The Green Diamond

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The color diamonds are very looked after. The vivid blue diamonds reach interesting sizes, and it is not reasonable to detail in this column each one of these beautiful gems that appear at auction.

Considering the price per carat, two very rare varieties can overcome the blue: vivid red and vivid green.

A red diamond weighing more than one carat is exceptional. Sotheby's had one for sale, at 1.92 carats, on November 19, 2008 in Geneva. Alas, the market feared recession on that particular day. Estimated 2.8 MCHF, it had not been sold.

The situation is probably better now, at least hopefully. On November 17 the same sales room offers a vivid green diamond of 2.52 carats, estimated 3.3 MCHF.

From a scientific perspective, this gem is exceptional in its weight and in the quality of its color. It is very rare that a diamond is pure green, without a shade of blue, gray or yellow.

The catalog of the auction house teaches that this result is the culmination of a process of natural irradiation that lasted several million years, and has changed its characteristics of light absorption.

Do not discuss a diamond without describing its shape: this one, which has never been mounted in a jewel, has a cushion modified brilliant cut.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The market remains cautious. In this sale, a magnificent blue diamond of 5.96 carats, estimated 5.6 million CHF, has not been sold.

The green diamond has managed to sell, but without reaching its estimate, at 3.1 MCHF including premium.