Advise on Pink Diamonds with Strong Blue Fluorescence

[La2020]

I saw a light pink cushion GIA certified diamond with strong blue fluorescence
Will the fluorescence negatively impact the pink color? I am new to the fancy color diamonds and any advises are greatly appreciated.

 

[kenny]

You ask, Will blue fluorescence negatively impact the pink color?

I think the color wheel is useful here.



Mixing the colors on opposite sides like Yellow-Purple, Orange-Blue, and Red-Green result in blends that are are likely to be considered unattractive.
When mixing paints green and red give you black or dark brownish.

You're asking about mixing pink (a light red) and blue.
Blue will pull the pink towards purple/violet/lavender.
I would not call that negative.
But of course YMMV; you may have your heart set on a pink that's pure pink.

Even then, fluorescence is only activated by UV light.
Most indoor lights have little UV content so no blue influence will be seen.
After a black light that you may only see in a night club, the light with the most UV you're likely to encounter will be sunlight.
But when viewing the diamond under sunlight the blue of the sky itself also contributes blue to what you see in any diamond.
The blue sky itself is a huge light source.

For a pink (light red) diamond the hue of fluo I'd worry about is green, red's compliment, or opposite on the color wheel.

I'd be sure to see the diamond in person, outside and inside, to decide for yourself about the contribution of the SBF.
That's why I only buy from vendors with a good return policy.

 

[La2020]

Thank you for the wonderful insight! I have requested the vendor to send me photos of the diamonds under the sunlight conditions, to see how the light pink might be affected prior purchase.

 

[LD]

@La2020 this is a very interesting question. I absolutely adore fluorescence especially with white diamonds. However I want to tell you of my experience with it with a yellow diamond.

This does bear out what Kenny has posted above. The yellow was about 1.5ct and had strong blue fluor. Outside, the diamond seemed to lose the yellow and turned into a non-descript strange colour that wasn't attractive at all. With inside lighting it was always yellow. I returned the stone.

Now, whether the fluor would affect a pink diamond in the same way I don't know. My feeling is that it may look a very attractive colour in daylight but I think the only way to test this is to get it for a look and then make sure you evaluate it in all different lighting conditions. I do have a few pinks but have never tested them for fluor so I may go and have a play this week!

 

[kenny]

Thank you for the wonderful insight! I have requested the vendor to send me photos of the diamonds under the sunlight conditions, to see how the light pink might be affected prior purchase.

Good idea.

FWIW, one of my passions is macrophotography of FCDs I have collected.
There are a few threads about them on PS.

Here's one ...

Fancy Colored Diamond Collection

Over the next days I'll be posting pics of the current incarnation of my collection of tiny colored dots. I do not understand my irrational addiction to these things, but here we go. Currently there are 10, all with GIA reports indicating they are natural diamonds with color of natural origin...

www.pricescope.com

Photos are better than nothing but photographing FCDs accurately is very very difficult.
If your vendor does not have a return policy I'd find a different vendor, especially for FCDs.
They are so expensive, the color is so important, and the only way to be sure about the color is to buy it with a no questions asked return period.
If you return it expect to pay shipping and insurance for both directions.
Also, if your vendor charges a restocking fee I'd move on to another vendor.

My favorite FCD vendor is Leibish.
They are reputable, and have a huge selection.

 

[La2020]

@La2020 this is a very interesting question. I absolutely adore fluorescence especially with white diamonds. However I want to tell you of my experience with it with a yellow diamond.

This does bear out what Kenny has posted above. The yellow was about 1.5ct and had strong blue fluor. Outside, the diamond seemed to lose the yellow and turned into a non-descript strange colour that wasn't attractive at all. With inside lighting it was always yellow. I returned the stone.

Now, whether the fluor would affect a pink diamond in the same way I don't know. My feeling is that it may look a very attractive colour in daylight but I think the only way to test this is to get it for a look and then make sure you evaluate it in all different lighting conditions. I do have a few pinks but have never tested them for fluor so I may go and have a play this week!

Thanks LD, that is a very good point for consideration! I will get the vendor to take more photos just in case...hopefully this measure is good enough!

You are so lucky! I love pink! However, I am too late in this and the pink prices seem to have rocketed a lot.

 

[LD]

Thanks LD, that is a very good point for consideration! I will get the vendor to take more photos just in case...hopefully this measure is good enough!

You are so lucky! I love pink! However, I am too late in this and the pink prices seem to have rocketed a lot.

Photos will only show you so much and honestly you need to see this in real life. Is there a good returns policy? If yes I would suggest to get it so that you can see how it looks in your own lighting conditions with your own eyes.

 

[La2020]

Good idea.

FWIW, one of my passions is macrophotography of FCDs I have collected.
There are a few threads about them on PS.

Here's one ...

