DIAMOND INVESTMENT TRUST REGAL CONSULTANCY MAY 2017
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“Across the industry, it is predicted that by 2020
global demand for diamonds will exceed supply by 7 million carats per year.
Research group, Bain & Co.
estimate demand to grow by 5.9% a year until 2020. This will be driven as emerging
markets like China and India adopt Western practices
of giving diamonds as a
celebratory gift.” Reasons to Invest
The Regal Diamond Investment Trust projects an annual
With the source that supplies 95% of the world’s annual
income return in excess of 15% along with an annual capital
natural pink diamond supply due to cease operations in 2021,
appreciation return in excess of 15%.
investment in this resource has never been so appealing.
Given the financial and political uncertainty of today’s
With closure just around the corner, investors are enjoying an
economic landscape, investors are becoming increasingly
average yearly appreciation rate of between 15-20% on their
disenchanted with traditional investments such as property,
diamond portfolios.
stocks and precious metals and bonds.
This severe imbalance in the supply and demand equation
Rare coloured diamonds have a long-term history of
means that the Argyle pink diamond is now one of the best
strong, stable gains. This is the reason for their appeal as an
opportunities for medium-term capital gains.
investment opportunity. Rare pink diamonds are among the most liquid and sophisticated markets for any collectible asset.
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Contents How it works
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Option One: Investment in the Regal Diamond Investment Trust Option Two: End-to-End Ownership of Diamonds Step 1: Sourcing Step 2: Investment diamond proposal Step 3: Approval & acquisition Step 4: Independent verification and valuation Step 5: Physical delivery, storage & insurance Step 6: Selling
Company Overview
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Investment Specialists Who We Are Our Team
The Opportunity - Why Invest?
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Supply & Demand
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Historic Performance
Opportunity for long-term outsized returns Pink Diamonds – The Upper Class of Diamonds Closure Announced A Monopoly – Broken The time to invest is now
Diversification Effects
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Protection from a volatile market Why are rare coloured diamonds insulated from market volatility? Diversity From Traditional Investments
Estate Planning & Wealth Preservation
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Currency Hedge
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What to look for?
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Super Fund
20 Year Historic Rates What is an investment diamond? Argyle Diamonds Variation in Pink Diamond Colours & Value Hue Intensity & Tone Global Distribution Yellow Diamonds
Certification Requirements
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What is an Investment Diamond GIA Coloured Diamond Grading Reports The Argyle Grading Method The Argyle Diamonds Gem Indentification & Authenticity Document
Determining Diamond Value
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Pricing a colour diamond
The rules of supply and demand Colour Colour Dispersion Clarity Fluorescence Polish & Symmetry Depth Clarity in Coloured Diamonds
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Disclaimer Important Information This document is an important legal document and should be
opinions or matters (express or implied) arising out of,
read in its entirety.
contained in or derived from this document or any omission
This document is issued by Regal Consultancy Pty Ltd ACN 609 748 325 (Regal). This document is neither a prospectus nor a disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Act) and it has not been lodged with the Australian Securities and Invest¬ments Commission.
from this document or of any other written or oral information or opinions provided now or in the future to any interested party or its advisers. In particular, no representation or warranty is given as to the achievement or reasonableness of any plans, future projections,
This document has been prepared only for issue to, and use
prospects or financial returns and nothing in this document is
by, Regal’s existing shareholders or prospective investors who
or should be relied upon as a promise or representation as to
qualify as Sophisticated or Professional Investors as defined in
the future.
the Act and this document is not intended to be received or read by anyone other than those so qualified.
Regal expressly disclaims all liability for any loss or damage of whatsoever kind (whether foreseeable or not) which may
This document does not constitute an offer or invitation
arise from any person acting on any information and opinions
in rela¬tion to any place in which, or to any person to
relating to Regal contained in this document or any information
whom it would not be lawful to make such an offer.
which is made available in connection with any further inquiries, notwithstanding any negligence, default or lack of care. In
No advice
furnishing this document, Regal undertakes no obligation to
This document is not investment advice and does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any person who receives or reads it (Recipient). This document is not a recommendation to invest.
provide any additional information other than as specifically stated in this document. Forward looking statements
It is important that you consider the investment risks set out
This document contains forward looking statements which are
in this document in light of your personal circumstances
identified by words such as “may”, “could”, “anticipates”, “believes”,
(including financial and taxation aspects) and seek professional
“estimates”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “forecasts” “calculates”
advice from your accountant, lawyer or other professional
and other similar words that involve risks and uncertainties.
adviser before deciding whether to invest.
These forward looking statements are subject to various factors that could cause Regal’s results to differ materially from those
Confidentiality
expressed or anticipated in these statements. Regal has no
This document is the property of Regal. By receiving this
intention to update or revise forward looking statements, or to
document,
contents
publish prospective financial information in the future, regardless
confidential and agrees not to copy, supply, disseminate or
of whether new information, future events or any other factors
disclose any information in relation to its content without the
affect the information contained in this document, except where
prior written consent of Regal.
required by law.
the
Recipient
agrees
to
keep
its
Representations No person is authorized to provide information or to make a representation in connection with Regal that is not contained in this document. Any information or a representation in connection with Regal that is not contained in this document may not be relied upon as having been authorized by Regal.
