialist Knowledge

Green diamonds are particularly fascinating because their colour formation and appearance can be complex.

GIA explains that the green colour in many natural green diamonds is concentrated near the surface of the stone, which means cutters often attempt to preserve natural rough material around the girdle.

This makes identification and grading particularly important.

A purchaser should never rely simply on the description “green diamond”.

The exact grading terminology matters.

Natural or laboratory-grown?

What is the origin of the colour?

What is the strength and distribution of the colour?

What laboratory has graded the stone?

What does the certificate actually say?

For a significant fancy colour diamond, independent laboratory documentation is essential.

Fancy Colour Diamonds Are Not Just a Fashion

Celebrity attention can create trends, but the fascination with fancy colour diamonds goes much deeper.

Their rarity is geological.

Their beauty is natural.

Their individuality is impossible to reproduce precisely.

And the finest examples can occupy a completely different level of the diamond market from ordinary jewellery diamonds.

This is why the current interest in green diamonds should not simply be dismissed as another celebrity fashion.

Jennifer Lopez may have helped introduce green diamonds to a global audience, but the stones themselves have been extraordinary for millions of years.

Today, collectors are beginning to appreciate what specialist diamond dealers and gemmologists have known for decades:

the world’s rarest diamonds are not necessarily the whitest.

Sometimes, the colour is the most valuable thing of all.

DCLA: Knowledge Matters

For anyone considering the purchase of a significant fancy colour diamond, independent expertise is critical.

At the Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA), the assessment of a diamond goes beyond simply looking at whether a stone appears attractive.

Fancy colour diamonds require specialist knowledge and careful assessment because subtle differences in colour can have a substantial effect on rarity, classification and value.

A beautiful coloured diamond is an exciting purchase.

An authenticated, professionally graded natural fancy colour diamond can be something much more significant: a rare gemstone with the potential to become a family heirloom and a serious collector’s asset.

DCLA — where diamond knowledge, science and independent assessment come together.

Sources

Fancy Color Diamond Quality Factors

The Magic of Colored Diamonds

Colored Diamonds Buyer’s Guide

Tiffany Yellow Diamond history

Natural Diamonds — Oscars 2026

Natural Diamonds — The Odyssey 2026

People — Kate Hudson’s 2026 Oscars green diamond jewellery

Why Fancy Colour Diamonds Are Becoming the New Frontier of Natural Diamond Luxury

 

For decades, the diamond industry has been built around the traditional colourless diamond market, where stones are graded, traded and priced against established benchmarks such as the Rapaport Price List. However, a growing number of dealers and retailers are turning their attention to a segment of the market where rarity, beauty and individuality matter more than a standard price formula: natural fancy colour diamonds.

In 2016, diamond dealer and former banker Chopra received advice that would shape her future direction. A mentor encouraged her to look beyond the diamonds that could be easily compared on a price list.

“Don’t focus on the diamonds that are on the list. Focus on the diamonds you can’t find on a list. That’s where the magic happens.”

That philosophy became the foundation of Khepri Jewels, a company founded in 2023 specialising in natural fancy colour diamonds in unique shapes and exceptional qualities.

Unlike colourless diamonds, where value is largely determined by the traditional 4Cs of colour, clarity, cut and carat weight, fancy colour diamonds are valued through a combination of rarity, intensity of colour, origin, size, and market demand. Each stone is unique, and many cannot be directly compared with another diamond.

This rarity is what makes fancy colour diamonds some of the most desirable gems in the world.

The Rarity Behind Fancy Colour Diamonds

Natural diamonds receive their colours through extraordinary geological events that occur deep within the Earth over billions of years. Trace elements and structural changes within the diamond crystal create colours ranging from subtle champagne and cognac shades to highly prized pinks, blues, greens and reds.

Only a tiny percentage of all diamonds mined display natural colour strong enough to be classified as fancy colour diamonds. Among these, the most intense and vivid colours are exceptionally rare.

