An international diamond investment company based in the City of London, Stone House Global Markets offers its clients the chance to develop unique portfolios providing rock-solid reliability and trend-bucking returns, at times when conventional safe investments are wavering. Combining experience, foresight and strategic intelligence of movement in the market, and with resources and connections that allow access to exclusive acquisition opportunities, we are able to obtain for our investors some of the most coveted and valuable gems to be found: coloured diamonds of incomparable rarity and beauty.
Diamond Grading
Cut, Carat, Clarity & Colour
All diamonds are rare, and even the least special has great intrinsic worth as a beautiful freak of geology, carrying the fascination of its distant prehistoric origin. But between one diamond and another, scales of value relate to exactly what the stone is, and how it has been dealt with since its discovery. The cut must highlight a stone's brilliance, whilst ideally maintaining as much as possible of the uncut gem's original mass. The 'cleaving' of a rough diamond follows the decision made in respect of reducing waste - so a substantial but awkwardly-shaped uncut stone may reward reduction to two or three perfect but more modest gems, of lesser weight.
Read more about Diamond Grades and Investment
Coloured Diamonds
The shade and intensity of colour affects values, because while ephemeral fashion ensembles may be arranged around particular coloured stones, the beauty of their tint is entirely natural, having occurred during the ancient period of their formation, and colours differ in rarity according to those circumstances.
Pink and red stones result from vast pressure, and are rarest. Boron produces blues; hydrogen causes violet hues, and yellow or orange tints indicate the presence of nitrogen. Natural radiation brings about green stones. Red is most unusual, green and blue are close behind, then pink, purple, orange, olive, yellow, brown, grey and black.
Coloured diamond's great value is matched by its discreet portability. A perfect stone worth as much as a substantial West End freehold could be held unobtrusively between your fingers as you shake hands. Enormous values can be legally and quietly transported almost anywhere, without needing any disclosure or elaborate security measures.
Because the methods of judging a diamond's value have been so widely accepted, the criteria involved allow a single stone's unique flaws, colour and proportions to gain the same conclusion from any gemologist, wherever it is valued. Taken with the opinion of a recognised laboratory expert, prospective buyers can be certain of how much a stone is worth, wherever it may be sold.
Coloured diamonds allow the effortless transferral of wealth as a bequest, in a form that is secure long-term against economic slumps and collapses. Their worth is almost immediately recoverable, and dwindling availability serves to protect their value.
Transactions made in respect of coloured stones are not recorded, except as far as laws against money-laundering and terrorism require. These allow for the monitoring of gem-dealers' internal controls, but names and contact information are never released to government agencies.
Recognition of these benefits further increases the market for coloured stones. As worldwide financial jitters set investors on the back-foot, their response is to look for unshakeable security without condemning their funds to torpid rates of growth. The same diamonds are just as appealing to confident investors, for the same reasons.
This growth in demand is kept from unbalancing established values, by De Beers' strict price structure for newly-mined stones, and also by the company's disinclination to increase availability. Coloured diamonds' intrinsic rarity makes any diminution of value caused by a flood of new examples on the market, quite impossible.
These stones' tiny size, enormous value, robustness and ready, buoyant market make them the ultimate reliable, flexible form of wealth. Whether they are carried with you everyday against unpredictable urgent cash requirements, or held long-term in the knowledge of their safe, soaring value, or even, used as a wonderfully uncomplicated gift or legacy, their consistent returns on investment ensure ownership is always profitable. Stone House Global Markets can arrange fruitful trading opportunities for the holder of a selection of coloured stones.
The shade and intensity of colour affects values, because while ephemeral fashion ensembles may be arranged around particular coloured stones, the beauty of their tint is entirely natural, having occurred during the ancient period of their formation, and colours differ in rarity according to those circumstances.
Pink and red stones result from vast pressure, and are rarest. Boron produces blues; hydrogen causes violet hues, and yellow or orange tints indicate the presence of nitrogen. Natural radiation brings about green stones. Red is most unusual, green and blue are close behind, then pink, purple, orange, olive, yellow, brown, grey and black.