Fancy Colored Diamond Collection

Over the next days I'll be posting pics of the current incarnation of my collection of tiny colored dots. I do not understand my irrational addiction to these things, but here we go. Currently there are 10, all with GIA reports indicating they are natural diamonds with color of natural origin...

www.pricescope.com

Photos are better than nothing but photographing FCDs accurately is very very difficult.
If your vendor does not have a return policy I'd find a different vendor, especially for FCDs.
They are so expensive, the color is so important, and the only way to be sure about the color is to buy it with a no questions asked return period.
If you return it expect to pay shipping and insurance for both directions.
Also, if your vendor charges a restocking fee I'd move on to another vendor.

My favorite FCD vendor is Leibish.
They are reputable, and have a huge selection.

OMG! Your FCD collection is so stunning! I took the whole night to scroll through your thread and pour through every comment.

Your photography skills are awesome! Each fancy looks so amazingly pho•to•gen•ic....took it way another level!

I have never seen a FCD in real life before....from where we live, they are extremely rare and we dont get to see them in the traditional B&M stores. Your photos are essentially the closest experience I can ever get!

Yes, yes, I am actually talking to Leibish right now. Are their photos representative of the actual diamond which I will be getting? The color I am looking at is faint pink..but I worry the pink does not actually show...

Another vendor I am considering is from James Allen...but their collection of pink seems inferior to the ones carried by Leibish.

 

[La2020]

Photos will only show you so much and honestly you need to see this in real life. Is there a good returns policy? If yes I would suggest to get it so that you can see how it looks in your own lighting conditions with your own eyes.

I see...This is Leibish return policy: https://www.leibish.com/returning

Are their terms considered fair? This is going to be my very 1st FCD purchase and so far, I have considered FCD from Leibish and James Allen only due to my limited knowledge.

Otherwise, maybe I should seriously consider getting one without any blue florescence, considering the unpredictable effects it may have on the diamond.

 

[kenny]

I have no newer FCDs.

That return policy sounds reasonable to me.
I've had over 30 transactions with Leibish, including some returns for a full refund.
Every transaction was perfect and timely.
I must add that I have only bought and returned loose stones.
Leibish has never set a stone for me.

GIA places each FCD into one of their nine color grades - see graphic posted below.
The vertical axis is tone.
I think of tone as how light to dark the FCD would look in a black and white photograph.

The other axis is how saturated the color is.
The most expensive of the 9 grades is Fancy Vivid, and the most affordable is Faint.

As you can see GIA's graphic sort of resembles a slice that is cut out of a doughnut.
If you can imagine the whole doughnut, the hue (or color) varies as you go around the doughnut, like the color wheel I posted above.

You ask whether the color will be noticeable in FCD that GIA graded as Faint Pink.
My answer would be, just barely ... and more-so or less-so depending on the lighting it is viewed in.

A fixed budget will buy you a larger stone with less and or worse color, or a smaller stone with more and or better color ... another reason I strongly recommend going with a vendor with a good return policy.
FCDs are a challenging thing to buy and you have to see it.
Photos are of limited value, though after so many transactions I say Leibish's photographs are very true to life.
Pics of many vendors are not as honest.

Keep in mind an FCD's color will vary depending on the lighting and the environment it is seen in.
All diamonds are tiny boxes of windows and mirrors.
Yellow walls, clothing, hat, and hair will make any diamond look more yellow.

Hope my posts help.
I know nothing about the other gems, so I try to chime in when new people want to learn about FCDs.
Many sources of info have a conflict of interest.
I don't sell anything, or get paid by PS for my contributions here.

Good luck.
Take your time.
Learn tons.
Feel free to ask more questions.

FCDs rock ... if you'll pardon my pun.

 

[kenny]

Check out Pricescope's FCD tutorial.

Fancy Colored Diamonds

Diamonds are found in almost every color of the spectrum. Let's explore everything you need to know about fancy colored diamonds.

www.pricescope.com

I snipped this graphic from it, and does not show all 9 grades GIA's grades
Faint is not shown and will have even less color that the diamond on the left end.

 

[acebruin]

First of all, welcome to the world of Fancy Colored Diamonds! I love them. I've always been into Fancy Colored Diamonds since the start of my diamonds journey...

I've purchased many stones from Leibish. And as Kenny mentioned they're true to life.

As far as fluorescence go, it depends on the stone. Fluorescence is funny in Fancy colored diamonds. It can negatively affect the color of the stone. Or it can have no effects at all! The best judge of it is our eyes in different lighting condition as mentioned by others. Also ask Leibish if the SBF affects the color at all or not. I have a gorgeous Fancy Intense Yellow EC with SBF and yellow phosphorescence!!! The SBF has no effect at all to the color in all lighting condition.

