Fancy Diamonds Are Asian Women’s (And Men’s) Best Friend, Driving 40% of Global Value
In Asia these days, diamonds are more than just a girl’s best friend. Men appreciate them, too, and many couples will walk away from jewelry stores wearing his and her diamond engagement rings – frequently featuring fancy colored stones, in a suitably masculine color for him. In fact, a DeBeers survey found that 67 percent of Chinese men between 30 and 44 want to have diamonds. Rising wealth and the Westernization of Asia, particularly in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, are driving the ongoing boom in the diamond market . Colored diamonds, in particular, are very hot, and buyers appreciate them as much for their beauty in a piece of jewelry as they do for the way they hold their value. From 2006 through 2014, fancy colored diamonds – think pink, yellow and blue – have appreciated by nearly 155 percent, more than twice the gains of the better known colorless white diamond. The Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), which tracks diamond values...