Stories

By Ben Goldberg

There are few things in our business that move me as much as holding an exceptional fancy color diamond. These stones do more than mesmerize, they speak. They spark emotion. And for me, they capture the part of this business that’s hardest to explain but easiest to feel.

I’ve always been drawn to richly saturated blues and romantic pinks. But when I open a parcel and catch a glimpse of a super vivid diamond in the yellowish-orange family, my heart skips a beat. There’s just something about those colors. The way they seem to glow from within, like they’re holding the warmth of the sun. That’s when I feel it: the excitement, the connection, the instinct that tells me this stone is truly special.

The Emotional Language of Color

Every fancy color diamond has a personality. A mood. A voice.

• Blues carry depth and quiet strength. They’re rare, composed, and utterly timeless.

• Pinks feel soft and romantic. Their beauty has a grace to it that never goes out of style.

• Yellows are joyful, full of energy, light, and optimism. They’re bold in the best way.

• Oranges and reds? They’re fiery. Passionate. Their rarity alone makes your pulse quicken.

What I’ve learned over the years is that color doesn’t just catch your eye, it creates a feeling. It connects you to a memory, a story, a sense of something larger. That emotional power is what makes these stones unforgettable.

The Legacy Behind the Color

At William Goldberg, we’ve had the privilege of working with some of the world’s most remarkable fancy color diamonds. And some of the most meaningful.

• The Blue Lili was named after my grandmother. It started as a 100-carat rough stone, and my grandfather made the bold decision to sacrifice most of that weight to achieve the perfect blue. That decision tells you everything about his priorities: beauty first, always.

• The Pumpkin came from an unassuming brown rough. What emerged was a vivid orange diamond that completely changed what people thought was possible. It’s a reminder that vision matters and that greatness often hides in plain sight.

• The Red Shield was one of my grandfather’s proudest moments. A deep red diamond over five carats, internally flawless, and the largest of its kind. It took years to acquire and perfect. But he believed in it. And when he believed in a stone, there was no stopping him.

• Lili’s Collection, which he built for my grandmother over three decades, was one of the finest private collections of colored diamonds in the world. It wasn’t just a gift, it was a love letter in color, filled with fancy pinks, blues, yellows, and oranges that each told a story.

Carrying the Torch

I grew up hearing these stories. Now I get to help shape the next chapter.

My grandfather had an uncanny ability to see a diamond for what it could become. He taught us to never rush the process, to always prioritize the “make” over the carat count, and to chase beauty even if it meant taking a risk. Those lessons guide everything we do.

Today, we continue to seek out stones with character. Diamonds that move us, and in turn, move the people we place them with. Whether we’re creating new designs or preserving the legacy of past treasures, the goal remains the same: to find and share diamonds that are truly one of a kind.

Just last month in Geneva, a fancy vivid blue diamond known as The Mediterranean Blue sold for nearly $18 million at Sotheby’s High Jewelry Auction. The 10.03-carat cushion modified brilliant cut diamond was a powerful reminder of the ongoing global fascination with exceptional color. For those of us who live and breathe this world every day, moments like that affirm what we already know—color moves people.

A Final Thought

Fancy color diamonds will always hold a special place in my heart. Not just because of their rarity or value, but because of the emotion they evoke. The joy of discovery. The thrill of beauty. The connection that forms when a diamond speaks to you. And you know, instinctively, that it’s meant to be part of your story.

That’s the magic of color. And for me, that’s the magic of this business.