For example:

Pink Diamonds
Natural pink diamonds are among the rarest gemstones on Earth. Their colour is not caused by trace elements but is believed to come from changes in the diamond’s crystal structure. The closure of the historic Argyle Diamond Mine in 2020 removed the world’s largest source of rare pink diamonds, increasing their scarcity.

Exceptional examples include the Pink Star diamond, one of the most famous diamonds ever sold, and the Williamson Pink Diamond, gifted to Queen Elizabeth II.

Blue Diamonds
Blue diamonds are extraordinarily rare and derive their colour from the presence of boron within the diamond crystal. Famous examples include the Hope Diamond, one of the most recognised gemstones in history, and the Oppenheimer Blue, which achieved one of the highest prices ever recorded for a diamond at auction.

Red Diamonds
Red diamonds are considered the rarest of all fancy colours. True red diamonds are incredibly scarce, with only a handful of significant examples known worldwide. The famous Moussaieff Red Diamond is regarded as one of the finest examples.

Green Diamonds
Natural green diamonds are created through exposure to natural radiation over millions of years. Their rarity and unusual colour make them highly collectible, with the Dresden Green Diamond being one of the most famous green diamonds in existence.

Why Retailers Are Looking Beyond Traditional Diamonds

The rise of laboratory grown diamonds has created increasing competition in the traditional colourless diamond market. Many retailers are finding it more challenging to explain the difference in value between a natural white diamond and a lab grown diamond to consumers who are primarily focused on price.

Fancy colour diamonds offer a different proposition.

They are not simply a diamond purchase. They are rare natural treasures with geological stories that cannot be replicated. Their value is linked to scarcity, collectability and emotional connection.

At luxury jewellery events, dealers specialising in fancy colour diamonds are seeing increased interest from retailers looking for something distinctive, something that cannot be easily compared online or reproduced in a laboratory.

The future of natural diamond luxury may increasingly move away from mass comparison and towards individuality, rarity and provenance.

As Chopra’s mentor recognised years ago, the greatest opportunities often exist in the diamonds that cannot be placed on a simple price list.

The diamonds without a formula may ultimately become the diamonds with the greatest story.

Source: DCLA

3.63-ct “Salt and Pepper” Pink Fails to Sell

The highlight of Sotheby’s Fine Jewelry sale in New York – a rare 3.63-carat fancy vivid purple-pink diamond failed to find a buyer.

The unmounted, cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut stone carried a pre-auction estimate of $1m to $1.5m , reflecting both its unusual color and its potential appeal to collectors.

But bidding at the auction, on 11 December, stalled below the consignor’s undisclosed reserve, leaving the stone unsold.

Market observers suggested that bidders were likely deterred by the diamond’s noticeable “salt and pepper” inclusions, which significantly affected its clarity.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) graded the stone as I2 clarity, raising concerns about transparency and overall visual appeal.

Observers say buyers in today’s cautious high-end market are increasingly unwilling to compromise on clarity, particularly for unmounted stones, where inclusions are more apparent, even when the color is considered rare and desirable.

Source: DCLA

Sotheby’s Geneva Showcases Exceptional Provenance and Record-Breaking Natural Diamonds

Each November, Geneva takes centre stage in the world of fine jewellery, and Sotheby’s 2025 High Jewellery and Royal & Noble Jewels sales reaffirm why the city remains its beating heart. This year’s auctions bring together a breathtaking display of natural diamonds, historical heirlooms, and masterful craftsmanship that celebrate centuries of artistry and provenance.

At the forefront of the Sotheby’s High Jewellery Sale is The Glowing Rose, an extraordinary 10.08-carat Fancy Vivid Pink diamond estimated at around USD 20 million. Its rare, “pure pink” hue—free from secondary tones—places it among the most valuable gemstones in existence. Comparable to celebrated stones such as the Williamson Pink Star and Pink Legacy, this exceptional diamond embodies the geological miracle of atomic distortion, which gives natural pink diamonds their ethereal glow. Stones of this size and purity are exceedingly rare, making The Glowing Rose the undeniable star of the season.