Investment risk warning Investment in the Regal Diamond Trust involves a level of risk and is not suitable for investors who are unable to sustain the loss of all or part of the sum invested, or who require predictable levels of return or liquidity. Potential investors should assess their own appetite for such risks independently and consult
No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be
their own advisors before making a decision to invest in the
made in relation to, and no responsibility or liability (whether for
Regal Diamond Trust.
negligence, under statute or otherwise) is or will be accepted by WAIV or by any of its officers, directors, shareholders, partners, employees or advisers (as relevant) as to or in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information, statements,
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Investment in the Regal Diamond Trust should be regarded as speculative. Invest¬ments should be considered only by sophisticated or professional investors.
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How It Works This opportunity provided by Regal Consultancy offers investors two options to capitalise on the potential gains of this unique asset class. These options are outlined below.
Option One: Investment in the Regal Diamond Investment Trust Option One: Investment in the Regal Diamond Investment Trust The Regal Diamond Investment Trust will be an Australian
The objective of the trust is to acquire a full portfolio of colored diamonds with a wholesale valuation of $12-15,000,000 (USD).
domiciled trust operating under the corporate trustee, Regal
The trust projects an annual income return in excess of 15%
Resources Proprietary Limited.
along with an annual capital appreciation return in excess of
The trust invites investors to hold units in the trust each valued
15%.
at $1 (AUD). The trust will be managed by Regal Consultancy
The diamonds will be fully certified and valued at purchase, with
Australia under Australian Financial Services License 463983.
the complete inventory to be made available to any of the trust’s
The trust will acquire, hold and trade colored diamonds sourced
unit holders.
from the exclusive Argyle Diamond Mine located in Western
Regal Consultancy has an established global network to
Australia’s Kimberly region. The diamonds will be acquired at a
facilitate the sale of the diamonds to the retail market.
wholesale price which will facilitate an average profit margin of 250% when released to the retail market.
Once the trust is fully subscribed consideration will be given to a public listing on an international exchange.
Option Two: End-to-End Ownership of Diamonds
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We provide you with a full solution for buying and managing
We are here to help you from your first steps; learning about rare
your investment in rare coloured diamonds including market
coloured diamond investments, through the buying and storage
education, sourcing, certification, vault storage, regular portfolio
process, and will be on hand with you right through to your
valuation, and more.
eventual end sale.
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How It Works
Step 1: Sourcing Regal Diamond Investment Trust will act as your agent
Step 5: Physical delivery, storage & insurance
to locate and acquire the most appropriate investment
To keep your investment secure, we have organised secure
diamond matching your specified level of investment.
storage through the Perth Bullion Company. Their state of the
Step 2: Investment diamond proposal
art vault and security systems make this the premier option for storage and should ensure peace of mind.
We will then present you with a formal proposal once we have
In addition to safeguarding the physical asset, we will also
selected a diamond, which includes all specifications, images,
organise insurance for your investment, through Gladstone
relevant certification, and historical performance analysis.
Claisebrook Insurance Brokers.
Step 3: Approval & acquisition
Step 6: Selling
We will work with you to ensure you have a comfortable
If you have chosen this method of investment, when you
understanding of the proposal, and once it meets your
decide to sell all or any part of your diamond portfolio, we
approval we will complete the acquisition process.
will be on hand to assist in finding the best channel through
Step 4: Independent verification and valuation
which to sell your diamonds. A commonly asked question from investors regards the liquidity of pink diamonds. Understandably, investors want to
All Diamonds come with certification verifying that they are
know how resalable their diamond portfolio is, and how to go
natural coloured diamonds. This certification comes from
about selling when they’re ready.
the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA). This GIA is the premier laboratory in the world and they set the bench mark of diamond grading. When selling a diamond it is imperative that it comes with certification. If you have chosen to invest in Argyle Diamonds, these will not only come with a GIA certification, but also an Argyle Pink Diamonds Gem Identification & Authenticity Document.
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Rare pink diamonds are among the most liquid and sophisticated markets for any collectible asset. They are able to be transported quietly and legally and can be sold globally in most major cities. There are thousands of participants in the market, from collectors & investors to dealers and jewellery buyers.
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Company Overview Investment Specialists Regal Consultancy are investment specialists distributing
forward a diverse, innovative and attractive range of products
and introducing financial products to a wide range of high
and services to meet the needs of our clients whatever the
net worth individuals, international financial advisers, and
market conditions.
institutional clients. Our success comes from our drive to put
Who We Are Our business philosophy is built upon the belief that traditional
We are not hampered by any commitment to a particular
equity investments are not capable of fulfilling all of investor’s
management style or asset class. This means that we can source
investment needs in terms of income, growth and capital security.
investments that offer excellent high quality returns from a
We believe that investors should have access to the assets available to and used by institutions in order to build a genuinely
very wide range of assets, financial institutions and geographic locations.
diverse mix of assets within their portfolios. However gaining
It is our flexibility that allows us to search the industry to source
access to some markets or asset classes is not always possible via
the best partner we can to deliver the returns investors expect
the traditional investment route or can be very expensive. That’s
from the products. Since our inception we have collaborated with
why by taking advantage of our expertise and close relationships
some of the biggest financial companies in the world, all experts
with various financial institutions we are able to deliver diverse,
in their fields, to bring our vision and know-how to market
innovative and compelling financial solutions whatever the financial strategy.
