dispersion is the word your looking for :}
While your on this subject storm..., the 27% tabled Asscher performs incredibly well in direct sunlight..., as bright as can beDate: 2/23/2008 2:50:42 PM
Author: strmrdr
all cuts that produce bright flashes, any reflector not just diamonds actually.Date: 2/23/2008 2:30:15 PM
Author: coatimundi
One more question. Are you speaking solely of rbs? or all cuts? Wondering because my oval operates entirely differently than my rb. I know it''s because the faceting is different, but also, I don''t think my oval is cut as well as my rb. If they were cut equally for brilliance, would they perform the same?
The oval does best in soft diffused lighting, but not so hot in bright sunlight. My oval hates the floodlights in the back alley.
The rb seems to do well all around, though it goes darker in sunlight(I know why now, so that''s no problem)
I actually wear the oval when I know I''ll like the lighting. The rb is an any place any time sort of stone.
eta: just took my oval and rb out in the backyard for a test. It''s 11:30am here in Venice Beach and sunny. They were both super sparkly and blinding! hmmm now I''m wondering about brilliance, sunlight, and time of day
Rounds tend to return the light in a smaller area so it shows the effect more.
ie: more beams striking the eye.
The more intense the light return the more the eyes adjust.
But,,,
small intense light sources affecting only a small part of the eye might not trigger the response.
The more areas of the eye receiving bright flashes the faster and the more it responds.
Small intense flashes will damage the eye quicker than brighter larger flashes because the small flashes don''t trigger the protection reactions.
Your backyard study shows that bright direct lighting makes judging between diamonds impossible.
Move under a tree and you will see a far greater difference.
Light return from large chunky facets that isn''t broken up into smaller chunks(larger virtual facets) is perceived as colored more than smaller brighter chunks of the same color.
your welcome.Date: 2/23/2008 6:45:28 PM
Author: coatimundi
I like both the small chunks and the large. The small facets give off a glittering/shimmery effect that seems present in most light sources. The larger chunkier facets are dynamic in some light. Sometimes they do go dark, but it''s a tradeoff. I think with an oval one has to be a little more forgiving than with a round, as a result of this combination of faceting.
The round is a no brainer really. It always pleases my eye.
The oval is complicated, and there is something to be said about that. More challenging. I can stare at it for a long time.
Thanks Strmrdr for pointing those examples of dynamic range. This is most fascinating to me!
You are a great help, and I appreciate your explanations.
I am of the philosophy that the beauty of a diamond is solely for the beholder. I do appreciate numbers, especially for rounds, as guidelines. Always, though, it''s the stone that speaks to my eye that wins. This is what I''ve gleaned so far, as I''m still a beginner!
eta: The round is a K color and the oval is a G. I am least interested in color, but I thought I''d add in case anyone wondered
strm, you mean you look at diamonds in your fridge too?Date: 2/23/2008 9:37:01 PM
Author: strmrdr
2 of the toughest lighting conditions for diamonds too look good in.Date: 2/23/2008 9:00:56 PM
Author: coatimundi
some more.
Photo on left is incandescent in the fridge! (my personal favorite lighting environment)
Photo on right is flourescent overhead lighting.
The biggest problem is that color has long been the one of the 3c and its the material color.Date: 2/24/2008 5:15:06 PM
Author: Cleo
Just wanted to say I am LOVING this thread!
I was going to ask the question myself, about my RB seeming to go dark in bright sunlight. My A-Level Physics told me it was most probably a perceived effect due to the eyes compensating for the bright, firey flashes (after all, the diamond hasn''t physically changed)... but I was going to post for confirmation.
Storm''s knowledge about diamonds and numbers continues to stun me on a daily basis - thankyou
Coatimundi - I am really enjoying drooling over your gorgeous rings... especially that yummy RB! I think this is a lovely excuse for some extra pics to admire.
I would love to see some pics of Ellen''s and Surfgirl''s fabulous rings in this thread too, under different lighting conditions. (Hint, hint!).
x x x
Date: 2/24/2008 6:39:19 PM
Author: Cleo
Storm, that is very deep for this time on a Sunday night (11.30pm here in England)!
You make an excellent point - but the fact remains that despite the reflections and sparkle presented by diamonds (and mirrors!) they do have their own intrinsic colour when you can see beyond those.
Ancient mirrors have been made from highly polished pieces of gold, silver and bronze - and whilst each of those would give reflections, the mirrors would still have different colours of themselves.
Coatimundi - I wish I could only see sparkle and not colour! My sister in law has a 2ct OEC (bought for far too much money, uncerted and it has a chip!!!) . I see her diamond, and all I see is its yellow tint... almost like the colour of the Sauvignon blanc I've just been drinking... and I just think, ewwww.
Having said that, I am often surprised by the colours of some of the PSers diamonds, and how much whiter they seem than their grading would suggest - another reason to get great cuts!
x x x
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