Colour remains the hallmark of this year’s Geneva sale. A pair of Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond earrings, weighing 38.66 and 38.88 carats, are expected to achieve between CHF 2,000,000 and CHF 3,800,000. Their radiant colour intensity and impressive carat weight represent the highest standards of fancy diamond grading. Equally captivating is a 4.50-carat Fancy Vivid Blue diamond, internally flawless and estimated at CHF 4,400,000 to CHF 5,800,000. The blue hue, caused by trace boron, adds to its rarity and appeal, offering collectors the coveted trifecta of exceptional colour, clarity, and size.

Among the coloured gemstones, a 7.69-carat “Royal Blue” Kashmir sapphire set in a ring-pendant combination by Van Cleef & Arpels is a standout. Revered for their velvety “sleepy” lustre, Kashmir sapphires are among the most desirable in the world, and this piece exemplifies the pinnacle of gemological beauty. Further artistry is showcased through a pair of sapphire, tsavorite garnet, and diamond earclips by JAR—vividly imaginative and estimated at CHF 300,000 to CHF 500,000—reflecting the contemporary genius of Joel Arthur Rosenthal.

The sale also includes signature creations by Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Graff, and De Grisogono. Highlights include a 10.04-carat marquise-shaped D-colour diamond ring by Graff (VVS2 clarity, estimated CHF 320,000–560,000) and a De Grisogono ruby and diamond bombé ring featuring two step-cut diamonds (estimated CHF 55,000–75,000).

In tribute to a century of Art Deco design, Sotheby’s presents an array of geometric masterpieces from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, embodying the symmetry and elegance that shaped modern jewellery aesthetics. Two private collections will also headline the event: one dedicated exclusively to Van Cleef & Arpels, and another—Aria of Jewels: The Collection of Antje-Katrin Kühnemann—featuring exceptional Cartier and De Grisogono pieces from the late philanthropist’s private trove.

The Royal & Noble Jewels: A Journey Through History

Complementing the High Jewellery Sale, Sotheby’s Royal & Noble Jewels auction unveils some of the most historically significant diamonds and heirlooms ever offered. Among them is a diamond brooch once owned by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, lost during his flight after Waterloo and later recovered by the Prussian Royal family. After more than two centuries in private hands, it now re-emerges for the first time at auction.

Also featured is a light pink diamond ring with royal lineage, once belonging to Empress Catherine I of Russia and later to Princess Neslishah Sultan, estimated between CHF 240,000 and CHF 400,000. A natural pearl and diamond jewel formerly owned by Cunegonde of Saxony (cousin of Louis XVI) carries an estimate of CHF 340,000 to CHF 500,000, while a diamond tiara with a wild roses motif from the Duchess of Portland (1774–1844) is expected to fetch CHF 100,000 to CHF 170,000.

Adding to the grandeur is a Cartier emerald and diamond necklace featuring an 11.78-carat Colombian emerald, commissioned in 1932, exemplifying Art Deco refinement and royal provenance.

Celebrating Provenance, Craftsmanship, and Natural Rarity

From Napoleon’s lost brooch to The Glowing Rose, Sotheby’s Geneva continues to highlight how exceptional gems transcend beauty—they embody heritage, artistry, and history. These November 2025 auctions remind the world that in fine jewellery, rarity, provenance, and craftsmanship remain the ultimate symbols of enduring value.

About DCLA
The Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA) is the official CIBJO-accredited laboratory for Australia, recognised for its expertise in diamond grading and certification. DCLA continues to support transparency and integrity within the global diamond trade, celebrating events such as Sotheby’s Geneva that showcase the brilliance and authenticity of natural diamonds.

