FLAWED vs FANCY

FLAWED vs FANCY


3 minute read

Wrap your head around this one...

The designation of diamond colour 'types' is a strange one in our industry. 

Simple tone intensity can qualify a diamond as 'heaps' or a 'bloody bargain' on your bespoke engagement ring quote. 

There is no intrinsic quality differentiator beyond these colour classifications. It has simply been the value assigned by the industry as to what they deem as desirable or undesirable. 

Allow me to lay it out in similar terms, with this example...

Lets take White Diamonds & Fancy Yellow Diamonds

In White Diamonds, you have a colour range from D, E, F, G... etc.

D being the 'whitest' (colourless), then gradually taking on more yellow tint as we go down the scale. 

Most diamond suppliers won't even stock 'white diamonds' that are graded beyond a 'K'. That being, the 'acceptable' range is from D to K. 

 

Now, Fancy Yellow Diamonds, take on a whole new life. Intensity and higher saturation of yellow tones comes with some weight on that invoice. 

I'm not here to second guess genuine market forces, and I am sure there is a strong demand for that deep, intense yellow. However, there is minimal optical difference in warm whites and paler fancy yellows. Merely down to a classification of a colour chart, by some human, with a lens, feeling fruity. 

The difference between, 2-4x the price, based on an extremely marginal tone variance. Something that could have been influenced by the reflection of a passing DHL truck. 

I am here to point out opportunity. And to recognise the trend towards soft pastels in coloured gemstones - which would have translated over to diamonds IF there wasn't a staunch driver of market demand in the diamond industry that has a red-hot go at making sure consumer only ever see these diamonds as 'flawed'. Not for the clear beauty they hold, in those lush pastel, warm whites. 

 

HOWEVER, don't get me wrong, this isn't a hit piece

I'm not advocating for a peaceful boycott of the diamond industry,

We're not suggesting throwing 'warm yellow' coloured paint over jewellery store windows,

You're not going to find a link to a Change.Org page below...

Quite the opposite actually. I'm well chuffed with this bizarre industry trope. Don't change a thing! I'm just here to say, for the love of god, consider a warm white diamond.
They're absolute stunning. They're extremely cost effective. And of course, you'll find them all here at, Lei è. We love a warm white diamond.

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