the difference between brilliance, fire and scintillation

[swl]

I have read through the tutorial on these three characteristics, but somehow they all sound the same to me. Can someone simplify each one for me so it''s easier to differentiate the difference between the three? Thanks!

p.s.: also, how great of a difference is "Excellent" and "Very good" in visual appearance?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/10/2009 10:51:55 AM
Author:swl
I have read through the tutorial on these three characteristics, but somehow they all sound the same to me. Can someone simplify each one for me so it's easier to differentiate the difference between the three? Thanks!

p.s.: also, how great of a difference is 'Excellent' and 'Very good' in visual appearance?

Fire is coloured light you see if the lighting is right, the blue, red, yellow and so on rainbow of coloured lighting you see coming from a diamond.

Brilliance is literally white light brilliance, how the diamond sparkles and looks brilliant and eyecatching, brightness and contrast are the two major components of brilliance.

Scintillation is what you see when the facets switch on and off causing intense sparkles when the diamond is in motion.

A well cut diamond will display plenty of all the above. The link below will really help you, videos from goodoldgold show some of these diamond features, fire, brilliance and scintillation in action.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/Diamond_Videos/

If you are referring to GIA cut graded Excellent or Very Good as to a visual difference, no hard and fast answers there as it very much depends on the type and proportions of each diamond.

If you mean polish and symmetry ex or vg, good and above look the same to the naked untrained eye.

 

[Ellen]

Ditto Lorelei.


Have you seen the first 3 videos on this page? I think they might help you.

http://goodoldgold.com/Diamond_Videos/


As the videos will show, lighting plays a big part in how all of these appear in a stone!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/10/2009 10:59:24 AM
Author: Ellen
Ditto Lorelei.


Have you seen the first 3 videos on this page? I think they might help you.

http://goodoldgold.com/Diamond_Videos/


As the videos will show, lighting plays a big part in how all of these appear in a stone!

Oh snap!

 

[swl]

Oh I see! Now I get it!

As of the EX and VG difference, I was referring to these three characteristics measured in the holloway cut adviser.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/10/2009 11:02:39 AM
Author: swl
Oh I see! Now I get it!

As of the EX and VG difference, I was referring to these three characteristics measured in the holloway cut adviser.

Glad to help! Ok with the ex vg HCA score, it depends as above on the diamonds themselves but I would not use that to make a definite prediction of a diamond''s performance as the HCA is used for elimination and it can''t physically see the stone.

 

[swl]

oh I see, so as long as it''s within 2, the measurement of ex or vg for these three characteristics are not too different. right?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/10/2009 11:08:41 AM
Author: swl
oh I see, so as long as it's within 2, the measurement of ex or vg for these three characteristics are not too different. right?

Yes, the aim is to score 2 or below in most cases to basically know whether a diamond is worth bothering with or not, then you evaluate by ASET and or Idealscope images, plus a trusted vendor or appraiser's opinion on the diamond and its performance nuances and beauty. It is really impossible to predict on the HCA with the ex/vg score that a diamond will definitely show excellent fire, very good brilliance and so on.

This page explains more

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/ideal.asp

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/10/2009 11:04:44 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 6/10/2009 11:02:39 AM
Author: swl
Oh I see! Now I get it!

As of the EX and VG difference, I was referring to these three characteristics measured in the holloway cut adviser.

Glad to help! Ok with the ex vg HCA score, it depends as above on the diamonds themselves but I would not use that to make a definite prediction of a diamond's performance as the HCA is used for elimination and it can't physically see the stone.

Right.

 

[strmrdr]

Scintillation can also be caused by movement of the viewer and the lighting as well as movement of the diamond.

 

[swl]

this is not related to my topic of discussion, but do you think it's worth it to pay $500 more for a set of VS2 instead of a set of SI1? assuming they are under .5 carat each, with similar characteristics. All scoring within 2 in the holloway cut adviser

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/10/2009 3:40:46 PM
Author: swl
this is not related to my topic of discussion, but do you think it''s worth it to pay $500 more for a set of VS2 instead of a set of SI1? assuming they are under .5 carat each, with similar characteristics. All scoring within 2 in the holloway cut adviser

To me it wouldn''t be worth it if the SI1 are eyeclean but if it is to you then fine.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/10/2009 4:10:50 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 6/10/2009 3:40:46 PM
Author: swl
this is not related to my topic of discussion, but do you think it''s worth it to pay $500 more for a set of VS2 instead of a set of SI1? assuming they are under .5 carat each, with similar characteristics. All scoring within 2 in the holloway cut adviser

To me it wouldn''t be worth it if the SI1 are eyeclean but if it is to you then fine.

Dittoes.