31-Carat ‘Desert Rose’ Diamond Expected to Fetch $7 Million at Abu Dhabi Auction

Sotheby’s is set to showcase one of the world’s rarest diamonds during its upcoming series of luxury auctions and exhibitions in Abu Dhabi, held from 2 to 5 December at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. The events form part of Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, which will feature masterclasses, panel discussions, and curated exhibitions highlighting fine jewellery, timepieces, collector cars, luxury real estate, and other exceptional assets.

The highlight of the auction is “The Desert Rose”, a 31.86-carat fancy vivid orangy-pink diamond, the largest of its kind ever graded. This extraordinary pear-shaped gem—first unveiled in Sotheby’s “Beyond: The World’s Rarest Diamonds” exhibition earlier this year—makes its auction debut with an estimated value of USD $5–$7 million.

The timing of the event coincides with one of Abu Dhabi’s busiest weeks, which includes the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit 2025, Abu Dhabi Finance Week, and Bitcoin MENA. Together, these prestigious gatherings are expected to attract a global audience of collectors, investors, and cultural leaders.

Following Sotheby’s successful inaugural sale in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, the Abu Dhabi auctions further underscore the Middle East’s growing influence in the global luxury and cultural landscape. Saadiyat Island, home to institutions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the forthcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and the Zayed National Museum, continues to establish itself as a world-class destination for art and high-value collectibles.

The Desert Rose diamond’s debut marks a milestone in coloured diamond history—its rarity, hue, and size exemplify the exceptional standards that define the world’s most coveted gems.

— DCLA News Team

$20 Million ‘Glowing Rose’ Pink Diamond to Headline Sotheby’s Geneva Auction

A rare 10.08-carat fancy vivid pink diamond ring, named The Glowing Rose, is set to take centre stage at Sotheby’s upcoming High Jewellery sale in Geneva on 12 November. Expected to achieve around USD 20 million, the stone represents one of the most important pink diamonds to reach the auction block in recent years.

This exceptional cushion brilliant-cut diamond crafted by luxury jeweller Boodles originates from a 21-carat rough unearthed in Angola in 2023. Its vivid, pure pink hue and balanced proportions exemplify the rarest qualities of natural fancy coloured diamonds. According to Sotheby’s, it is only the third cushion cut vivid pink diamond over 10 carats to appear at auction within the past decade.

The cushion cut, recently popularised by Taylor Swift’s engagement ring, has become increasingly sought after among collectors for its romantic and timeless appeal.

Sotheby’s has a strong record of achieving exceptional results for vivid pink diamonds. In 2022, the auction house sold the Williamson Pink Star an 11.15 carat, fancy vivid pink, internally flawless diamond for USD 57.7 million in Hong Kong. The following year, a 10.57 carat vivid purplish-pink diamond fetched USD 34.8 million in New York. Earlier this year, Sotheby’s Geneva achieved USD 21.5 million for the Mediterranean Blue, a 10.03-carat fancy vivid blue diamond.

“With the continued global demand for rare coloured diamonds, we are delighted to present The Glowing Rose,” said Jessica Wyndham, Head of High Jewellery at Sotheby’s Geneva. “Following the remarkable success of the Mediterranean Blue, this sale offers collectors another extraordinary opportunity to acquire a truly exceptional gem.”

Before its appearance in Geneva, The Glowing Rose will be showcased in Singapore and Taipei, giving collectors and connoisseurs a preview of one of the year’s most significant pink diamonds.

DCLA notes that fancy vivid pink diamonds remain among the most coveted and valuable gems in the world, combining extraordinary rarity with strong global demand from collectors and investors alike.

6.95-Carat Pink Diamond to Headline Vanderbilt Family Jewels Auction in Geneva

A spectacular 6.95-carat fancy vivid purplish pink Golconda diamond will lead The Geneva Jewels Auction: V, as Phillips Geneva prepares to offer an extraordinary collection of jewels once owned by the legendary Vanderbilt family, once America’s richest dynasty.