These geological flukes occur irregularly and unpredictably, so large quantities of coloured diamonds are unlikely ever to become available. Moreover, the market in coloured diamonds is deliberately restricted by suppliers like De Beers, whose greatest profit is from clear stones; their interests require that the rarer variety doesn't outshine the more commonplace.
The 4C'S
All diamonds are rare, and even the least special has great intrinsic worth as a beautiful freak of geology., carrying the fascination of its distant prehistoric origin. But between one diamond and another, scales of value relate to exactly what the stone is, and how it has been dealt with since its discovery.
The cut must highlight a stone's brilliance, whilst ideally maintaining as much as possible of the uncut gem's original mass. The 'cleaving' of a rough diamond follows the decision made in respect of reducing waste - so a substantial but awkwardly-shaped uncut stone may reward reduction to two or three perfect but more modest gems, of lesser weight.
This weight is judged in 'carat', (one fifth of a gram) and each carat is further divided into 100 'points', so a diamond weighing four-fifths of a carat would be eighty points.
A diamond's clarity, which in a flawless example is almost absolute, is more generally obscured by slight blemishes or 'inclusions'; the greater the number, the less perfect the stone. Inclusions are structural imperfections such as tiny cracks that can appear whitish or cloudy, obstructing overall clarity.
Colour is the critical factor in these diamonds's enormous value. Known as 'fancies', coloured stones' degree of tint can be graded, and each grade indicates a step of increased value. These run as follows: Faint, Very Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Deep, and Fancy Vivid.
For many reasons. There is a minimum of fuss, sense of obligation, or reason to worry at any stage of coloured diamond ownership. Once the quality of the stone is established, the value is definite and no trouble is involved in the investment's maintenance.
It is an unregistered asset, unfailingly durable, easily, securely transportable and utterly discreet, unless the owner chooses to display it...when it entrances all who see it.
A coloured diamond's presence represents very large sums of money, easily recouped. The stone's value is recognised internationally and measured by fixed criteria. And values rise, very dependably.
The 4Cs, Cut, Carat, Clarity and Colour do, but while the grading of clear stones is alphabetical, with 'D' denoting perfection, coloured diamonds have their standard graded by degree of tint, so 'vivid' is the equivalent.
Each stone is one of the following, according to depth of colour: Faint, Very Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Deep, or Fancy Vivid.
Just one carat out of 100,000 mined, is coloured. And only one carat in 50,000 is jewellery-grade.
Yellow and pink stones are expected to show strongest growth.
The incomparable rarity, intrinsic beauty and enormous value of coloured diamonds means they are unrivalled, both as symbols of status and as transportable, ever-secure investments which only gain in value. Such dependability and flexibility during periods of economic doubt, make possession of these stones a desirable mark of distinct advantage.
Significant returns in the medium to long-term, can be expected by holders of coloured diamonds.
If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us using the link at the top right of the page.
The information provided in this site has been derived from research and sources believed to be reliable. However, no guarantee is expressed or implied as to their validity. Opinions included herein are subject to change without notice. The gem market is speculative and unregulated. PropertyPortal.com Limited and Stone House Global Markets is not an investment advisor nor is it licensed to provide investment advice. PropertyPortal.com Limited and Stone House Global Markets strongly recommends that their clients seek the advice of their financial advisors, gemologists and/or lawyers, if they are seeking to invest in quality diamonds as part of an investment portfolio or strategy.
Certification does not eliminate all risks associated with the grading of gems. Recommendations are meant for those who are financially suited for the risks involved. Past performance of coloured diamonds is not a guarantee of future results. PropertyPortal.com Limited and Stone House Global Markets does not guarantee a profit or that losses may not be incurred. Subscribers should not view this publication as investment advice, nor is it intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any gemstone. Natural coloured diamonds are a long-term collectible and are subject to price fluctuations. Owners of fine coloured diamonds should allow time to properly re-market their holdings