Blue sapphires under incandescent, fluorescent and LED

[Tropmignone]

Hello everyone. Under which lighting (incandescent / fluorescent / LED) do blue sapphires usually tend to perform better in? I tried searching on this forum, but there aren't really a lot of posts talking about sapphires in LED

I have been eyeing on a light blue (saturated pastel) sapphire and it performed the best in incandescent and fluorescent, showing the most vivid and saturated blue.
However in LED, it just looks like a dark grey blob.

I personally really love the colour in incandescent, fluorescent as well as in outdoor sunlight / shaded light. But I just hate how it looks in LED.

With LED lights being used everywhere nowadays, would you buy a sapphire that looks horrible in LED if you are someone who stays indoors / in office most of the time and seldomly goes out in the day? I mostly go out in the evenings as I avoid the sun.

I have searched for a long time now for such a colour, but I am so worried I will come to hate it with how it looks in LED after some time.

I know it all comes down to my personal preference, but what would you do if you were me?

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I like my sapphires to be more consistent across different lighting conditions. I settled 20 years ago on one because I didn’t know I could find ones that stayed truer, but I ended up selling it because I never wore it. I personally would keep looking.

 

[Avondale]

1. Not all LED lights are created equally.
and
2. Prepare yourself for a short dilettante lecture on light spectrum.

All emitted light has a colour spectrum - a combination of colours that make up the light you see.

The light from the sun has a continuous colour spectrum across all colours which is why daylight is considered to be optimal - you're able to see all colours accurately in daylight.

The light from man-made sources, like incandescent light bulbs, fluorescent lights, LED and so on, has a colour spectrum that differs from that of the sun.

Incandescent light bulbs have a lot more red in their colour spectrum and little blue. It has a very steady curve.

Fluorescent light has lots of highs and dips, and is considered harsh and inaccurate. It has very very little red.

LED lights technically can have a wide spectrum that's somewhat similar to that of the sun, but often they don't. Depends on the manufacturer. Plus the colour temperature also has an effect.

Here, take a look at this:



So, to answer your question. A blue sapphire would traditionally look at its worst under incandescent light as there is not enough blue light in the spectrum. On the other hand, a shifty blue sapphire would look more violet under such light and would be quite pretty.

Fluorescent light, due to the very little red, makes blue sapphires look top notch. On the other hand, it kills rubies.

LED light should technically make the sapphire look normal. However, that could depend on the type of LED. So the reason could be the specific LED bulbs in your house. Another reason is if the LED lights aren't powerful enough. For example, I prefer softer, warmer LED for my home in the evening and as a result the blue sapphires suffer - all of them, with the exception of the shifty one which starts throwing violet flashes.

 

[glitterata]

Adding to @Avondale's excellent comment:
If your gems look terrible under LED lights, get better LED lights. There's a huge range in quality. Look for bulbs with a CRI (Color Rendering Index) as high as possible, at least over 90. Not only will your gems look better, but so will you! And everything else the light falls on.
@Avondale, do you have LED recommendations?

 

[Avondale]

@Avondale, do you have LED recommendations?

What? No!

Look, I may be fascinated with the physics behind it, but when it comes to the actual buying, I just get whatever’s on sale in the 10-15W and warm light ranges. I have no idea which bulbs are currently operational at home, they last a looong ass time. The “new” ones (bought like a couple of years ago and currently residing in a cupboard) are Philips that I’ll be able to review in 3-5 years time. Of course, chances are by then I would have entirely forgotten what they are.

 

[LilAlex]

I agree with the above posts.

The best test light is the one under which you want to enjoy your sapphire. I live under bright overcast skies which are very flattering to blue sapphire (and that is the best test, imo). For my own personal use/wear, I (am crazy and) will only consider a gem that looks good under bright overcast skies (i.e., infinite blackbody cool-color-temperature soft box). Second highest priority for me is appearance under fluorescent lights since (sadly) that is where I spend my work hours, days, and years. If I'm wearing a ring, I like looking at it.

The sun never gets very high where I am. I am almost never under direct-overhead full sun so there are lots of gems that I can not fully enjoy. I'm sure it's saved me a lot of money!

 

[Tropmignone]

Thank you so much everyone!! I have decided to keep it as I do really love its colour most of the time and it's been a journey finding this colour.

Only thing is that my office uses horrible LEDs so this one will look like sh*t most of the day. But this is a pretty valid reason to quit too I guess

 

[Rfisher]

Thank you so much everyone!! I have decided to keep it as I do really love its colour most of the time and it's been a journey finding this colour.

Only thing is that my office uses horrible LEDs so this one will look like sh*t most of the day. But this is a pretty valid reason to quit too I guess

Please Let us see it’s different personalities?

 

[Tropmignone]

Please Let us see it’s different personalities?

I will! Once I have set it in a lovely setting