Among the highlights is a Tiffany & Co. 42.68-carat sugarloaf Kashmir sapphire and diamond brooch, estimated at US$1 million to US$1.5 million, alongside a step-cut Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring weighing 18.09 carats (estimate US$2.2 million to US$2.8 million). The sale also features a stunning pair of brilliant-cut diamond ear studs, weighing 8.00 and 8.28 carats, both graded D colour, VVS1 clarity, with an estimate of US$600,000 to US$850,000.

The Vanderbilt name is synonymous with immense wealth and American industrial power. The family’s fortune began with Cornelius Vanderbilt, who, at age 16, borrowed $100 from his mother to start a ferry service in 1810. He later built a shipping and railroad empire that made him the richest man in the United States, worth about $100 million at his death in 1877 — equivalent to at least $185 billion today.

His son, William Henry Vanderbilt, further doubled that fortune to over $200 million (around $370 billion in today’s terms). However, the family’s wealth gradually dispersed over subsequent generations, with the combined net worth of the Vanderbilt descendants now estimated at around $200 million.

The Geneva Jewels Auction: V, featuring The Vanderbilt Family Jewels, will take place on 10 November at Phillips Geneva, marking a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire pieces linked to one of America’s most storied families.

Source: DCLA

The Kao Legend Collection: A Rare Suite of Pink Diamonds from Lesotho

The Kao Legend Collection represents an extraordinary achievement in diamond cutting and curation. Cut from a single 108.39-carat pink diamond crystal unearthed at the renowned Kao Mine in Lesotho, this suite features seven magnificent pink diamonds each documented in detail by the GIA Monograph.

At the heart of the collection lies the Kao Legend, a 20.49-carat diamond graded Fancy Intense Purplish Pink by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The accompanying diamonds in the collection range in colour from Fancy Intense Purplish Pink to Faint Pink, showcasing a delicate and rare spectrum of pink hues.

What sets this collection apart is not only its shared origin and harmonious beauty but also the diamonds’ classification. All seven are Type IIa diamonds known for their exceptional chemical purity and rarity, comprising less than 2% of all natural diamonds. Type IIa pink diamonds are especially coveted for their remarkable clarity and vibrant colour saturation.

The Kao Mine, one of Lesotho’s most prominent diamond sources, has established a reputation for yielding high-quality pink diamonds. Alongside the Kao Legend, the mine also produced the celebrated Pink Eternity, a 47.80-carat gem of international acclaim.

For gemmologists and collectors alike, the Kao Legend Collection exemplifies nature’s artistry and the pinnacle of diamond excellence.

Rare purple diamond unearthed at Diavik

Vibrant 0.45-carat gem adds final flourish to Diavik’s closing years.
Just when it seemed Diavik had given all it could give, a rare purple diamond has been unearthed at the Northern Canadian mine – a 0.45-carat stone that stands out in a region better known for producing predominantly colorless gems and the occasional yellow stone, adding a splash of unexpected color as the operation approaches the final years of its mine life.

The discovery, quietly announced by Rio Tinto via social media, comes just weeks after the recovery of a 158.2-carat yellow diamond and a 50-million-year-old petrified log – both of which drew attention to the remarkable geological and historical treasures still surfacing from the remote subarctic site.

“We recently had a unique discovery at Diavik – a rare purple diamond weighing in at 0.45 carats,” the company wrote in a social media post on LinkedIn.

“Diavik diamonds are typically white, so this came as a pleasant surprise,” the post continued. “The purple colour likely comes from a trace element such as hydrogen or a twist in the crystal lattice structure of the diamond. The shape of the rough diamond is known as a ‘makeable’ which means it will likely be cut into a single diamond.”

Though small in size, the stone is striking for its rarity, with colored diamonds of any kind making up less than 1% of Diavik’s total production over more than two decades of operation.

