Price Versus Rarity of Fancy-Colored Diamonds: 

Does It Make Sense?


Elloise Gaillou 
Department of Mineral Sciences
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles, CA 90068

George R. Rossman
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91125, USA


abstract

Fancy-colored diamonds have recently fetched record high prices at auctions. One can wondier if those prices correspond to the rarity of such gems.