Fluorescence & Value

[bulls&lace]

Round = 2.29 Gia I/VS2
Very good cut grade.
Platinum Baguette cut diamonds = .30 Cts.

Fluorescence - Strong Blue

This is a really pretty stone. It appears the fluorescense is a personal choice. However, I want to be sure I''m getting a good value (16.5) as well as loving the stone.

(I am looking to replace an H SI that was swindled and replaced with a K I1. I''m having a little difficulty trusting as you might well understand if this happened to you.)

Thanks,

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/18/2008 9:52:42 AM
Author:bulls&lace
Round = 2.29 Gia I/VS2
Very good cut grade.
Platinum Baguette cut diamonds = .30 Cts.

Fluorescence - Strong Blue

This is a really pretty stone. It appears the fluorescense is a personal choice. However, I want to be sure I'm getting a good value (16.5) as well as loving the stone.

(I am looking to replace an H SI that was swindled and replaced with a K I1. I'm having a little difficulty trusting as you might well understand if this happened to you.)

Thanks,

Welcome!

Fluorescence can cause a small discount in some cases, check that it isn't causing the diamond to look hazy in some lights, this is rare though. I think strong blue in an I colour can be a nice addition provided it doesn't have a negative effect on the stone.

It is a pretty ring, who is selling it? Is it a known and trusted vendor? We really need more details, with the diamond -

proportions - depth, table, crown and pavilion angles, girdle and diameter, polish and symmetry

I am sorry to hear about your bad experience so it is extremely important you work with a vendor you feel comfortable with, so if you could let us know who is selling it then we can help from there if any of us are familiar with them.

 

[Judah Gutwein]

Bulls&Lace,

The ring looks pretty indeed!

Fluorescence is quite an interesting phenomena.
As Lorelei mentioned, it can become a negative in rare instances, where the strong fluorescence will impart a "hazy or milky" film to the diamond. Of course, this is not a good thing. However, this type of diamond is an anomaly and is actually studied for its properties.

In most cases however, fluorescence in a diamond (faint - strong blue) will not have a deleterious effect on the structural integrity of the diamond, or on its aesthetic appearance, unless viewed in certain lighting conditions.

It can become a positive, in the case of lower color graded diamonds, where fluoresence has been noted to "help the diamond face up whiter" than its actual color grade (mostly in specific lighting environments). Thus, in a scenario where someone is perhaps operating on a limited budget, he/she may be motivated to specifically look for a diamond that exhibits some fluorescence, in order to positively influence its face up appearance without having to pay more money for it.

In fact (and as mentioned by Lorelei), you will often find fluorescent diamonds to be sold at a bit of a discount vis a vis diamonds of similar specifications without fluorescence. Ultimately, the choice is quite personal.

If you'd like to read what many believe to be THE definitive study on Fluorescence and its effects, you ought to read this study conducted by GIA some years ago. It is an incredibly informative read. It is quite tedious..but well worth it, imo.

http://www.gia.edu/pdfs/W97_fluoresce.pdf

Best of luck!

 

[Moh 10]

Is it true that fluorescence decreasing value is limited to USA, and that it can actually increase the price of a diamond in Europe?

 

[bulls&lace]

Thank you so for your response. The following is from the GIA Report. As far as a vendor, is there list to check, like a BBB.
Report Type: GIA Diamond Grading Report
Date of Issue: October 24, 2008
Round Brilliant
Measurements: 8.65 - 8.72 x 5.11 mm
Carat Weight: 2.29 carat
Color Grade: I
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Very Good
Proportions:
Depth: 58.9%
Table: 60%
Crown Angle: 31.0°
Crown Height: 12.0%
Pavilion Angle: 41.4°
Pavilion Depth: 44.0%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted
Culet: Very Small
Finish:
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: Strong Blue
Comments: Additional clouds are not shown.

 

[Moh 10]

I''d pass.
These are not good proportions.

Crown Angle: 31.0°

Pavilion Angle: 41.4°

 

[oldminer]

I personally wear a strong blue UV fluorescent diamond every day. It makes an interesting piece out of what would otherwise be "just another ring". It has almost a violet glow to it in strong sunlight, and it is always a bit hazy. Of course, as a man''s ring, this sort of phenomenom may be acceptable where you just might not want all the extra questions about such stuff with an engagement ring. Mine is unusually reactive to UV and most don''t do so much even when they have visible reactions.

I am told that ALL diamonds are fluorescent to UV, but only those where there is eye visible UV reactions are the ones we are concerned about. This approach makes good sense, but all diamonds fluoresce to UV. Most of them react in areas of the spectrum that our eyes can''t detect. Just an interesting side story.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/18/2008 10:46:41 AM
Author: bulls&lace




Thank you so for your response. The following is from the GIA Report. As far as a vendor, is there list to check, like a BBB.
Report Type: GIA Diamond Grading Report




Date of Issue: October 24, 2008
Round Brilliant
Measurements: 8.65 - 8.72 x 5.11 mm
Carat Weight: 2.29 carat
Color Grade: I
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Very Good
Proportions:
Depth: 58.9%
Table: 60%
Crown Angle: 31.0°
Crown Height: 12.0%
Pavilion Angle: 41.4°
Pavilion Depth: 44.0%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted
Culet: Very Small
Finish:
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: Strong Blue
Comments: Additional clouds are not shown.