Among them, purple diamonds are the rarest, their distinctive hue typically attributed to hydrogen impurities or plastic deformation deep in the Earth’s mantle – a result of the intense pressure and heat that alters the crystal structure during formation.

In gemological terms, purple diamonds are often classified under the broader category of “fancy color” stones, though few attain the deep saturation necessary for that label. More often, their shades fall within the purplish-pink or violet spectrum, with pure purple standing as one of the most elusive colors in the diamond world.

For Diavik, the recovery of such a specimen near the end of its mine life serves as both a scientific curiosity and a symbolic capstone.

Since beginning production in 2003, the mine has yielded over 140 million carats of rough diamonds – predominantly colorless, with a handful of exceptional yellow stones including the 552-carat “egg” discovered in 2018 and the more recent 158.2-carat find earlier this year.

Yet, while the occasional yellow diamond has offered moments of brilliance, the purple discovery stands out for its singularity.

While not the first purple diamond recovered from Diavik – industry veterans have noted smaller specimens dating back more than a decade – this 0.45-carat stone ranks among the most notable, particularly for its size, clarity, and timing near the end of the mine’s operational life.

Purple diamonds are so rare that only a few notable examples have surfaced globally, often fetching premium prices far beyond their white or even pink counterparts. Their appearance in the trade is sporadic, and their origin even more geographically restricted – making a Canadian purple diamond an especially uncommon occurrence.

Diavik’s purple gem is expected to be cut into a single polished stone, though no details have been released about where it might end up – in private hands, a high-profile auction, or perhaps a Canadian institution.

Whatever its path, the find adds a final chapter to Diavik’s legacy – a small but vibrant reminder that even in its twilight, the remote Arctic mine remains full of surprises.

Source: DCLA

See The World’s Rarest Diamonds, Worth a Total of $100 million, in Abu Dhabi

Sotheby’s, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, is exhibiting extremely rare coloured diamonds at Bassam Freiha Art Foundation this week, in the biggest showcase of diamonds outside of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC.

All together, the spectacular diamonds are worth around $100 million. The largest flawless diamond in the world, the largest vivid orangey pink diamond ever graded, the second largest red diamond known to exist and several diamonds over 100 carats are included in the collection, which will be available for public view this Wednesday, April 9 and Thursday, April 10.

“The exhibition is incredibly exciting for the simple reason that to purely just have eight diamonds of this calibre in the same room is something that is worthy of one of the great museums in the world, and I can’t imagine that we will ever see this array together again,” says Paul Redmayne, Sotheby’s senior vice president for luxury private sales. “It is definitely a career highlight for me to see these stunning gemstones side by side, and I look forward to no doubt witnessing many a jaw drop as the public come through the doors.”

The star of the showcase is none other than The Mediterranean Blue. Weighing 10.03 carats, this Fancy Vivid Blue rarity has earned the highest GIA colour grading and a coveted Type IIb classification, an elite status held by less than 0.5 per cent of diamonds. Its cushion cut intensifies its liquid-like saturation, an electrifying depth that feels almost surreal. With an estimated value of $20 million, The Mediterranean Blue will be the highlight of Sotheby’s High Jewellery Sale on May 13 in Geneva.

“The Mediterranean Blue diamond on its own is an incredibly rare stone, and ticks so many of the boxes that you could look for: it is a connoisseur’s diamond, whilst also being infinitely wearable,” shares Redmayne. “The depth of the blue is unrivalled, and even to someone who knows nothing about diamonds, it’s clear to see what makes it so special.”

The diamond is a timeless symbol of love, power, beauty and status – but a captivating collection of this stature is awe-inspiring at an entirely different level; a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the UAE’s capital city, which Redmayne says marks an incredibly exciting moment in the city’s history. “This project further enriches the dynamic landscape of Abu Dhabi for both collectors and the general public,” he says.

Source: voguearabia