Don't we all want Fancy Vivid Pink diamonds? Lol but alas most of the time our wallets don't agree with us. Light pink is very pretty if you like pastel colors. Set it with a rose gold cup underneath and you should see more pink.

Enjoy your journey in picking your first Fancy Colored Diamond, pink to boost!!! I can't wait to see the stone and how you're going to set it.

 

[La2020]

I have no newer FCDs.

That return policy sounds reasonable to me.
I've had over 30 transactions with Leibish, including some returns for a full refund.
Every transaction was perfect and timely.
I must add that I have only bought and returned loose stones.
Leibish has never set a stone for me.

GIA places each FCD into one of their nine color grades - see graphic posted below.
The vertical axis is tone.
I think of tone as how light to dark the FCD would look in a black and white photograph.

The other axis is how saturated the color is.
The most expensive of the 9 grades is Fancy Vivid, and the most affordable is Faint.

As you can see GIA's graphic sort of resembles a slice that is cut out of a doughnut.
If you can imagine the whole doughnut, the hue (or color) varies as you go around the doughnut, like the color wheel I posted above.

You ask whether the color will be noticeable in FCD that GIA graded as Faint Pink.
My answer would be, just barely ... and more-so or less-so depending on the lighting it is viewed in.

A fixed budget will buy you a larger stone with less and or worse color, or a smaller stone with more and or better color ... another reason I strongly recommend going with a vendor with a good return policy.
FCDs are a challenging thing to buy and you have to see it.
Photos are of limited value, though after so many transactions I say Leibish's photographs are very true to life.
Pics of many vendors are not as honest.

Keep in mind an FCD's color will vary depending on the lighting and the environment it is seen in.
All diamonds are tiny boxes of windows and mirrors.
Yellow walls, clothing, hat, and hair will make any diamond look more yellow.

Hope my posts help.
I know nothing about the other gems, so I try to chime in when new people want to learn about FCDs.
Many sources of info have a conflict of interest.
I don't sell anything, or get paid by PS for my contributions here.

Good luck.
Take your time.
Learn tons.
Feel free to ask more questions.

FCDs rock ... if you'll pardon my pun.

I see....in that case maybe I should be going for a more intense color instead of faint pink.

The reasons I am eyeing on this particular faint pink FCD is the budget, its clarity and size: vs1 and 0.29c. I guess this color might not show through after all...

Most of the FCD are in the I1 range..the inclusions seem to make the interiors messy. I am hesitant to make an I1 FCD as the first purchase...maybe I should withhold and look around more..

 

[La2020]

Thank you

Check out Pricescope's FCD tutorial.

Fancy Colored Diamonds

Diamonds are found in almost every color of the spectrum. Let's explore everything you need to know about fancy colored diamonds.

www.pricescope.com

I snipped this graphic from it, and does not show all 9 grades GIA's grades
Faint is not shown and will have even less color that the diamond on the left end.

Yes, this is very helpful!

 

[LD]

The more intense in colour you go, the less far your budget will stretch unfortunately. With that colour pink you have to be fairly clever at setting it to bring out the pink. Did you have a setting in mind? Leibish are very well known so you're in safe hands with them. However, I would have serious reservations about buying a diamond, sight unseen, having it set and taking a chance that I love it. If you can, it would be far better to see the diamond first and then having it set. It might mean you spend more in shipping and holding your breath until the diamond gets to all its destinations but honestly, it's better than ending up with a diamond in a setting that you'll find difficult to sell (if you can't return it) and you'll most definitely take a hit with the finances.

 

[La2020]

First of all, welcome to the world of Fancy Colored Diamonds! I love them. I've always been into Fancy Colored Diamonds since the start of my diamonds journey...

I've purchased many stones from Leibish. And as Kenny mentioned they're true to life.

As far as fluorescence go, it depends on the stone. Fluorescence is funny in Fancy colored diamonds. It can negatively affect the color of the stone. Or it can have no effects at all! The best judge of it is our eyes in different lighting condition as mentioned by others. Also ask Leibish if the SBF affects the color at all or not. I have a gorgeous Fancy Intense Yellow EC with SBF and yellow phosphorescence!!! The SBF has no effect at all to the color in all lighting condition.

Don't we all want Fancy Vivid Pink diamonds? Lol but alas most of the time our wallets don't agree with us. Light pink is very pretty if you like pastel colors. Set it with a rose gold cup underneath and you should see more pink.

Enjoy your journey in picking your first Fancy Colored Diamond, pink to boost!!! I can't wait to see the stone and how you're going to set it.

Meredith checked said that the blue florescence has no impact , but I haven't seen the photos yet.

A Fancy Intense Yellow EC with SBF and yellow phosphorescence?!...the science geek in me is already screaming awesome! Cool!

Phosphorescence is different from fluorescence right? Are such properties stated in any of the diamond certificate?

