Strong Fluorescence + Graining effects

[Bookwyrm]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone knows whether strong fluorescence with graining is guaranteed to result in transparency issues and haziness. I'm looking at a Brian Gavin Blue diamond with strong fluorescence, but the graining is also very noticeable in the magnified images/videos, and going by the little information I've found on this topic online, fluorescence + graining seems to be bad combination. Any help or insight would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[tyty333]

Well, I dont think it would qualify for their Blue line if it had any issues but you really need to talk to BGD. Maybe they can provide
pictures of the stone you are interested in next to a stone that does not have graining to see if you can tell any difference.

 

[autumngems]

Remember this is magnified, you most likely will not see these and Brian Gavin has excellent diamonds.

 

[lovedogs]

BG vets diamonds carefully so I really doubt it's an issue, but I'd ask them

 

[coda72]

I have 5 Brian Gavin Blue stones, and none of them have any issues. I was told Brian himself inspects the Blue stones to make sure they have no haziness or any other issues.

 

[Bookwyrm]

Thank you for your replies! I was worried because of this video

but BG just got back to me regarding haziness, and they said the graining shouldn't affect transparency or cause haziness in this diamond. I have asked for comparison videos against a no fluorescence diamond, and will hopefully receive those soon.

I was also a bit concerned about the image of the diamond under UV light in the dark, as it looks really messy compared to other fluorescent diamonds on their website. However, Brian said it was due to the distribution of fluorescence and angle ratios, which I don't really understand, but I do hope it doesn't look as messy in person.

 

[Bookwyrm]

I have 5 Brian Gavin Blue stones, and none of them have any issues. I was told Brian himself inspects the Blue stones to make sure they have no haziness or any other issues.

That's really good to hear. I love the idea of blue fluorescence, which I came across relatively recently because of Pricescope, and am excited to look for my first! I can't seem to find that many strong fluorescence ones though...

 

[Rfisher]

Do you consider this stone to be priced noticeably lower to comparables to other blues they have?
If so - there’s probably a reason it’s that way, and your questions/doubts on it looking different to the others probably reflect that. Maybe?
Whether or not it’s mind clean to a person to their naked eye - that’s where it lies?

Not an expert tho
I could be well off base, here.

 

[0-0-0]

I was also a bit concerned about the image of the diamond under UV light in the dark, as it looks really messy compared to other fluorescent diamonds on their website. However, Brian said it was due to the distribution of fluorescence and angle ratios, which I don't really understand, but I do hope it doesn't look as messy in person.

I’m a fan of blue fluorescence too! Fluorescence isn’t always evenly distributed throughout a diamond. It depends on the diamond rough and how it was cut. I have one that’s graded medium blue, but it actually looks more like a faint blue face up in UV light because the fluorescence is zoned and concentrated in the pavilion. The difference is only noticeable under UV light in the dark and not visible in normal viewing conditions. In any case, if I’m buying this diamond I would probably want to see it loose first to make sure that it‘s both eye and mind clean to me.

 

[Bookwyrm]

Do you consider this stone to be priced noticeably lower to comparables to other blues they have?
If so - there’s probably a reason it’s that way, and your questions/doubts on it looking different to the others probably reflect that. Maybe?
Whether or not it’s mind clean to a person to their naked eye - that’s where it lies?

Not an expert tho
I could be well off base, here.

Hi Rfisher,

Yes, this one is priced a bit lower than another diamond with similar specs but without the graining, so I think you're right about that. As I'm in Australia, it would be a hard for me to see the diamond in person, so I was hoping they could take comparison videos for me, but because Christmas season is so busy, they said they're unable to do that until after the holidays, sadly.

 

[Bookwyrm]

I’m a fan of blue fluorescence too! Fluorescence isn’t always evenly distributed throughout a diamond. It depends on the diamond rough and how it was cut. I have one that’s graded medium blue, but it actually looks more like a faint blue face up in UV light because the fluorescence is zoned and concentrated in the pavilion. The difference is only noticeable under UV light in the dark and not visible in normal viewing conditions. In any case, if I’m buying this diamond I would probably want to see it loose first to make sure that it‘s both eye and mind clean to me.

Hmmm so if the diamond had strong but uneven fluorescence, would it not look patchy and uneven at all except for under UV light in the dark?

I do wish I could see this diamond first, but I'm all the way in Australia, so I think I may wait until after the holidays for the comparison videos. I did receive reassurance from a Brian Gavin sales consultant that the internal graining will not be visible to the naked eye, and has no effect on transparency. I don't really know what to do right now...do you think I should just go through with the purchase, as it's a Brian Gavin signature stone, and I'm assuming they vet each diamond very carefully?

 

[musicloveranthony]

Respectfully, if you're nervous about it I would recommend either not purchasing or delaying until they're able to take videos for you. I believe that they've vetted the stone and that they don't find issue with it. If you're feeling apprehensive about it I feel you're more likely to see what it is you're looking for (in this case that being a negative quality)

 

[Dreamer_D]

I don’t think a video is going to show you much anyway. I really don’t think Brian would purchase a diamond for his brand with any actual issues. He is very good as finding these needles in a haystack that have a characteristic that lowers the price, but which doesn’t actually suffer the consequences of that characteristic. Like finding really good eye clean S12 or even I1 diamonds. You are benefiting from his expertise in finding this diamond and passing on some of the savings to you (bc trust he is making his profit too).

I wouldn’t stress about it.

ETA you should wait until after the holidays and talk to Brian personally. Put your mind at ease. Of course, it could sell before then!

 

[0-0-0]

How big is this diamond? If it’s under 2 carats I think it’s unlikely you’ll notice the uneven fluorescence or graining in person without a loupe. Is the savings enough to risk an unlikely return? Or just go with the alternative without graining?

 

[Rfisher]

Hi Rfisher,

Yes, this one is priced a bit lower than another diamond with similar specs but without the graining, so I think you're right about that. As I'm in Australia, it would be a hard for me to see the diamond in person, so I was hoping they could take comparison videos for me, but because Christmas season is so busy, they said they're unable to do that until after the holidays, sadly.

Did you order it?
it’s gone.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Sorry, but even moderate graining in my experience will result in haziness when the diamond is viewed in light with a UV content. Shaded daylight or light passing through a normal window will often have strong enough UV to cause a problem (triple glazed would cut out indirect UV, but not direct sunlight UV).
This has been my observation for some years and was confirmed by this GIA study:

https://www.gia.edu/doc/SU21_Luo.pdf