Dazzling brilliance. Captivating colour. The planet’s most valued gems are fancy colour diamonds.

Diamonds are typically graded on a D-to-Z scale, which ranges from colourless to light yellow. However, fancy colour diamonds fall outside this range and include diamonds of any colour beyond Z, as well as those displaying a distinct colour face-up. These rare diamonds can come in virtually any hue, with notable colours including blue, green, pink, and red.

Unlike diamonds in the D-to-Z range, which generally decrease in value as their colour deepens, fancy colour diamonds increase in value with the intensity and purity of their colour. Large, vivid fancy colour diamonds are especially rare and highly prized. Despite this, many fancy colour diamonds feature more muted hues rather than the pure, strong colours seen in the most valuable specimens.

Fancy colour diamonds encompass a broad spectrum of colours. Red, green, purple, and orange are among the rarest, with pink and blue also being highly sought after. Yellow and brown are more common but typically less valuable compared to the rarer colours.

Additionally, black, grey, and fancy white diamonds are classified as fancy colours and have been crafted into gemstones. The 67.50-carat Black Orloff diamond, named after Russian Princess Nadia Vyegin-Orloff, is one of the most famous examples.

The high prices achieved by some fancy colour diamonds at prominent auctions have raised their profile. However, not all fancy colour diamonds command such high prices; yellow and brown diamonds, in particular, are often considered less desirable compared to near-colourless stones of equal weight and clarity. Deeper shades of yellow and brown are generally valued less than other fancy colours.