Diamond Market Still Hot

Staff -- JCK Online, 11/1/2005 2:00:00 AM

Market in brief:October 5, 2005 . . . At press time, the Consumer Confidence Index was at a two-year low, and consumer spending had slowed. Retailers feel it’s too soon to worry about the impact on holiday shopping, and most remain confident. The season comes later in many areas, so there is time for the economy to pick up.

The diamond market seems immune to slowdown. Scarcity of well-made rounds and princess cuts, especially clean stones in the collection colors, is driving demand. Well-made, 2 ct.-plus round diamonds are in demand. Three-carat plus rounds and princess cuts are difficult to find and prices are strong.

Colored-stone dealers report that sales activity has been concentrated in the sapphire and tanzanite markets. Blue sapphire still outsells other colored stones. Sales of natural yellow sapphires have strengthened in recent months, while demand for pink sapphire has slowed slightly.

Diamond: ¼ ct. round

	VS1	VS2	SI1	SI2
G	$1,200	$1,150	$975	$850
H	$1,100	$1,000	$925	$800
I	$1,000	$950	$850	$750
J	$950	$900	$800	$725

Diamond: ½ ct. round

	VS1	VS2	SI1	SI2
G	$3,200	$2,800	$2,400	$2,000
H	$2,800	$2,400	$2,200	$1,800
I	$2,200	$2,100	$1,900	$1,700
J	$1,900	$1,800	$1,700	$1,600

Diamond: ¾ ct. round

	VS1	VS2	SI1	SI2
G	$3,800	$3,600	$3,300	$2,900
H	$3,500	$3,300	$3,000	$2,800
I	$3,200	$3,000	$2,600	$2,200
J	$2,500	$2,300	$2,100	$2,000

Diamond: 1 ct. round

	VS1	VS2	SI1	SI2
G	$6,200	$5,900	$4,800	$4,200
H	$5,300	$5,100	$4,400	$4,000
I	$4,100	$3,900	$3,700	$3,400
J	$3,800	$3,600	$3,300	$3,100

Fancy Pink Diamond: 1 ct. radiant

VS	SI	I1
$55K–$75K	$40K–$70K	$27K–$38K

Red Spinel

	Good	Fine
2 to under 3 cts.	$150–$400	$400–$850
3 to under 5 cts.	$250–$500	$500–$1,100

Blue Sapphire

	Good	Fine
1 to under 2 cts.	$125–$420	$420–$1,250
2 to under 3 cts.	$275–$630	$275–$1,750

Akoya Pearls (by the strand)

	Fine	Extra-Fine
18-in. strands, 6 to 6.5 mm	$650–$850	$1,000–$1,200

Nigerian Spessartite Garnet

	Good	Fine
1 to under 2 cts.	$75–$90	$90–$120
2 to under 3 cts.	$90–$125	$120–$160

Blue Zircon

	Good	Fine
1 to under 3 cts.	$20–$50	$50–$75
3 to under 5 cts.	$35–$75	$75–$150

Tanzanite

	Good	Fine
1 to under 2 cts.	$175–$325	$325–$425
2 to under 5 cts.	$250–$400	$400–$500

Round Tahitian Black Pearls

	Good	Fine
8.0 to 8.5 mm	$30–$60	$60–$120
10.0 to 10.5 mm	$35–$90	$90–$150

Pink Topaz

	Good	Fine
1 to under 3 cts.	$100–$300	$300–$600
3 to under 5 cts.	$150–$350	$350–$700

Prices shown represent actual wholesale memorandum prices paid by retail jewelers on a per-stone basis. All prices are per carat except for cultured pearls. No responsibility or liability is assumed for the consequences of the use of any information in this report, nor for errors or omissions. The terms Commercial, Good, Fine, and Extra-Fine are general classifications developed and used by The Guide. Each represents a range of individual quality grades. When they are used in conjunction with proper grading, one can accurately pinpoint a price from within the listed range.

A one-year subscription to The Guide includes six diamond issues (bimonthly); six newsletters (bimonthly); two colored-stone issues including pearls, opals, and jade (biannual); and The Guide Reference Manual. For more information, contact Gemworld International Inc., 630 Dundee Road, Suite 230, Northbrook, IL 60062; (888) GEMGUIDE or (847) 564-0555, fax (847) 564-0557. U.S., Canada, Mexico, $195 complete per year. Elsewhere $275 complete per year.