We are always committed to our clients by offering tailored and differentiating investment solutions to grow their wealth.
We have made quantifiable risk the fundamental driver within
We can assist in the creation and implementation of bespoke
our product selection process so that investors can understand
Investments, using a diverse range of underlying assets, counter-
where or why a Regal’s investment proposition would fit
parties with built in safety features, and various payoff options.
alongside, or instead of, a traditional equity based investment in their portfolio.
At Regal we treat our clients and business partners fairly promoting a work environment built on trust, diversity and sound values.
Our Team The Regal team is led by qualified, experienced senior managers in the Australian domestic and international offshore advice industry. The depth and variety of experience gives the team the ideal mix of experience to develop investment opportunities to suit the individual needs of clients plus the expectations of institutions. Our client facing advisors are supported by our dedicated back office support team in Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.
For the Diamond Investment Trust we have partnered with industry leaders in the wholesale diamond industry with over 50 years experience in the mining and diamond industry. For the last 10 years they have been focusing on the rarer more specialised Diamond Market and in particular Argyle Pink and Blue Diamonds. Their dedication, professionalism and success has seen them secure partnerships with the two premier diamond mines in Australia, Argyle and Ellendale. This relationship allows the Regal Diamond Trust to source and supply the highest quality gems which provide the ultimate in investment opportunity.
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“The Australian-produced pink stones have become highly sought after by investors of all stripes, led by the rise in selfmanaged super funds...[with] a growing trend towards self-managed super funds following the GFC, [it’s not] just the superrich putting in bids for the stones.”
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The Opportunity - Why Invest? Amongst investors around the world, rare coloured diamonds
Naturally coloured diamonds are the most valuable gemstones
are rapidly growing as one of the leading preferred asset
on the planet. This is determined on a price per carat basis.
classes.
Similar to fine paintings, there is no fixed price for exceptionally
Given the financial and political uncertainty of today’s
fine coloured diamonds.
economic landscape, investors are becoming increasingly
A 1 carat Fancy Intense Pink Argyle Diamond would have sold
disenchanted with traditional investments such as property,
from approximately $70,000.00, 20 years ago. Today, the same
stocks and precious metals and bonds.
diamond would be valued at $500,000.00.
Fluctuations in economic conditions have made tangible hard assets, such as diamonds, an appealing alternative as they provide reliable returns and safety from market volatility.
Historic Performance Rare coloured diamonds have strong long-term returns
diamonds. Since 1970, pink diamonds have doubled in price
Rare coloured diamonds have a long-term history of strong,
every 6-7 years, and fancy yellow diamonds have doubled in
stable gains. This is the reason for their appeal as an investment
value every 8 to 10 years.
opportunity.
Below is a snapshot depicting the strong returns of these
This is particularly true for the three most traded categories of
coloured diamonds relative to other traditional asset classes,
coloured diamonds recognised for their investment appeal:
over the past 10 years.
yellow diamonds, blue diamonds, and most notably pink
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Yellow Diamonds
4.8%
Blue Diamonds
8.0%
Pink Diamonds
13.8%
10-Year Annualised Returns to 2017 To understand what this performance looks like over time, the following chart illustrates the changes in price points gathered since 2005, based on a statistically significant sample size (tens of thousands of diamonds).
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Supply & Demand Opportunity for long-term outsized returns
Pink Diamonds – The Upper Class of Diamonds
As an investment opportunity, coloured diamonds have an
With only a few handfuls of new polished stones inserted into
astonishing potential for long term returns. This is due to a
the market each year, the description of ‘beyond rare’ has never
growing imbalance in the supply demand equation.
been more accurate for the Argyle Pink diamond.
In the near future, many of the key mines that produce
Of every million carats of rough diamonds unearthed from the
rare colour diamonds are nearing the end of their lifespan.
Argyle Diamond Mine, a mere one carat is appropriate for sale.
Additionally, with the 2008 financial crisis, exploration was reduced. With supply becoming restricted, demand for these gems from investors will far outway supply.
Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine is set amongst the remote wilderness of the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. There over 95% of the world’s Argyle Pink Diamonds are
Across the industry, it is predicted that by 2020 global demand
produced. This mine also holds the monopoly in Champagne,
for diamonds will exceed supply by 7 million carats per year.
Red and Violet Diamonds.
Research group, Bain & Co. estimate demand to grow by 5.9% a year until 2020. This will be driven as emerging markets like China and India adopt Western practices of giving diamonds as a celebratory gift. Given the supply-demand curve advantages, investors are becoming increasingly interested in the coloured diamond market. Additionally, given that there are no new mining sources that could contribute to supply within the next 5 to 10 years, the demand-supply gap will widen in the medium to longer term. This should result in a continued increase in the price of coloured polished diamonds over this period.