Yes yes, pastel pink is my favorite! I really wish I have a money tree...hahaha

 

[La2020]

LD, yes you are right. Too risky since it is going to be my first purchase...

Do you have any recommendations for the diamond setting to bring out the pink? I will be purchasing the FCD as a loose diamond, and will be getting a local jeweler to set it into a ring.

The more intense colored FCDs are sooooo tiny. Aside from setting such tiny beauties in a halo (with white/pink diamond melee??), I am out of ideas to make them look more pink and larger too.

 

[LD]

This explains the difference! Scroll quite a way down to find the paragraph on Phosphorescence. Phosphorescence is cool! https://www.finnies.com/blog/diamonds-fluorescent-phosphorescent-matter/

 

[LD]

LD, yes you are right. Too risky since it is going to be my first pruchase?

Do you have any recommendations for the diamond setting it to bring out the pink? I am purchasing only the loose diamond and will be getting a local jeweler to set it into a ring.

The more intense colored FCDs are sooooo tiny. Aside from setting such a tiny beauty in a halo (with white/pink diamond melee??), I am out of ideas to make them look more pink and larger too.

I've got quite a few pinks and have set the with varying degrees of success. I find that if you set them with white diamonds, they sometimes make the pink look paler. I'm not sure if I've got any photos on this laptop but I'll have a look for you. If not it'll be tomorrow. Pink melee would be the answer but not sure how costly that would be (and even if you could find any natural pink melee).

 

[LD]

Ok so I've found some photos. This ring didn't really work. The pink of the diamond probably wasn't intense enough to make it work but here's the diamond unset and then set in a ring. Sorry about the rubbish photos. As you can see I've bezel set in rose gold.





These earrings worked better.

 

[LD]

Ok last lot from me! I know these are yellow diamonds but this is what I would suggest you do if you want more finger coverage and to amp up the pink. It does depend on finding pink melee though. This is all natural, untreated yellow.



And here's a square version in case you do buy the pink you're looking at.

 

[La2020]

Ok so I've found some photos. This ring didn't really work. The pink of the diamond probably wasn't intense enough to make it work but here's the diamond unset and then set in a ring. Sorry about the rubbish photos. As you can see I've bezel set in rose gold.





These earrings worked better.

Arhhh, I see what you mean! The pink FCD set in the 1st ring looks washed out...what a pity! The 2nd one and earrings are so pretty! Maybe I should considering setting them as earrings too. May I know the sizes of these beauties?

 

[La2020]

Ok last lot from me! I know these are yellow diamonds but this is what I would suggest you do if you want more finger coverage and to amp up the pink. It does depend on finding pink melee though. This is all natural, untreated yellow.



And here's a square version in case you do buy the pink you're looking at.

Oh double halos! I actually took a while to realize the actual size of this mesmerizing yellow FCD! It is really well set and designed. *Thumbs up*

Yes, I am considering a square version too! Your photos really helped me to visualize how the FCDs can be designed to look bigger and stand out.

 

[LD]

Arhhh, I see what you mean! The pink FCD set in the 1st ring looks washed out...what a pity! The 2nd one and earrings are so pretty! Maybe I should considering setting them as earrings too. May I know the sizes of these beauties?

The round pink in the ring is 0.31ct
Not sure the size of the pinks in the earrings but I suspect they're around .25ct
The oval yellow is 0.58ct I think
The radiant and yellow melee is 0.58ct in total. I suspect the radiant is about .35 to 0.40ct.

I don't know if this helps you to visualise but this pink pear in the centre is 0.25ct and the total carat weight (of the pinks) is 0.55ct . It has pink melee and you can see that the pinks are all set in rose gold.

 

[acebruin]

Meredith checked said that the blue florescence has no impact , but I haven't seen the photos yet.

A Fancy Intense Yellow EC with SBF and yellow phosphorescence?!...the science geek in me is already screaming awesome! Cool!

Phosphorescence is different from fluorescence right? Are such properties stated in any of the diamond certificate?

Yes yes, pastel pink is my favorite! I really wish I have a money tree...hahaha

Don't we all wish we have a money tree??? Lol

Phosphorescence is just as what the article linked by LD says. It's different than fluorescence. The moment you turn off the uv light, a phosphorescent diamond will continue to glow! Very cool indeed. Not many have phosphorescence.

As far as light pink goes, it all depends on your budget! I have a pretty small light pink pear set in a bezel set.

 

[acebruin]

Oh I forgot to mention GIA reports do not contain phosphorescence.

 

[La2020]

 

[La2020]

 

[La2020]

Meira from Leibish came back with these photos.. Does this faint pink FCD look colourless?

 

[xxxxxx]

Meira from Leibish came back with these photos.. Does this faint pink FCD look colourless?

No it doesn’t look colorless. But not very pink either (: