How to calculate diamond prices?

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Jul 30, 2010 - 10:51 am

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How to calculate diamond prices

	Historical
	Rapaport Diamond Report
	How to calculate diamond prices

Historical

Martin Rapaport learned the business of rough diamonds in Antwerp (Belgium), he is a graduate GIA. He began his career in the industry as a broker of rough and polished diamond in New York in 1975. He established, in 1978, the Rapaport Diamond Price List (called by the professionals Rap or the List), which has become the primary source of diamond prices and market information for the diamond trade. Over the years, this price lists became Rapaport Diamond Report and it is in 1982 that he established RapNet, an online interactive diamond trading market, that has been expanded to include Diamonds.net. Martin Rapaport is a member of World Diamond Council and he played an important part in Kimberley Process: certification for the international trade in rough diamonds.

He is more powerful than De Beers yet he handles this power without any sign of corruption.

Rapaport Diamond Report

Rapaport Diamond Report is composed of sheets of price lists (see the example on the left and below). These price lists are accessible only by subscription, for the professionals. The color of these sheets is always red in order to avoid and to limit photocopies or faxes which become black. There are various lists according to the weight (from 0.01 to 5.99 carats) and the shape. Price rises are printed bold (example below: G-VVS2 to G-VS2) and falls are in bold italics (example below: E-SI2 to E-I1).

Because cut/shape, fluorescence, symmetry and polish are not included on the list there can be an important variations in price.

RAPAPORT : (1.00 -- 1.49 CT) 03/05/04 ROUNDS
	IF	VVS1	VVS2	VS1	VS2	SI1	SI2	SI3	I1	I2	I3
D	280	255	240	220	210	195	185	175	160	140	120
E	250	245	235	225	215	190	180	170	155	135	115
F	230	220	210	200	180	165	150	135	120	110	100
G	210	200	190	180	170	155	140	120	110	100	90
H	195	180	170	160	150	135	125	115	100	90	75
I	180	160	150	140	130	120	110	95	80	75	65
J	160	150	135	125	115	100	90	80	65	55	45
K	140	130	120	110	100	90	80	70	60	50	40
L	130	120	110	100	90	80	70	60	50	40	30
M	120	110	100	90	80	70	60	50	40	30	20

All diamond prices being reproduced on the list above are false, they do not reflect the reality and are there only for examples.

How to calculate diamond prices

The diamond prices indicated on these lists are expressed per carat, in hundredth of American dollar ($100's per carat). On the first line of the list, one finds the weight, the date and the cut. On the second line, one finds the clarity grade from IF (Internally Flawless) to I3. In the first column, one finds the color grade from D to M. Therefore all you have to do is to move horizontally and vertically according to the color and the clarity to know its price in dollar per carat.

Example:

- The diamond price for a brilliant of 1.00 carat, G-VVS2 is 190 in our list. Its price would be thus 1.00 carat x 190 x 100 = US$ 19,000.

- The diamond price for a brilliant of 1.36 carat, E-VS2 is 215 in our list. Its price would be thus 1.36 carat x 215 x 100 = US$ 29,240.

- We repeat that these diamond prices are not real. It is only an example.

- If you wish to know the diamond prices in the retail trade, you can click on this link: diamond prices.