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“The best-known pink diamonds are from the Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia. That mine, which supplies 90 to 95 percent of the world’s pink diamonds, will be exhausted by 2020, and the scarcity has driven up prices. Argyle pink diamonds outperform any other, they’re less and less available and more and more in demand.”
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Closure Announced The announcement from Rio Tinto that the Argyle Mine will
The closure will be a major milestone and its significance has
cease operations for diamond mining in 2021 caused a stir
not been lost on the diamond community or savvy investors
amongst investors. There have been no recent discoveries of
with a preference for hard assets. There have been no recent
viable mining opportunities to replace this unique mine. If a
discoveries of viable mining opportunities to replace this
new mine was discovered in the near future, it would still take
unique mine, and curtailed exploration since the 2008 financial
approximately 15 years to reach the actual stage of producing
crises.If a new mine was discovered in the near future, it would
diamonds to sell to consumers. This closure positions the Argyle
still take a minimum 10-15 years to reach the actual stage of
Pink diamond as an investment opportunity offering significant
producing diamonds to sell to consumers.
capital gains in the medium term.
Like all assets, the diamond market follows the laws of supply
In the world of diamonds and precious gemstones, the Argyle
and demand. As such, when Argyle does close, the supply of
mine has assumed a brand of its own. In addition to being
pink diamonds will be even more limited. This closure positions
the fourth largest diamond mine in the world by volume,
the pink diamond as an investment opportunity offering
the mine has been the largest and most significant source
significant capital gains in the medium to long term.
of rare pink diamonds, producing 95% of the world’s supply. While occasional pink diamonds can be found in other mines, (in Brazil, Russia and India for example), the Argyle mine is unmatched in the sheer quantity and quality of the pink diamonds it has produced over the years. Within the Argyle mine itself, pink diamonds are incredibly rare, representing less than 1% of the total diamonds mined, as the
Colour
Brown
Near Colourless
Pink
Est. Production %
72%
27%
< 1%
9.7 Million
3.64 Million
<0.13 Million
Est. Production
Volume (carats)
table below highlights. As with all diamond mines, the Argyle diamond mine has a limited lifespan, after which it will no longer be economically viable to continue mining. The majority of industry experts suggest it will largely be depleted within 5 years. Rio Tinto has confirmed these findings, announcing in 2013 that it was only able to extend the life of the Argyle mine to 2021 by transitioning to underground operations. When taking into consideration the full life of the mine, this transition is fairly minor and the reality remains that closure by 2021 is a very real expectation.
A Monopoly, Broken
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Historically, the diamond industry was structurally flawed
Consolidated Mines Limited. De Beers maintained a hold on
– the De Beers monopoly controlled prices. But, with peak
what was a relatively small industry at the time by expanding
market share reaching almost 90% in the late 1980’s, a series
from mining into every facet of the diamond industry, with
of events over the next 25 years led to the erosion of the De
a focus on monopolizing distribution. De Beers successfully
Beers monopoly. Today, De Beers no longer has control of the
influenced just about all of the world’s rough suppliers to sell
diamond industry, and for the first time in a century, market
production through the De Beers channel, gaining control
supply and demand dynamics, not the De Beers monopoly,
of global supply. This gave De Beers the power to influence
drives diamond prices.
diamond supply and thus diamond prices.
In the late 19th century a massive diamond discovery in South
The De Beers distribution channel, operating under the
Africa prompted a diamond rush. Businessman Cecil Rhodes
unassuming moniker Diamond Trading Co. (DTC), was a system
bought as many diamond-mining claims as he could, and
put in place that gave De Beers complete control and discretion
his accumulation of properties eventually became De Beers
to distribute the majority of the world’s diamonds. Only buyers
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or “Sightholders” authorized by De Beers could participate in the
mine in the world by volume) broke away from De Beers
non-negotiable DTC sales.
because of the cartels inflexibility. Over the next few years, other
In order to maintain a stable but rising diamond price, De Beers had the power to stockpile inventory in a weak market or raise
mines followed suit, as new world-class mines in Canada chose to sell their supply independent of De Beers.
the prices charged to Sightholders, and then in an excessively
In an effort to maintain control of supply, De Beers began
strong price environment (with the potential to damage
buying diamonds in the secondary market at a premium, but
demand), De Beers had the excess supply on hand to release to
the strategy was short lived as the cost was prohibitive. By the
the market when needed, repressing disorderly price increases.
end of the 1990’s, De Beers’ market share had fallen from as
To keep the DTC system intact, it was necessary for De Beers to maintain control of the worlds rough diamond supply. However, in the second half of the 20th century, as new worldclass mines were discovered in Russia, Australia, and Canada,
high as 90% in the 1980’s to less than 60%. In 2000, De Beers announced a shift in strategic initiative focused on independent marketing of the De Beers brand, implying that they no longer had control of the market.
