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The old "blue white" diamonds from the 60s

whitewave

whitewave

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Feb 29, 2012
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My mother's "blue white" diamond from 1964ish popped out of her setting (had done it once before but she had it fixed-- she found it on my sister's car floor). This was two weeks ago and she can't find it. It isn't insured. My father died 6 years ago.

Isn't one of the hallmarks of these diamonds is that they have blue fluro?

My daughter wondered if mom bought a black light, and searched in the dark maybe the stone would glow and it would be easier to find?

What do you think? Might this work? She is pretty sure it is in the house. It is .75. Thanks!

ETA: were these diamonds a specific color? High color? Low color? Hers faced up white. She is so upset about it I have thought about buying a stone and pretending like I found hers (and then making her reset in a bezel)...
 
That would be an excellent tool to use in searching for a Blue White.

Here is a quote from a 1998 article by Martin Rapaport that I came upon while trying to look up when the FTC outlawed the use of the term Blue White.

"Once upon a time before the diamond industry standardized to GIA color grading terminology the term Blue White (Blauweiss) was used to describe the finest color white diamonds. The original Blue White diamonds came from South Africa's Jagersfontein mine. The best Jager stones were highly transparent (clear and colorless) with a bluish tint due to fluorescence. Ironically, during the early part of the 20th century fluorescence was seen as something that had a very positive impact on top colors. The extra sparkle fluorescence provided when the diamond was seen face up in sunlight was accepted as verification of the diamonds high color. Blue White diamonds were avidly sought out by the trade and consumers who paid higher prices for diamonds with fluorescence. Contrary to current market conditions, fluorescence added value to high color diamonds.

Now the history of what happened to fluorescence is very interesting and informative. The trade had something very good going with fluorescent Blue White diamonds, but they blew it. Instead of maintaining consumer confidence in Blue White the trade began selling all types of lower color diamonds as Blue White. The term Blue White and the underlying concept that blue (i.e. fluorescence) added value to white (colorless) diamonds was so abused by the trade that in 1938 the U.S. Federal Trade Commission outlawed the use of the term Blue White for anything but blue diamonds."

Assuming that your mother's diamond was indeed a blue white by the description widely used by the trade back then, even though it was proscribed by the FTC, it whould have Blue Fluorescence.

Wink
 
I'd start with a black light & try to locate it. If she's anything like me, she knows her diamond. My jeweler always keeps track of my stone with the cert. #, but I know my diamond...every inch, every step, every facet. I have examined this thing to exhaustion...lol! I'd KNOW if someone replaced it.
If it has blue fluorescence, it should show under black lighting....
 
Wink said:
That would be an excellent tool to use in searching for a Blue White.

Here is a quote from a 1998 article by Martin Rapaport that I came upon while trying to look up when the FTC outlawed the use of the term Blue White.

"Once upon a time before the diamond industry standardized to GIA color grading terminology the term Blue White (Blauweiss) was used to describe the finest color white diamonds. The original Blue White diamonds came from South Africa's Jagersfontein mine. The best Jager stones were highly transparent (clear and colorless) with a bluish tint due to fluorescence. Ironically, during the early part of the 20th century fluorescence was seen as something that had a very positive impact on top colors. The extra sparkle fluorescence provided when the diamond was seen face up in sunlight was accepted as verification of the diamonds high color. Blue White diamonds were avidly sought out by the trade and consumers who paid higher prices for diamonds with fluorescence. Contrary to current market conditions, fluorescence added value to high color diamonds.

Now the history of what happened to fluorescence is very interesting and informative. The trade had something very good going with fluorescent Blue White diamonds, but they blew it. Instead of maintaining consumer confidence in Blue White the trade began selling all types of lower color diamonds as Blue White. The term Blue White and the underlying concept that blue (i.e. fluorescence) added value to white (colorless) diamonds was so abused by the trade that in 1938 the U.S. Federal Trade Commission outlawed the use of the term Blue White for anything but blue diamonds."

