Can you see clouds in the super zoomed videos online these days?

[MakingTheGrade]

Just curious, do you expect, or can you see, clouds on these super zoomed videos that vendors offer these days?

I've been staring at this video trying to decide if I see clouds are not (it's an SI1 and the inclusion plot only notes the 2 little freckle crystals). Do clouds tend to be more apparent in diffuse outdoor lighting vs crafted diamond video lighting?

loose diamonds, fancy color, gray, round cut, 3.11 carat si1 clarity sku 8508692

8508692 - This Round Cut 3.11 Carat GRAY Color SI1 Clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

 

[MakingTheGrade]

 

[Venti25]

Just curious, do you expect, or can you see, clouds on these super zoomed videos that vendors offer these days?

I've been staring at this video trying to decide if I see clouds are not (it's an SI1 and the inclusion plot only notes the 2 little freckle crystals). Do clouds tend to be more apparent in diffuse outdoor lighting vs crafted diamond video lighting?

loose diamonds, fancy color, gray, round cut, 3.11 carat si1 clarity sku 8508692

8508692 - This Round Cut 3.11 Carat GRAY Color SI1 Clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

On the edge? I think they're reflectors of the tiny crystals in the middle.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Good point & catch - if it was a colorless diamond I expect GIA would state grade based on clouds not shown or Grade based on graining not shown.
Some of my suppliers show trade vertical mounted videos that are filmed in ViBox environments with much better resolution and even then I have not been able to see clouds - so consumer laying down videos would be pretty useless.
So in this stone for example in the vertical 360 you can see a grain line - but the same 'consumer' 360 of the same stone - there is too much sparkle light and no where near the resolution.
(I would point out this is not a James Allen Segoma video - which is a better quaility than this consumer video)

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Good point & catch - if it was a colorless diamond I expect GIA would state grade based on clouds not shown or Grade based on graining not shown.
Some of my suppliers show trade vertical mounted videos that are filmed in ViBox environments with much better resolution and even then I have not been able to see clouds - so consumer laying down videos would be pretty useless.
So in this stone for example in the vertical 360 you can see a grain line - but the same 'consumer' 360 of the same stone - there is too much sparkle light and no where near the resolution.
(I would point out this is not a James Allen Segoma video - which is a better quaility than this consumer video)

Yeah I asked for the content of the white out area on the bottom left of the gia report.

I also just asked if it appeared hazy or cloudy. I know they have a good return policy but why put everyone through the hassle if they can just tell me up front the clouds affect the brightness ya know?

Just curious, is Segoma the name of the equipment or technique or company...?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Segoma gem video system was developed by R2Net who are partner investors of JA and who were all in-turn bought by Signet who own most of the jewellery stores in USA and UK.
At this time it appears that it has been a very happy take over as all parties I believe are getting on well and they are getting to stretch their brains and have fun with plenty of money

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Haha and just cause it’s late and I had mentioned in my other thread that the gray diamond speaks to my inner goth kid, here’s a photo from my college blunder years.

I’d like to point out that even as a young un I liked the bling. I attached a crystal charm to my studded choker Grrr! I tough. But shiny.

Don’t worry. My tastes in clothes are less shiny these days lol. Still mostly black though.

 

[AV_]

Magnification does not help much [same as seeing through fog better at a short distance], but comparison does [so if a shop shows both transparent and white diamonds, shot in very similar conditions, on the same page, some will look less transparent; very faint amounts of non-transparency look like brighteness that does not belong - or too little contrast in a very bright stone, but what are the odds of the letetr!]

Yes, it is difficult to locate clouds [as described in GIA plots or in comments] in any video format... they are the one kind of inclusion that I am least likely to locate [having one dominant light source as opposed to diffuse or back lighting helps somewhat]. Yet, the view of upper pavilion through the table - looking from a sharp angle to the letter, does show fog when clouds are pervasive/diffuse throughout the stone [hence mentioned in GIA comments rather than plotted]. Some directional lighting seems to be a must for noticing twinning whisps and grain [thin, parallel planes, or looking like turbulence / roiling] - when these appear pervasively, affecting clarity overall [comments, not plot]

random notes in need of edit...


The type of video you mention @Garry H (Cut Nut) is the least interesting for me - how are they meant to be read?

 

[tyty333]

Haha and just cause it’s late and I had mentioned in my other thread that the gray diamond speaks to my inner goth kid, here’s a photo from my college blunder years.

I’d like to point out that even as a young un I liked the bling. I attached a crystal charm to my studded choker Grrr! I tough. But shiny.

Don’t worry. My tastes in clothes are less shiny these days lol. Still mostly black though.

And luckily your budget has increased dramatically!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

And luckily your budget has increased dramatically!

Haha yup! For better or for worse..

 

[John P]

Adding some nerd sauce here... Anyone who has operated a microscope or played with f-stop and aperture-size in photography will be familiar with the concept of focal depth.

If you were using a gemological microscope to find clouds you would start by focusing on the table-plane and manipulate the scope to slowly descend through the diamond. Characteristics come into focus and go out again, as you reach and descend through their specific plane within the diamond. It's one of the most awesome aspects of microscopy.

Diamond photos and videos have a set focal depth. For videos, especially, the aperture is set in a way that keeps surrounding depth readable. So characteristics on the chosen plane of focal-depth will be sharp. The characteristics above and below the given plane, not so much.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Adding some nerd sauce here... Anyone who has operated a microscope or played with f-stop and aperture-size in photography will be familiar with the concept of focal depth.