it became increasingly difficult for De Beers to control global
The way that De Beers did business, revolving around the
supply. The biggest risk to the survival of the De Beers cartel
central concept of controlling market supply, was simply not
was for these new world-class mines to begin selling directly to
viable in a more competitive environment. With the company
the market, bypassing De Beers.
restructuring underway, De Beers liquidated their stockpile
Russia began producing diamonds in the 1950’s. At first, the Russians agreed to sell production to De Beers keeping the cartel intact. However, the arrangement was weakened in 1963 when Anti-Apartheid legislation restrained the Soviet Union from dealing with a South African company. Further pressure came during the Soviet Union collapse in the 1990’s, when political chaos and a weak ruble further separated Russia’s production from De Beers. The De Beers market share began to fall from a peak of almost 90%. Shortly after losing control of the Russian supply, the Argyle
from 2000 to 2004, resulting in a modest decline in diamond prices as the liquidation supply more than offset new demand coming out of Asia. By 2005, the inventory overhang had been exhausted allowing market forces to drive diamond prices for the first time in a century, resulting in unprecedented price volatility. Diamond prices made a new high in 2007, followed by a violent sell off in 2008 and 2009 before rebounding to another new high in the summer of 2011. As of June 2013, diamond prices are approximately 15% off the 2011 highs, but remain firm as lower than expected mine output has subdued supply supporting prices.
Mine in Australia (at the time the largest diamond producing
The Time to Invest is Now 95% of the world’s annual natural pink diamond supply is mined from one single source: The Argyle Mine in Western Australia, which is scheduled to completely cease all mining
“While diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, pink diamonds now
operations by 2021.
do it for investors. Times may be
In anticipation of this closure date, investors buying Argyle Pink
tough but in the world of pink
Diamond are seeing an average appreciation of between 1520% on their diamond portfolios each year.
diamonds, business is booming”
This drastic supply shortage combined with a rapidly increasing market demand has positioned the Argyle Pink Diamond to take its place as one of the best opportunities for medium-term capital gains.
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Diversification Effect Protection From a Volatile Market Since the 1970s the prices of the highest grades of have
Unlike equity markets, commodities and precious metals,
appreciated between 10 to 20% per year on average, with the
diamonds have demonstrated stability in the face of volatile
rarest gems enjoying the largest growth in value.
financial conditions. As expected, diamond prices appreciate in
For those investors seeking a diversified portfolio, diamonds present an attractive opportunity as their appreciation has
times of economic growth. However, most notably, in periods of recession, though prices may plateau the do not tend to fall.
not been found to correlate with the performance of stock
This was evidenced in the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, where
and bond markets. This is a fact of great significance in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
pink diamond prices remained steady as investors held onto their
uncertain landscape.
existing holdings. Post GFC, investors flocked to buy these tangible assets, resulting in an upswing in prices in 2010 and 2011.
CAGR Jan 2005 - Jan 2017
Total Appreciation Jan 2005 - Jan 2017
Fancy Vidid Pink
12.6%
269.7%
Fancy Intense Pink
14.1%
407.4%
Fancy Pink
14.0%
495.2%
These results should instil confidence in investors, that these rare coloured diamonds can act as portfolio insurance, helping to offset risk in a well-balanced investment portfolio.
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Why Are Rare Coloured Diamonds Insulated From Market Volatility? With a political and economic instability causing fluctuations in the value of traditional investments, people are looking for something they can rely on. Rare, coloured diamonds fit into this category for several reasons. Given that these gems are not affected by the unpredictable moods of equity markets, they do not experience the same volatility as suffered in financial markets. The lack of options, futures and short selling associated with this commodity protect investors from short-term fluctuations and market risks. In the long-term, coloured diamonds, most notably rare pinks, are a limited, finite resource. Therefore, natural market fundamentals ensure a certain level of stability and consistency in the long run.
Diversify From Traditional Investments Regardless of investment strategy, the majority of investors already have significant exposure to traditional assets. Most portfolios contain a healthy allocation to Australian equity markets, international shares, property, and corporate or government bonds. In addition, approximately one-third of the average investment portfolio is sitting in cash and term deposits, where interest rates are sitting at record lows and likely to stay there for the foreseeable future. Many investors are thus considering alternative options, as buying more of the above listed assets would further concentrate portfolio risk. Many advisors are thus advising clients to look at hard assets such as rare coloured diamonds, which provide an attractive higher-growth alternative to leaving cash in the bank at negative real interest rates.
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Regal Diamond Trust
Estate Planning & Wealth Preservation When it comes to estate planning, diamonds are often referred
Historically, this was in fact a real and significant reason people
to as ‘stealth wealth’, or a legal private currency that allows
bought diamonds – portable wealth, as they were the best and
for the discreet transfer of wealth. For example, a cache of
easiest form of wealth transfer in history. In terms of privacy,
diamonds may be seamlessly passed from one generation to
most governments do not require the ownership of coloured
the next.
diamonds to be disclosed to any government authority as they are
Diamonds have long been considered the ultimate form of concentrated wealth. Their size to value ratio makes them the most dense store of value out of all natural resources
considered personal property. Diamond certificates are always in bearer form – there are no names or serial numbers, and there are no registration requirements for coloured diamonds.
and other assets; you can literally hold a one million dollar
In other words, coloured diamonds remain by far the most
diamond on the tip of your finger, making it a private and easily
discreet, convenient, and concentrated store of value in the world.
transportable international currency.
