Flor - Oily vs. Hazy/Milky

[Jennifer2828]

Hi All,

I am looking at a GIA Strong Flor diamond. I think from my reading on this site I get what to look for in terms of hazy/milky, but the oily effect seems different than hazy and I am not sure what to be looking for. Can anyone describe this effect to me a bit more? The diamond seems very clear and sparkly. it does has a watery or glassy appearance on the surface, but not having seen many diamonds in person, I am not sure f this is normal or a result of a well polished/well cut stone.

Any help?

Thank you!

 

[FB.]

Fluorescent diamonds with hazy/milky/oily appearance are very rare. Even GIA couldn''t find enough of them to do a proper study.

Any oily appearance seems most noticeable in strong sunlight, where the purplish tint of the stone mixes with haziness and the coloured light return (a.k.a. "fire").
The bluish background created by the fluor, with that addition of coloured flashes of light return can look like oil shining on the surface of a puddle.
Apart from that (which happens in many fluor stones in sun because of the coloured flashes against the purplish background), I can''t say that I''d ever noticed any oily effect.

It''s haziness that can be a problem, but that also applies to non-fluor stones when in strong sunlight and is to do with the inclusions within the stone. If your stone has lots of clouds, be extra careful.

 

[FB.]

This is perhaps the best that I can offer, of an oily appearance, but I''ll search for more pictures.

 

[FB.]

But here's the same stone pictured indoors, with the fluor not activated, but the various coloured flashes are still making the effect look slightly oily, or perhaps "pearl-like" due to the variety of colours.
But the coloured flashes are a normal and desirable part of a diamond's behavior and they will be present in all well-cut diamonds.

 

[FB.]

.....and here''s a picture that''s actually flattering the stone and not trying to show what some may perceive as bad features....

 

[FB.]

....and here's a pic of a hazy diamond (not one of mine).
The haziness is caused by SI-clarity-grade clouds and twinning wisps, reflecting sunlight around, inside the stone.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

ask the vendor, send to an appraiser - you cant learn this stuff - most gemologists dont know how to tell

 

[beaujolais]

This is an interesting stone, FB. It is one you own or have sold or . . . ? Does it ever behave well? What size?

(The smoke detector holder is kinda amusing.).

 

[FB.]

All except the last picture are of a very well-cut pear. 1.1ct, D, VS1, very strong blue fluor.
The stone is excellent and is one of six 1ct "blue-whites" that I have; if the cut is good, a strong/very strong fluor stone can look as good as a non-fluor stone, depending on your taste for a definite lilac tint in strong daylight.

The hazy stone never belonged to me. I think it was something like a GIA triple-excellent (maybe AGS 0?), 1.1ct, H, SI2 with cloud-like twinning wisps under the table that reflect all over the place and cause all the mishief. I'm fairly sure that the stone didn't have strong or very strong fluor, but it's been a while.
I think that the hazy stone was barely noticeable when in diffuse indoor lighting, but turned cloudy in certain strong lighting (maybe spotlights or sunlight?).

 

[Michael_E]

I had a client at one time who had a diamond which had an extremely strong yellowish green fluorescence. Under sunlight or ordinary fluorescent lighting the stone had a subtle glow that was definitely separate from any reflections coming from the stone. That glow, combined with the slightly brownish body color of the stone made it look just like a drop of frozen motor oil. I think the oily/hazy comment comes from the fact that though oil is clear, it still scatters light a bit, giving it sort of internal glow and this is the same effect that I''d seen in that stone. The funny thing about that client was that she had bought the stone because of it''s strangeness and it was her favorite piece of jewelry.

 

[beaujolais]

Thanks FB.

Kewl and educational photos and posts. Thanks. I'm so wanting a really fluorescent stone (for the past few years) (even if a half carat or so). One day . . .

---

--- made it look just like a drop of frozen motor oil.---

Ah, my favorite !!! Those are really popular nowadays.

--- she had bought the stone because of it's strangeness and it was her favorite piece of jewelry ----

Actually, I can understand that part.

 

[Jennifer2828]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I think I am going to bring the stone to an appraiser and get his/her opinion.

The diamond has incredible brilliance in most lighting. However, in direct sunlight or under direct recessed lughting it dows look dark and a bit hazy/blue.

One question I had though, is flor should never "turn" a stone over time, right? It should always appear the way it does now and teh flor won''t continually "build up" or something to that effect?

Thanks.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/28/2009 5:27:51 PM
Author: Jennifer2828
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I think I am going to bring the stone to an appraiser and get his/her opinion.

The diamond has incredible brilliance in most lighting. However, in direct sunlight or under direct recessed lughting it dows look dark and a bit hazy/blue.

One question I had though, is flor should never ''turn'' a stone over time, right? It should always appear the way it does now and teh flor won''t continually ''build up'' or something to that effect?

Thanks.

I think fluorescence is stable and won''t change over time.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Please come back and tell us what the appraiser says!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Date: 12/29/2009 7:10:39 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 12/28/2009 5:27:51 PM

Author: Jennifer2828

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I think I am going to bring the stone to an appraiser and get his/her opinion.


The diamond has incredible brilliance in most lighting. However, in direct sunlight or under direct recessed lughting it dows look dark and a bit hazy/blue.


One question I had though, is flor should never ''turn'' a stone over time, right? It should always appear the way it does now and teh flor won''t continually ''build up'' or something to that effect?


Thanks.

I think fluorescence is stable and won''t change over time.

Lorelie is spot on.
Fluorescence is not a characteristic that will change over time.

jennifer2828- not to deter you from getting a second opinion- especially from a qualified appraiser but if there was a bad effect from the fluorescence, it would be obvious. Especially since you''ve looked at the stone closely, under many different lighting sources including sunlight.
If the stone looks good to you, in all likelihood, it IS a good stone!.

 

[oldminer]

Here is a somewhat cloudy diamond which also has strong blue UV fluorescence. The first image at the left is in flourescent room lighting. The second is with the addition of nearby long wave UV lighting which imitates strong outdoor sunlight. The stone gets an oily purplish blue cast with such UV present in the lighting. The third image is in a darkened room with only the long wave UV light source nearby so you can see how much the diamond does react.

I wear this diamond every day and enjoy its changing character.

 

[FB.]

Date: 12/28/2009 5:27:51 PM
Author: Jennifer2828
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I think I am going to bring the stone to an appraiser and get his/her opinion.

The diamond has incredible brilliance in most lighting. However, in direct sunlight or under direct recessed lughting it dows look dark and a bit hazy/blue.

One question I had though, is flor should never ''turn'' a stone over time, right? It should always appear the way it does now and teh flor won''t continually ''build up'' or something to that effect?

Thanks.

Most well-cut diamonds go dark in sunlight or under spotlights.
Part of the bonus of fluor diamonds is that when in the sun, they do something other than just turn dark.

 

[FirstTimeDiamond]

Help...

I bought this 1.27 AGS 0 diamond, G, SI1 with Very Strong Fluor. The diamond turns a pretty blue in direct sunlight - however when I put it in direct indoor halogen light in my house it goes dark. Is this the oily appearance you are referring to or is it something different (i.e. my shadow, the camera flash, etc.)? The dealer I bought this from never really discussed the Fluor with me, and I didn''t find out about it until I read the AGS report after I purchased it. I didn''t know what fluor was at the time so I didn''t know what it''s ultimate impact was going to be.

Since than I have been reading all the forums on fluor on this website. I would like to get someone advice.

Thanks,

 

[FirstTimeDiamond]

Here is a picture in direct sunlight....

 

[Round Halo Lover]

I can''t answer you I''m afraid, will have to leave it to one of the resident experts. I''m interested to know though as I am interested in getting a stone with fluorescence too.

Beautiful ring BTW

 

[FB.]

Date: 2/25/2010 10:53:02 AM
Author: FirstTimeDiamond

Help...

I bought this 1.27 AGS 0 diamond, G, SI1 with Very Strong Fluor. The diamond turns a pretty blue in direct sunlight - however when I put it in direct indoor halogen light in my house it goes dark. Is this the oily appearance you are referring to or is it something different (i.e. my shadow, the camera flash, etc.)? The dealer I bought this from never really discussed the Fluor with me, and I didn''t find out about it until I read the AGS report after I purchased it. I didn''t know what fluor was at the time so I didn''t know what it''s ultimate impact was going to be.

Since than I have been reading all the forums on fluor on this website. I would like to get someone advice.

Thanks,

Many well-cut diamonds turn dark under spotlights. In fact, it''s quite helpful having them turn dark, because it enhances the appearance of the coloured flashes of fire.
Curiously, once diamonds get a bit dirty, they no longer seem to turn as dark.

Your diamond is fine. Don''t worry.

If you dislike the way it turns dark, you could consider a slightly shallower crown angle, steeper pavilion angle and larger table (e.g. 33.0/41.0/59% instead of Tolkowsky''s 34.6/40.8/56%).
The 33/41/59 combo is often known as "brilliant ideal cut".

I prefer Tolkowsky''s due to greater amounts of coloured flashes.
My O.H. prefers brilliant''s due to being brighter.

 

[FirstTimeDiamond]

FB - Thanks for your response. I thought that might be the case, but I respect the experts on this forum and just wanted to check (and maybe get the piece of mind from someone that knows more about diamonds than I ever will).

This justs helps me sleep better at night.

Thanks again.