Colored Diamonds Come to Auction
Some of the most famous diamonds in the world are not white or, as a diamantaire might say, “colorless.” The ‘Hope’ diamond is blue; the ‘Tiffany’ diamond—most recently worn by Beyoncé—is yellow, and the ‘Winston Pink Legacy’, an 18-carat fancy vivid pink, joined this roster setting a world record price in 2018 of $2.65 million per carat.
This September, Freeman’s | Hindman’s Important Jewelry auction will offer an impressive selection of rare fancy-colored diamonds, which come in a rich array of colors including pink, green, yellow, and orange. Natural fancy-colored diamonds are exceptionally rare, occurring in only about 1 in 100,000 diamonds. Among these, the majority are small, typically weighing less than 1 carat.
Spotlighting the Freeman’s | Hindman auction is an impressive Fancy Brownish Pink Diamond weighing 5.42 carats set in a beautiful ring. Like the ‘Pink Legacy,’ it is a classic rectangular shape, not commonly seen with pink diamonds. This clean, modern cut shows off its elegant hue. But, how did the diamond become pink? Unlike other colored diamonds which obtain their color from trace elements, pink diamonds are formed by further intense pressure and heat in the earth, distorting the atoms' lattice structure to only allow pink to be reflected. They are truly nature’s miracle and the second-rarest color in diamonds. Pink diamonds have become a celebrity favorite—a declaration of love in engagement rings for J. Lo, Blake Lively, and Victoria Beckham amongst the celebrities.
The important jewelry collection from The Shawver Art Collection Trust will be offered across several auctions this fall/winter and features both colored gems and diamonds. Patricia Shawver, a Phoenix native, had an eye for color and collected both colored sapphires and diamonds among other rare gems. Three highlights are an Oscar Heyman Multi-colored Diamond Line Necklace featuring 20 carats of fancy color diamonds, a 10.43 cts. Fancy Greenish-yellow Pear-shaped Diamond Pendant, and an Oscar Heyman Fancy Deep Orange-yellow and Colorless Diamond ‘Moi et Toi’ Ring.
Yellow diamonds are the most prevalent of the fancy colors. Their color is created by the trace element of nitrogen in the diamond. Rather than being judged for lack of color, as white diamonds are, they are graded by hue and saturation of color. Among several yellow diamonds to be offered in this auction is the Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond and Diamond Ring, set with a 6.14 cts center stone. All from private collections, these gems are fresh to market, providing a unique collecting opportunity.
INQUIRIES: [email protected]
VIEWING: 7 - 11 September
1550 West Carroll Avenue, Chicago, IL
TO BE OFFERED SEPTEMBER 12, CHICAGO
FANCY BROWNISH PINK DIAMOND RING $100,000 - 150,000
FANCY INTENSE YELLOW DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING $30,000 - 50,000
The Collection of Audre Deckmann Carlin
OSCAR HEYMAN, COLORED DIAMOND AND DIAMOND NECKLACE $40,000 - 60,000
FANCY GREENISH YELLOW DIAMOND AND COLORED DIAMOND PENDANT $60,000 - 80,000
OSCAR HEYMAN, FANCY DEEP ORANGE-YELLOW DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING $80,000 - 120,000