Super Fund Rare Coloured Diamonds are permissible investments inside a Self Managed Super Fund Portfolio and offer many benefits to those who wish to compile a robust and truly diversified portfolio. If you are interested in holding rare coloured diamonds in your Self Managed Super Fund, contact Regal Consultancy or speak to your financial advisor.
“The prospect of rising rates outside of Australia means further pressure on the Australian dollar. Despite its poor performance over the last two years, our local currency is still widely considered to be overvalued. If the US raises rates, as expected, and the gap between US and Australian rates is getting squeezed from both sides of the Pacific, we expect the Australian dollar to decline further.” – 2015 ASX Long Term Investing Report
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Regal Diamond Trust
Currency Hedge Like precious metals, diamonds are always priced by the US
In terms of historic performance, the chart below covers the
dollar, providing your portfolio with a natural foreign currency
performance of the AUD vs the USD over the past 20 years.
hedge that helps manage the risk of a depreciating Australian dollar. This means that should the Australian dollar fall in value relative
Investors stand to benefit not only from the expected price appreciation of rare coloured diamonds, but also from any further weakness in the Australian dollar which would magnify gains.
to the American dollar, the value of your diamond portfolio in AUD goes up, thus improving the returns of your portfolio.
20 Year Historic Rates January 1996 - January 2017 Because of the mining boom that has occurred over the last 15
the value of the AUD. If, as expected, the economy continues
years, we have seen the value of the Australian dollar starting to
to slow and should the Reserve Bank continue to slash interest
rise from 2001. This hit a peak of approximately AU $1.10 against
rates, it is likely that we could see the AUD continue to weaken.
the US dollar in 2011. Notably, this peak aligns almost perfectly with a peak in Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terms of trade, and with the price of iron ore, our most lucrative export commodity.
The prospect of a weaker AUD combined with the probability that pink diamond prices will rise in USD terms, gives persuasive reason for investing in rare coloured diamonds.
However, since 2011, iron ore prices have dropped drastically, resulting in a downturn in the Australian economy and a fall in
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Regal Diamond Trust
What To Look For What is an investment diamond Investment-grade diamonds Not all diamonds make the grade Like all things in life, the rarer the item, the more precious and
In other words, there must be a balance between rarity and
valuable it becomes; this reins especially true for diamonds.
liquidity – diamonds that benefit from their degree of rarity
Not all diamonds can be considered investment diamonds,
while still offering relative ease of purchase and sale.
meaning those that will maintain and grow in value over
Quality pink, blue, and red diamonds meet this criteria by
time; the majority of diamonds on the market, particularly
their very nature – they constitute less than 1% of all coloured
the familiar colourless diamonds seen in jewellery stores are
diamonds available, and represent a minute fraction of all
actually quite common. This holds true even in the case of very
diamonds in the world. Demand for these precious gems
large, top quality and top price colourless diamonds – the reality
continues to grow as supply dwindles, pushing prices higher. In
is, there are many such stones on the market, making it difficult
terms of investment potential, Regal Consultancy recommends
to realize full market value when re-selling.
these colour categories as those with the greatest potential.
Investment-grade diamonds must be of a degree of rarity that holds an intrinsic value, and of a category with robust demand to ensure an equally robust resale market when it comes to selling down the road.
Argyle Diamonds Performance Overview Pink is one of the rarest colours in the fancy colour diamond
The price of pink diamonds has been steadily climbing at an
world. Unlike yellow diamonds, which comprise over 60% of
average rate of 15-20% per annum. This graph highlights the
all fancy colour diamonds produced, natural pinks fall into
growth in prices across several categories of investment grade
the same category as blues and reds for their extreme rarity.
pink diamonds since 2005.
Because of their striking colour and constraints on supply (the Argyle mine, which currently produces 95% of the world’s pinks, is scheduled to shut down by 2021), pink diamonds represent excellent investment opportunities.
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CAGR Jan 2005 - Jan 2017
Total Appreciation Jan 2005 - Jan 2017
Fancy Vidid Pink
12.6%
269.7%
Fancy Intense Pink
14.1%
407.4%
Fancy Pink
14.0%
495.2%
When considering a rare pink diamond as an investment, we opt for stones with brighter colour saturation and as large a size as fits your budget.
Variation in Pink Diamond Colours & Value The range of colour in pink diamonds is quite broad, ranging
There are three important factors to understanding the colour
from a subtle hint of rose, to the rich color of a raspberry. The
of pink diamonds and differences in value between individual
GIA color grades for pink diamonds begin at Faint and, as their
stones: hue, saturation, & tone.
saturation increases, run through Very Light, Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, and Fancy Intense, to Fancy Vivid. Diamonds that are darker in tone may receive grades of Fancy Dark (weaker in saturation), or Fancy Deep (stronger in saturation). If a diamond in this hue range is both very dark in tone and very strong in saturation it may receive a grade of Fancy Red.
