Summer is traditionally the time to focus on coloured gemstones and jewellery designers, but diamonds are in fashion all year round, and we have some remarkable examples coming up in the Fine Jewellery, Watches and Silver Sale on 11th July.
Diamond values are based on the 4Cs – carat weight (the size of the stone), colour, clarity, and cut. Most diamonds that are seen at auction are between colours G (visibly “white” or free from colour), and K (slightly tinted). The top colour grade for a diamond is a D colour.
The usual clarity grade we see is SI1-I3, which means anything from small inclusions in multiple places, to large inclusions that may be seen by the naked eye.
A Diamond Solitaire Ring - Estimate: £20,000-25,000 plus buyer’s premium
One of the highlights of the sale is a Diamond Solitaire Ring, with a fantastic example of a diamond with those higher than average, aspirational grades. It has previously been certified as a D colour diamond, so considered totally colourless by the laboratory in question, and the clarity grade was given as VVS1, which is just below flawless. The diamond is almost 2.50 carat, making it all the rarer, finding these top-quality grades in larger than 1 carat stones is certainly more unusual on the secondary market.
A Diamond Three Stone Ring, circa 1910 – Estimate: £10,000-15,000 plus buyer’s premium
This Diamond Three Stone Ring is a splendid show, with approximately 6.00 carat total diamond weight. The centre stone is believed to be around 3 carat alone. The diamonds are old cuts, however, as they were cut in the early 20th century, they are more streamlined than earlier examples and perhaps heading towards those ideal proportions for brilliant cut stones, which were developed and in common use from about 1910-1920. These three diamonds have knife edge girdles - a very fine outer circumference between the crown, and the pavilion of the stone, which adds its own charm to the diamonds. The stones are very good quality comparatively, as unlike many stones of the period they are a good colour, from H, and a good clarity too, with an assessment in house of VS2 and lower.
A Pair of Diamond Cluster Earrings – Estimate: £8,000-10,000 plus buyer’s premium
A versatile pair of Diamond Cluster Earrings contain over 5 carat of total diamond weight. This stunning pair of cluster earrings comprises a round brilliant cut stud which can be worn on its own, or with the attachable outer circlet of diamonds to create cluster earrings. The centre diamonds are believed to be in excess of 1.50 carat each. Again, the qualities are of note with the colour being at the upper end of the commercially seen average, and the clarity being above average, with many stones appearing to be VS quality.
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