Testing sparkle/scintillation @B&M?

[PenguinIce]

Alright, venturing out in the field and wondering how people test the sparkle/scintillation of the diamond out in the store?

I know people will put the stone in between their fingers and move them under the counter and away from the bright lights, but wondering how best to look at sparkle/scintillation/fire?

What about using one of those key chain led lights to simulate a "spotlight" would that work?

Thanks!

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

Very good questions. Since you have the ability to view stone''s in person, you are a great advantage compared to online-shoppers, for whom the selection is mainly based upon an assessment of brilliance. In your case, you have the ability to actually assess fire and scintillation and that is why your question on how to best observe it is a very good one.

First, it depends on the actual lighting in the store. There is general consensus that jewelry-store-lighting tends to show all diamonds as beautiful, but still there are many differences between stores. If the store is indeed very brightly lit, both with incandescent and spotlighting, differences in performance between diamonds become more difficult to observe. For that reason, do try to observe diamonds in as many lighting-situations as possible, especially in low-light-situations. Under the counter is indeed a good suggestion.

As for the observation of fire, check if you have an area in the store, with mostly spotlights. Another option is to cup the stone lightly with your hand, so that you kind of naturally limit the light entering the diamond.

As for the observation of scintillation, you will probably naturally move the diamond when observing it. This observation in movement can be done both while observing brightness as fire, which should give you a fair overall view.

Live long,