If you were using a gemological microscope to find clouds you would start by focusing on the table-plane and manipulate the scope to slowly descend through the diamond. Characteristics come into focus and go out again, as you reach and descend through their specific plane within the diamond. It's one of the most awesome aspects of microscopy.

Diamond photos and videos have a set focal depth. For videos, especially, the aperture is set in a way that keeps surrounding depth readable. So characteristics on the chosen plane of focal-depth will be sharp. The characteristics above and below the given plane, not so much.

I have no experience with fancy cameras but am no stranger to fancy digital microscopes so that totally makes sense!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Adding some nerd sauce here... Anyone who has operated a microscope or played with f-stop and aperture-size in photography will be familiar with the concept of focal depth.

If you were using a gemological microscope to find clouds you would start by focusing on the table-plane and manipulate the scope to slowly descend through the diamond. Characteristics come into focus and go out again, as you reach and descend through their specific plane within the diamond. It's one of the most awesome aspects of microscopy.

Diamond photos and videos have a set focal depth. For videos, especially, the aperture is set in a way that keeps surrounding depth readable. So characteristics on the chosen plane of focal-depth will be sharp. The characteristics above and below the given plane, not so much.

Correct Sir John, and the type of video I posted has a much smaller focal depth which increases the sharpness. and because this type of stone rotation in makes it possible to see into almost every part of the stone. Where as the usual consumer 360 video makes that much harder.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Whelp finally got the complete cert
There is the worrisome "clarity based on clouds not shown" comment.
But the rep at James allen reassure me it doesn't appear milky and the clouds don't seem to impact it. And the video looks great. So I guess we'll see what happens in person. With any luck I"ll see it within 2 weeks.

 

[Rfisher]

do you think that if you can see clouds /milky
That it would ever contribute to moody in a good way?
Maybe? - lol!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

do you think that if you can see clouds /milky
That it would ever contribute to moody in a good way?
Maybe? - lol!

Maybe?
I"m asking the gemologist to just give me his professional opinion. 99% likely to just have them go ahead and mail it over and I"ll see for myself. SInce the goal here isn't to have a crystal clear white white MRB, I'd be ok with a bit of haze if I think it contributed to the aesthetic I want, especially since the cut seems so unusually good for a fancy color diamond.

 

[MsShnooks]

You’ll need to see the stone in different lights. My SI2 looks crisp in some lighting but the clouds really show in some other conditions (but I don’t know how those lightbulbs are different).

 

[MakingTheGrade]

You’ll need to see the stone in different lights. My SI2 looks crisp in some lighting but the clouds really show in some other conditions (but I don’t know how those lightbulbs are different).

I have no idea either. I had thought it was a diffuse outdoor vs direct indoor lighting thing but now I wonder...

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

You’ll need to see the stone in different lights. My SI2 looks crisp in some lighting but the clouds really show in some other conditions (but I don’t know how those lightbulbs are different).

It would be great if you could ID some of the good ones and some of the bad lighting - maybe even photos of the types of lights MsShooks?

 

[MsShnooks]

Sorry, I’m not sure about the specifics of the lights that bring out the clouds. I tend to see it in my kitchen which has several types of lights incl colour change lights so it might be the colours. I’ve never analysed it in detail and now the diamond is getting upgraded.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

So per the JA person " I think the diamond looks wondrous." Not the most scientific of terms, but I'll take it!
Yay! I am excited. Now the waiting is just horrible, horrible!

 

[AV_]

@MakingTheGrade You have plenty of diamonds to benchmark tranparency against. The stone does have some texture, but not much & it may be a good thing. In fact, I do not know where and how to locate a more trasparent fancy gray near this size - they seem to barely exist & be mostly Australian @Garry H (Cut Nut) [another thread made me think of things I might want to have, as opposed to just know; a very dark IF gray are on the list which is very short]

 

[MakingTheGrade]

@MakingTheGrade You have plenty of diamonds to benchmark tranparency against. The stone does have some texture, but not much & it may be a good thing. In fact, I do not know where and how to locate a more trasparent fancy gray near this size - they seem to barely exist & be mostly Australian @Garry H (Cut Nut) [another thread made me think of things I might want to have, as opposed to just know; a very dark IF gray are on the list which is very short]

Yup I am optimistic. And impatient lol

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Gah. So close...
Does JA send glamour shots?!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Shipped! Estimated arrival isn't until monday though. Wahhhhh

 

[MakingTheGrade]

It’s here!

 

[Heidibrooke]

It’s here!

Looks beautiful! Did you decide to keep it?

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Looks beautiful! Did you decide to keep it?

I did!
It know lives in its new home. Set in rose gold and mother of pearl as a pendant/pin

 

[Karl_K]

wow awesome!!!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Looks beautiful! Did you decide to keep it?

I also have all the picture you’d ever want here:

Finally done! 3.11ct Fancy Grey in its forever home.

Fiiiiiinnnnnaaaaallllyyyyy 3.11 ct GIA graded Fancy Grey set in a rose gold and Tahitian Mother of Pearl pin/pendant setting. I love that the changing fire of the diamond plays with the changing iridescence of the pearl.

www.pricescope.com

I still find it interesting that sometimes the gray is obvious. Sometimes you can’t really pick it up at all. Sometimes it looks super clear and other times you can see a haze. Very mercurial and moody diamond.