It isn't the best cut stone, has a shallow depth and larger table, but it is a decent make and could be a pretty diamond, just not cut to top standards so it depends on what you want. The price is cheap, is this a used ring, or one on consigment?

You can check the vendor out on the BBB and also try a Google search, what are the terms of sale, is there a guaranteed return policy for example?

Is the diamond being sold on Ebay?

 

[bulls&lace]

What is negative about the cut? What would a retail be on this stone if it wasn''t hazy?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/18/2008 11:01:04 AM
Author: bulls&lace
What is negative about the cut? What would a retail be on this stone if it wasn't hazy?

It isn't a bad cut, but here on PS we see many superideal cut diamonds. This is what we call a nice make of stone, the depth is shallow and the table larger than we often see - although it isn't huge by any means! The angle ranges could be better balanced with the crown being steeper ( 34/ 35 deg) and the pavilion shallower ( 40.6/ 41) as a baseline. However it appears the proportions work together which could result in a pretty and brilliant stone which has a good spread for the weight. It is a trade off though as this type of diamond might not show much in the way of fire or coloured light I am estimating.

The diamond is unlikely to be hazy as this is rare, but it is best to check. As to pricing if you use the search tool above Pricescope your Diamond: you can do a search for similar, bear in mind the prices are for online stones, brick and mortar jewellers can be typically more expensive. You will see the prices for a diamond alone of this size and quality are around 20k and up, not including the ring and whichever metal it is and the accent stones.

 

[Moh 10]

That diamond gets an HCA score of 1.7, which is good since it is under 2.

But is falls far to the left of both GIA's large, and AGS's small, target zones.

Cut determines a diamond's beauty and light performance more than color or clarity.
These zones are the bull's eyes of good cut, which means a better performing diamond.

Here are a few superbly-cut diamonds similar in size, color and clarity.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4766/

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1466929.htm

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5069/

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1466930.htm

Edit: Darn, the little X that was to the left of both target zones on the chart did not come along with the image when I borrowed it.

Does anyone know how to make that happen?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 12/18/2008 11:04:30 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 12/18/2008 11:01:04 AM

Author: bulls&lace

What is negative about the cut? What would a retail be on this stone if it wasn''t hazy?

It isn''t a bad cut, but here on PS we see many superideal cut diamonds. This is what we call a nice make of stone, the depth is shallow and the table larger than we often see - although it isn''t huge by any means! The angle ranges could be better balanced with the crown being steeper ( 34/ 35 deg) and the pavilion shallower ( 40.6/ 41) as a baseline. However it appears the proportions work together which could result in a pretty and brilliant stone which has a good spread for the weight. It is a trade off though as this type of diamond might not show much in the way of fire or coloured light I am estimating.


The diamond is unlikely to be hazy as this is rare, but it is best to check. As to pricing if you use the search tool above Pricescope your Diamond: you can do a search for similar, bear in mind the prices are for online stones, brick and mortar jewellers can be typically more expensive. You will see the prices for a diamond alone of this size and quality are around 20k and up, not including the ring and whichever metal it is and the accent stones.

might not show much in the way of fire or coloured light "Compared to the modern ideal cut."
otherwise ditto what Lorelei said.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/18/2008 11:40:38 AM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 12/18/2008 11:04:30 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 12/18/2008 11:01:04 AM

Author: bulls&lace

What is negative about the cut? What would a retail be on this stone if it wasn't hazy?

It isn't a bad cut, but here on PS we see many superideal cut diamonds. This is what we call a nice make of stone, the depth is shallow and the table larger than we often see - although it isn't huge by any means! The angle ranges could be better balanced with the crown being steeper ( 34/ 35 deg) and the pavilion shallower ( 40.6/ 41) as a baseline. However it appears the proportions work together which could result in a pretty and brilliant stone which has a good spread for the weight. It is a trade off though as this type of diamond might not show much in the way of fire or coloured light I am estimating.


The diamond is unlikely to be hazy as this is rare, but it is best to check. As to pricing if you use the search tool above Pricescope your Diamond: you can do a search for similar, bear in mind the prices are for online stones, brick and mortar jewellers can be typically more expensive. You will see the prices for a diamond alone of this size and quality are around 20k and up, not including the ring and whichever metal it is and the accent stones.

might not show much in the way of fire or coloured light 'Compared to the modern ideal cut.'
otherwise ditto what Lorelei said.

Thanks Storm, I should have added words to that effect!