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i n recent years, fine fancy colored diamonds have made headlines

around the world as the demand and prices soar for these natural rarities.

However, as the clamor for diamonds of intense and vivid color continues

to grow, the supply has begun to dwindle. Long considered solely an object

of beauty and curiosity, colored diamonds are now emerging as a long-term

investment – an investment that is private, tangible and easily portable.

Diamonds of exquisite color and clarity are an extremely rare occurrence

in nature. For every intense yellow diamond, there are some 10,000 near-

colorless ones. Hues such as vivid blues, however, are far more rare.

Studies have shown that approximately less than .3 percent of all colored

diamonds are blue, and less than one percent of all blue diamonds are vivid

blue. The vivid blue diamond ring by Leviev, featured at the bottom left,

boasts a radiant-cut Fancy Vivid Blue Internally Flawless diamond weighing

2.08 carats, and is further highlighted by eight pear-shaped D Internally

Flawless diamonds totaling 9.01 carats.

Fancy colored diamonds result from a natural course of geographical

formation allowing for each colored diamond to be uniquely exceptional.

Colored diamonds take on their hues when an impurity is present in the

gem. The presence of nitrogen, for example, gives rise to a yellow color,

whereas the presence of boron creates a blue hue. Radiation and pressure

on a stone will also lend to the formation of a specific colored diamond.

Green diamonds are an example of this process, as illustrated by the 2.11

carat Fancy Intense Green diamond shown at top left. To this day it is still

unclear what gives a red diamond its hue, they are the most rare of all

colored diamonds, but it is thought to be due to a structural anomaly

within the stone.

Leviev, whose showcases boast an extraordinary assortment of fancy

colored diamonds in a kaleidoscopic array of red, blue, green, pink, orange

and yellow hues, recently unveiled its collection of thirteen natural red

diamonds ranging from 0.46 to 1.16 carats. Despite the smaller size of the

stones – characteristically red diamonds are small in carat weight –

it is simply unheard of to have a collection of this volume.

“Our clients come to us looking for unique and rare diamonds; something

that will retain its beauty and appreciate in value,” says Lisa Klein, Executive

Vice-president of Leviev Diamonds. “When our first boutique opened in

2006, a 5 carat pink diamond would have been valued at approximately 5

million dollars. Today, that same diamond would be valued at over 10 million

dollars. The purchase of a rare colored diamond is an incredible asset to

any discerning portfolio.”

In today’s economy, there is no question that both consumers and

investors alike are disenchanted with traditional assets. What is certain,

however, is that the demand and value of diamonds of exceptional color

and clarity is vastly increasing, while the supply of these one-of-a-kind

gems is diminishing. Such an investment is not only beautiful,

but one that is sound. –TPJ

For more information on Leviev, visit www.leviev.com

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APRIL 2011