Hue is the dominant colour of the diamond, taking into consideration any overtone or secondary modifying colours; saturation is the strength of hue; and tone is the amount of light or darkness in the diamond. The more intense the colour, the more rare and more valuable the diamond.
Hue In the case of pinks, diamonds come in a variety of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;straightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pink shades, as well as shades with secondary modifying colours such as orange, brown, purple and yellow. For investment purposes, Regal Consultancy recommends only purchasing straight pink diamonds with no secondary overtone, and purplish pink diamonds with a purple modifier.
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Intensity & Tone
Global Distribution
Fancy Pink diamonds are assessed according to intensity of
Pink diamonds have been sourced in very limited supply from
colour, or a combination of saturation and tone. The following
mines around the world. In the 17th and 18th centuries, rich
chart describe pink diamond intensities; the further along this
discoveries of pinks were made in the Golconda region in India
spectrum you go, the richer and more intense the pink is to be
and the Minas Gerais region in Brazil. Since the late 1980s, over
seen in the diamond.
90% of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fancy pink diamond supply has come from
The brighter & more intense a stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s colour saturation, the
Rio Tintoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Argyle mine in Western Australia.
more it will be worth. For example, a Fancy Intense Pink diamond will be worth more than a Fancy Pink. Generally speaking, Fancy Vivid Pinks are the most valuable, having both the greatest saturation combined with the brightest tone.
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Yellow Diamonds Performance Overview Most categories of yellow diamonds are considered more of
However, the following year, yellow diamonds increased 52%
an ornament. Hence they are more sensitive to end consumer
in value and continued to increase in value to fully recover
spending, and thus more reactive to economic swings.
their pre-recession value by January 2012. They continue to
While Pink and blue diamonds were unaffected over the GFC, yellow diamonds suffered a 45% decline in value between January 2008 and January 2009 as most retail consumers
perform consistently, and have outperformed many traditional investments, particularly in the top Vivid Yellow category. Historic appreciation of yellow diamonds to January 2017
lowered their spending and demand plummeted and supply remained steady.
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CAGR Jan 2005 - Jan 2017
Total Appreciation Jan 2005 - Jan 2017
Fancy Vidid Yellow
3.3%
42.2%
Fancy Intense Yellow
3.3%
42.9%
Fancy Yellow
5.8%
74.1%
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Certification Requirements What is an investment diamond At Regal Diamond Investment Trust we make certain the authenticity of any diamond purchased is verified.
that provide diamond authentification. However at Regal Diamond Investment Trust, we will only offer investment
Certification is one of the most vital elements when purchasing
in diamonds that come with report issued directly by the
a rare coloured diamond and involves verifying and certifying
Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and/or Argyle Pink
its status as a natural diamond and identifying and citing the
Diamonds. These two authentification bodies are the most
individual characteristics of each diamond.
globally recognised when it comes to coloured diamonds.
There are various gemmological laboratories around the world
GIA Coloured Diamond Grading Reports Established in 1931, the GIA is the world’s largest and most respected nonprofit institute of gemological research and learning. Given the value of diamonds, the GIA holds that it is vital for industry proffessionals to have a universal grading system for comparing diamond quality. This belief prompted the creation of the International Diamond Grading System,
Using highly controlled viewing conditions and colour comparators, a colour grader selects one of 27 hues, then describes tone and saturation with terms such as ‘Fancy Light,’ ‘Fancy Intense,’ and ‘Fancy Vivid.’ This colour system has been adopted worldwide.
which examines the ‘4Cs’ as a way to objectively compare and grade diamonds. GIA describes colour in terms of hue, tone and saturation. Hue refers to the diamond’s characteristic colour, tone refers to the colour’s relative lightness or darkness, and saturation refers the colour’s depth or strength.
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The Argyle Grading Method As the leading name in pink diamond production, the Argyle Diamond Mine has developed their own system of grading. The Argyle colour grading system is separated into three hues, with the descriptors as follows: PP – Purplish Pink which is pink with a purplish secondary colour, and in rare instances Purple Pink where the pink and purple are in equal balance. P – Pink which is straight pink, and PR – ‘Pink Rose’ which is a ‘rosey’ pink The three hues are further divided into nine intensities utilising the prefix of 1 to 9; 1 being the deepest and 9 being the lightest. In addition to this the Pink Champagne (PC) colour profile covers those diamonds with a brown body colour and a pink secondary colour. The intensity nomenclature is reversed for this colour range, PC1 being the lightest intensity through to PC3 being the darkest. Argyle also recognises two Red hues; Red and Purplish Red, while to complete the Argyle fancy colour palette, blue-violet is captured by grades BL1 to BL3.
