The IDEX Online Polished Price Report for August 23, 2012

(IDEX Online News) – Round cut diamonds keep sliding downwards, with one notable exception – the 0.18-0.22 carat goods, which increased by 3%-4% this week. Prices of lower color/clarity 3-carat rounds are also dropping.

Most changes in Fancy Cuts are upwards, as demand for these goods continues.

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Following are some of the changes in this week's IDEX Online Diamond Price Report:

Rounds

• 0.18-0.22 cts D-G / VVS1-SI2 are in a sudden upward surge, gaining 2.7%-4.4%. The D / IF goods are in continued demand, gaining another 3.2% to hit $3,200 per carat (p/c).
• 0.23-0.29 cts, J-N / VVS1 and I / VVS2 goods are declining
• 0.30-0.39 cts are declining again, with better quality mid-color items losing +3%
• 0.45-0.49 cts, D / VVS1, SI2-3 softening
• 0.50-0.69 cts suffering from a few sporadic price losses
• 0.70-0.79 cts are declining again, mostly among the VVS1-VS2 goods
• 0.80-0.89 cts, wide range of price declines, although very moderate 1%-3%
• Top color DEF 0.90-0.99 cts items are losing favor, mainly in the IF-VS1 range as well as Pique goods
• 1.00-1.24 cts largely stable, although a few price declines compared to last week
• 1.25-1.49 cts G-J / I1 lost +2%
• 2 cts, E / SI1 and I / IF are down 3.2% and 2.6%, respectively. J / I keep rising
• 3 cts, last week's price declines have limited themselves to L-N / SI1-I3, which lost 1.7%-5.9%  the lower the cost of the item, the steeper the drop
• No price changes this week for 4 cts rounds
• 5 cts, H / SI2 down 3.0% to $19,300 p/c

Fancy Cuts

• 0.18-0.22 cts, D / IF-SI2 keep sliding, declining some 3% this week
• 0.30-0.39 cts no changes
• 0.40-0.44 cts D / IF down 2.9% to $3,300 p/c
• 0.45-0.49 cts J-M / IF-VS1 are in demand
• 0.50-0.69 cts  are stable this week, D / I2-3 are declining
• 0.70-0.79 cts remain in demand, specifically better colors in the mid-clarity ranges. I / I1-2 are turning south
• Many price increases among the 0.80-0.89 cts size goods. I / SI3-I2 are slipping
• 0.90-0.99 cts DE / IF declined by about 3%, while SI and I goods, mainly in the F-H color range are rising
• 1.00-1.24 cts, SI1-2 goods are in demand
• Top color and clarity 1.25-1.99 cts are in good demand
• 2 cts F / SI1 is up 2.8% to $11,200 p/c
• 3 cts H / VVS1 still declining, a number of other items are seeing price increases
• 4 cts EF / IF-VVS2 up 3% this week
• 5 cts, L / SI1 gained another 2.8% to $7,200