Assuming that your mother's diamond was indeed a blue white by the description widely used by the trade back then, even though it was proscribed by the FTC, it whould have Blue Fluorescence.

Wink
Click to expand...

Thanks so much, Wink. I'm not sure if it is truly "blue white" but I grew up with my dad proud as a peacock about the blue white diamond he bought my mother and what the sales guy told him about it-- how it was rare and special. (My parents know nothing about diamonds obviously).

I'm glad to see you confirmed a black light might work. Mom has terrazo floors, so that compunds the issue of finding it. She lives hours from me, otherwise I would have joined the search. As soon as my daughter said blacklight this morning, I thought she might be on to something.

I will get my sister to go buy one.
 
Matthews1127 said:
I'd start with a black light & try to locate it. If she's anything like me, she knows her diamond. My jeweler always keeps track of my stone with the cert. #, but I know my diamond...every inch, every step, every facet. I have examined this thing to exhaustion...lol! I'd KNOW if someone replaced it.
If it has blue fluorescence, it should show under black lighting....
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm sure she does. I don't know the color or the clarity either and with my luck she would find hers after I passed off a new one lol.

She needs it bezel set. There has been a lot of family drama over there and she remembers a dish towel getting caught on a prong and she mindlessly "ham handed" the towel and the stone likely was flung.... she isn't sure if the towel caused the prong to release the stone, or if it had already happened and the towel getting caught was the result. Sad.
 
whitewave said:
Yes, I'm sure she does. I don't know the color or the clarity either and with my luck she would find hers after I passed off a new one lol.

She needs it bezel set. There has been a lot of family drama over there and she remembers a dish towel getting caught on a prong and she mindlessly "ham handed" the towel and the stone likely was flung.... she isn't sure if the towel caused the prong to release the stone, or if it had already happened and the towel getting caught was the result. Sad.
Click to expand...

Oh, sweet Lord!! How terrible!!!
I know what you mean about "with my luck she would find hers after I passed off a new one lol." I was thinking the same thing because that's my kinda luck...lol!!
I do hope the fact that she likely has blue fluorescence helps you find the diamond & you can secure it snugly in a bezel setting!!! Fingers crossed...I know I'd be losing my mind! :cry2:
 
try a bright led flashlight at night first, someone is likely to have one.
 
rockysalamander said:
Be careful with that thing! No pointing at anyone's eyes. I'm pretty sure that the UV transmitted by such a light is the same that can cause snow blindness.

You need the observer's pupils to wide open in order to detect a little blue glowing stone, so block off all other sources of light. Then, go slow. GOOD LUCK!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the caution and tips!
 
I'm really sorry to hear about your mom's diamond, @whitewave! :( Sending lots of dust in hopes she's able to find it!! (killer black light there - HA!) ;)
 
msop04 said:
I'm really sorry to hear about your mom's diamond, @whitewave! :( Sending lots of dust in hopes she's able to find it!! (killer black light there - HA!) ;-)
Click to expand...

Thank you. I'll keep everyone posted.
 
MissGotRocks said:
I too hope she finds her diamond - must be terribly upsetting for her!
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I tend to think it is gone and likely not found (for now). Diamonds are so hard to find if you drop them.
 
Just a note, all manner of pet "evidence" can be found with black lights. Once seen, it's hard to unsee. Not for the squeamish.

I hope her stone shows up!
 
ringo865 said:
Just a note, all manner of pet "evidence" can be found with black lights. Once seen, it's hard to unsee. Not for the squeamish.

I hope her stone shows up!
Click to expand...
LOL

I have visions of NCIS or similar shows...
 
Be careful what you wish for..... I guess lol
 
My brother used it last night and said he has seen things he wishes he never saw!!! :lol::eek2::eek2:

He called it "the invisible world". :D He said it even shows animal biologicals at the bottom of St. Augustine grass.

He is having a blast with it.

They haven't found the diamond yet, but they just started looking...
 
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