“It’s not just about jewelry, but about a vibrant heritage of the power and beauty of the Earth,” David Kellie, Natural Diamond Council CEO
During Paris Haute Couture Week, Natural Diamond Council (NDC) published a new report on the rare nature of colored diamonds, in partnership with the Choron Group and the Fancy Color Research Foundation, drawing on contributions from numerous international experts. As scarce as they are fascinating, these natural stones captivate us with their beauty as much as their history, which, for some, began centuries ago.
The report unravels the secrets of the most sought-after colors – red, pink, blue, green – and reminds us that red diamonds over 2 carats are virtually impossible to find. It explains how and where they are formed, noting that only a few mines in the world (Canada, Botswana, Australia, etc.) produce these natural treasures.
Some have become legendary. They have had a unique, sometimes unimaginable journey, the story of which is part of the aura of magic and mystery that surrounds them. The report devotes a chapter to these diamonds.
Proof of their extreme rarity, the value of colored diamonds has increased at an exceptional rate over the past 20 years, according to the Fancy Color Research Foundation. Since 2005, their prices have risen by 205%: +393.5% for pink diamonds, +242.4% for blue diamonds and +49.3% for yellow diamonds. Despite uncertainty in the luxury market, they are holding their own and not losing value – the opposite is true.
Auctions confirm this fad. In 2022, the 10.03-carat Mediterranean Blue diamond fetched $21.4 million at Sotheby’s. In June 2025, the Marie-Thérèse pink diamond, linked to Marie Antoinette, sold for $14 million at Christie’s. The legendary CTF Pink Star, a vivid pink diamond weighing 59.60 carats with no flaws, holds the world sale record: $71.2 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2017.
The report also highlights the technical challenges of cutting, a process intended to enhance every nuance. We get a look deep behind the scenes of the diamantaire’s craft, art and virtuoso expertise in the secrecy of the workshops, as few people know how to cut colored diamonds.
Download the full report here
Photos:
Pink diamonds from the Argyle mine, Australia – ©Rio Tinto
Okavango Blue diamond – ©Okavango Diamond Company