Be honest – When we say the word ‘diamond,’ what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? We bet it’s the gem’s shine! But did you know that how brightly a diamond shines or sparkles depends on its light source?
And if you have ever stopped to wonder about how light affects a diamond’s appearance or shine, you are in luck today with this article!
Understanding How Light Affects a Diamond’s Appearance
Generally speaking, when light penetrates a diamond, it reflects off its facets. Not only that, but each facet reflects light onto the other. This results in a chorus of reflected light which comprises of the following:
- Brilliance – This refers to the total amount of light reflected from the gemstone.
- Fire – This is essentially the dispersion of light into the different colours of the spectrum.
- Scintillation – Also known as sparkle, this aspect indicates the patterns of light and dark areas as well as the flashes of light that occur when a diamond is moved.
Planning to purchase a lab-grown diamond engagement ring? Well then, you might be wondering, do lab-grown diamonds reflect light? The answer is pretty simple — Yes!
Lab diamonds reflect light just like natural diamonds. They have the same optical, chemical and physical properties as natural diamonds because they are composed of the same material, carbon atoms arranged in a crystal structure. When light enters a lab-grown diamond, it undergoes internal reflection and dispersion, producing the characteristic sparkle and brilliance associated with diamonds.
Interestingly, the appearance of a diamond’s shine can change based on the type of light that it is viewed under and the environment into which it is placed. Examples of this are as follows:
| Type of Light | Impact on the Diamond’s Appearance |
| Diffused Lighting | Emphasizes the gem’s brilliance but greatly decreases its shadows and fire |
| Candlelight / Warm House Lighting | Lowers the stone’s brilliance but greatly enhances its sparkle |
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Office Light
In most cases, offices use a form of diffused lighting to brighten up their workspaces. This scattered lighting tends to bounce off the ceilings and enters the diamond from different directions. This emphasizes its brilliance but greatly decreases its shadows and fire.
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Candlelight / Warm House Lighting
Contrary to the above, diamonds placed under this lighting aren’t very brilliant. However, their scintillation (sparkle) is definitely highlighted here and this results in an incredibly eye-catching gem.
While on the topic of different lighting conditions, let’s answer a popular question revolving around diamonds — do diamonds have fluorescence?
Yes, roughly about 25% – 30% diamonds can exhibit fluorescence, which is the emission of visible light when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. This fluorescence can cause some diamonds to appear to glow in certain lighting conditions. The intensity and colour of fluorescence vary from diamond to diamond. While some people may prefer diamonds with fluorescence, others may prefer diamonds without it.
Now, do lab-grown diamonds have fluorescence? Well, lab-grown diamonds display fluorescence less frequently. The majority of those that do have fluorescence are CVD grown and display a very slight yellow fluorescence. Only about one percent or less of HPHT-created stones display fluorescence.
Now that you know how light affects a diamond’s appearance, let’s also understand if the gem’s cut plays a role in this.
Also Read: Diamond Colour vs. Clarity
Does a Diamond’s Cut Impact the Way Light Interacts With It?
It definitely does!
But before we get into the ‘why,’ let’s first discuss the ‘what?’
The terms ‘cut’ and ‘shape’ are often used interchangeably, however, they couldn’t be more different from each other. Here, the word ‘cut’ indicates the arrangement of facets within a gemstone. It generally comprises of three aspects:
- The proportion of the facets
- Their arrangement
- The finish (quality of symmetry and quality of polish)
On the other hand, the term ‘shape’ refers to a gem’s outline.
Needless to say, of the 4Cs of diamond, the cut is by far the most intricate and technically difficult to assess. It is considered to be extremely important as it determines the ability of the stone to transmit light and can either enhance or reduce the gem’s shine.
Of course, understanding a diamond’s facet arrangements is vital when trying to figure out how it interacts with the surrounding environment and light. You can do this by thinking of its facets as a complex network of mirrors that reflect the environment. A round brilliant colourless diamond, for example, has a whopping 58 facets which reflect all of its surroundings, including the light present at the time.
So, How Do You Buy a Diamond Based on Its Shine?
When shopping for a pair of diamond earrings or any other jewellery item, we recommend paying close attention to your gemstone’s interplay with light. You can do this by viewing it under different lighting conditions.
Any diamond will flash, sparkle and look the best in direct sunlight. So, if you really want to know what exactly a diamond looks like, you must observe it in natural daylight. This is when its true brilliance and sparkle can be noticed. This is why most dealers sort their diamonds in indirect sunlight. Interestingly, if a diamond appears beautiful in daylight, it will definitely look good in all other lightings.
As touched upon before, facets are a lot like mirrors and they, therefore, need to be cleaned regularly to perform optimally. For the best results, we suggest wiping your gemstone after every use and washing it when it starts to look dull and/or dirty.
How Do You Wash Your Diamond?
You can do this by following the steps mentioned below:
- Start by combining lukewarm water and a few drops of mild soap in a bowl.
- Next, soak your diamond ring and other jewellery items in the mixture for 3-5 minutes.
- Once the required time has passed, gently scrub away the dirt with a soft-bristled brush. Focus on the edges of the gem here and its setting as that’s where most of the dirt lies.
- Lastly, place your accessory under running water to rid it of any soap and leave it aside to air dry.
Did You Know?
Diamonds are commonly used to symbolize purity and strength. Some sources also say that the gem represents eternal love. Due to this, diamond engagement rings are an extremely popular choice for proposals today. Going ring shopping soon but afraid of going over budget? Don’t forget to cheque out our wide selection of lab-grown engagement rings and find a sparkler that’s just as amazing without breaking the bank.
An interesting fact about this gem is that its name comes from the Greek word ‘Adamas,’ which translates to ‘invincible’ or ‘unbreakable.’ This title is wonderfully reflected in the gemstone’s strength and its position as the toughest stone in the world.
Interested in knowing about the clarity of a diamond? Cheque out our article titled, ‘what is diamond clarity? – chart, grade and quality.’
Also Read: Which Diamond Sparkles the Most?
