Blues Lead Fancy Color Prices

RAPAPORT... Fancy blue diamonds outperformed other major colorcategories in price terms during the first quarter, the Fancy Color ResearchFoundation (FCRF) said.Prices for fancy blues jumped 5% year on year for the threemonths ending March 31, according to the FCRF, which released its quarterlyFancy Color Diamond Index (FCDI) on Monday.By contrast, prices of fancy pink diamonds declined 1.7%,while the index for yellows slipped 0.6%, the organization said. The overallindex for fancy color diamonds edged up 0.1%.Vivid blues and vivid pinks weighing 2 carats showed thebest performance in their respective color categories during the quarter.The Fancy Color Diamond Index tracks prices of fancy yellow,pink and blue diamonds in Hong Kong, New York and Tel Aviv.Image: Twin-stone ring featuring two pear-shaped, brilliant-cut diamonds - one weighing 2.10 carats, with fancy vivid blue color and VS1 clarity, the other weighing 1.98 carats, with D color and VS1 clarity. The ring sold for $3.5 million at Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on April 17.