Argyle Diamonds Gem Identification & Authenticity Document The Argyle Pink Diamonds Gem Identification & Authenticity Document is a report issued directly from the mine, delivering with it a guarantee on the chain of custody from the mine to the point of purchase, denoting that the gem has always been in the care of Argyle Pink Diamonds and its trusted trade partners. In addition, each Argyle diamond over fifteen points (0.15 carats) bears a unique lot number engraved on the girdle, again forever linking it to the physical diamond for conclusive identification.
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Determining Diamond Value Pricing a colour diamond
The rules of supply and demand
Pricing a fancy colour diamond is a difficult formula to capture
As with any other commodity, demand & available supply are
due to the number of variables involved. The cost will be an
the factors which govern the price of fancy colour diamonds;
approximation based on a combined reading of the diamond’s
their value will change over time as these trends evolve. It is for
gemmological parameters with more subjective aspects of its
this reason that some stones – despite their size or rarity – may
aesthetic value.
not be as highly valued as others because they may be difficult
A nuanced understanding of how a fancy colour diamond will be appreciated by the end market is fundamental to pricing a diamond correctly.
to incorporate into wearable jewellery, or the colour could be undesirable at the time of sale. It is vital for fancy colour diamond buyers to place greater significance on certain qualities when looking at the price of a stone. These qualities have been ranked in order of importance.
Colour
Colour Dispersion
The quality of colour is by far the most important factor. The
Colour dispersion refers to how evenly distributed the colour
stronger the saturation level and brighter the tone, the rarer
is through the diamond. There are several levels of colour
the stone. Diamonds that showcase vibrant colour will obtain
dispersion, which allows for a wide range of quality even when
significant premiums on their price. Colour saturation is
the grade on the certificate is ‘Even’. The dispersion of colour
measured from levels “Faint” to “Fancy Vivid”.
throughout the stone is crucial to its value. A high level of colour dispersion is sought after as, more typically, dispersion is somewhat patchy or may exhibit a black, colourless frame. Stones without colourless patches are considerably more valuable.
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Clarity
Polish & Symmetry
In the fancy colour diamond sphere, we look for vibrant colour,
The value of a fancy colour diamond primarily lies in facet
saturation and character – the role of clarity is more important
alignment verses facet symmetry, as facet alignment can
for colourless diamonds than for fancy colour diamonds. Clarity
enhance the stone’s colour intensity. For colourless diamonds
has little impact on the price of a coloured diamond, especially
symmetry is an important quality, but in a fancy colour
for very rare stones.
diamond symmetry will not create an aesthetically pleasing
For example, there is a much bigger impact on price for a 5 carat Fancy Yellow in the VVS2-SI1 range, compared to a 1 carat Vivid Pink in the same range, where the clarity grade is inconsequential because Vivid Pink stones are so rare.
appearance. Fancy colour diamonds are often cut “free-style” to avoid issues that may arise with poorer colour dispersion and lower yield from the rough (meaning how much of the rough diamond is lost during cutting). The importance of polish and symmetry is frequently overrated for fancy colour diamonds.
Depth
Fluorescence
The depth of a diamond refers to the height of a stone divided
Naturally occurring fluorescence is a unique quality that some
by its width. Fancy colour diamonds with low depth percentage
fancy colour diamonds possess, whereby they ‘glow’ another
are greatly valued as they look larger than their actual weight
colour when exposed to UV light. More than 95% of diamonds
(this is true as long as the colour distribution of the stone is not
that fluoresce produce a blue colour, and on rare occasions they
compromised because of the shallowness of the diamond).
may fluoresce yellow, orange or green.
Very shallow stones earn a premium because of their rarity. Most fancy colour diamonds are cut with a high depth percentage, so when we see a shallow stone with excellent colour retention, it deserves a premium. An understanding of the complicated dynamics at play is important when sourcing a fancy colour diamond; for advice, please feel free to contact us with any questions.
Fluorescence in low to medium doses has no aesthetic impact on the stone and therefore should not detract from its value. In some cases, when the colour of fluorescence compliments the body of the stone, it may generate a stronger, more vibrant colour and drive up the price of the stone. Some sources maintain gives the stone a hazy quality and reduces the value. However, less than 0.1% of diamonds that
fluoresce exhibit these qualities. Pink diamonds in particular
fluoresce exhibit these qualities. Pink diamonds in particular
tend to fluoresce more strongly & frequently, and price is not
tend to fluoresce more strongly & frequently, and price is not
negatively impacted by this factor.
negatively impacted by this factor.
Clarity in Coloured Diamonds When compared to white diamonds, clarity is less of a factor in determining the value of a fancy colour diamond. Although large and obvious inclusions can detract from a coloured diamond’s beauty, they are often masked or partially hidden by the intensity of the diamond’s colour. Unlike colourless diamonds, the value of a natural coloured diamond hinges on the colour’s richness, beauty, rarity, and saturation. The rarer the stone, the less an impact the clarity grade will have on its price. For example, the prices of a one-carat vivid blue VS2 and a one-carat vivid blue S11 should not be far apart. But, if you were to take the same stones in fancy yellow, the lower clarity grade would cause a downward impact on the diamond’s price.negatively impacted by this factor.
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