Why are my WF huggies brighter than my other jewelry?

[Akvileja]

I have the 1ctw Whiteflash huggies and they are whiter and brighter than any of my other diamond jewelry. I'm trying to understand what the key factor for this is. So for comparison, this is a family portait of my collection:

Five stone ring 0.75 ctw (15 points per stone), specs unknown, set in WG.
8 claw solitaire 5.9 mm, specs unknown but I can see inclusions with a loupe, in WG
WF shared prong huggies 1ctw (10 stones) F/G VS in WG, ACA
Barbara pendant BGD Signature 0.6ct H VS2 in platinum
8 prong studs BGD Signature 0.9ctw I VS2 in platinum
IDJ "Pricescope jackets" with 3 pointers F/G SI in palladium
WF Whiteflash by the yard, 0.50 ctw F/G VS in platinum, ACA
Channel set band 0.33 ctw (12 stones) Wesselton SI (should be approximately H SI) in WG



Why are the huggies so much brighter? The five stone ring, the solitaire and the band are not ideal cut, but what about the BGD stones?

Is it because the shared prong setting is more open than the other settings I have, with less metal surrounding the diamonds?
Is this the effect you get when you set ideal cut stones in a row next to each other?
Is it because the color is higher than in the other pieces?
Is the cut of the ACA diamonds superior to the other diamonds I have, including the BGD stones?
Is it the metal?
Other suggestions?

My skills with the camera are not very good, so the picture doesn't really capture the true look of the diamonds....

 

[yssie]

I have the 1ctw Whiteflash huggies and they are whiter and brighter than any of my other diamond jewelry. I'm trying to understand what the key factor for this is. So for comparison, this is a family portait of my collection:

Five stone ring 0.75 ctw (15 points per stone), specs unknown, set in WG.
8 claw solitaire 5.9 mm, specs unknown but I can see inclusions with a loupe, in WG
WF shared prong huggies 1ctw (10 stones) F/G VS in WG, ACA
Barbara pendant BGD Signature 0.6ct H VS2 in platinum
8 prong studs BGD Signature 0.9ctw I VS2 in platinum
IDJ "Pricescope jackets" with 3 pointers F/G SI in palladium
WF Whiteflash by the yard, 0.50 ctw F/G VS in platinum, ACA
Channel set band 0.33 ctw (12 stones) Wesselton SI (should be approximately H SI) in WG



Why are the huggies so much brighter? The five stone ring, the solitaire and the band are not ideal cut, but what about the BGD stones?

Is it because the shared prong setting is more open than the other settings I have, with less metal surrounding the diamonds?
Is this the effect you get when you set ideal cut stones in a row next to each other?
Is it because the color is higher than in the other pieces?
Is the cut of the ACA diamonds superior to the other diamonds I have, including the BGD stones?
Is it the metal?
Other suggestions?

My skills with the camera are not very good, so the picture doesn't really capture the true look of the diamonds....

Smaller stones = brighter, whiter, and more "twinkly" than larger stones of same proportions - b/c facets are smaller.
Bigger stones = bigger, slower, more powerful flashes (of white and colour) than smaller stones of same proportions.
Through a variety of lighting types

 

[Niel]

also, maybe its how they are set? Some of your things are bezeled, or set in 6 prongs, meaning (though not a tremendous amount) less light getting in.

 

[Rosebloom]

I have no idea why they're brighter but just wanted to say I love your collection! Amazing!

 

[HopeDream]

Are your huggies white gold ? Rhodium plating on white gold is much whiter/brighter than platinum or palladium.

Brighter metal = a brighter piece overall.

I think the small, high color, precision cut diamond combo which has it's brightness reflected in the white gold with rhodium setting is responsible.

Nice collection !

 

[Karl_K]

1: have them all professionally cleaned. Repeat test.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

For the stones that are super ideal cut, and that would be the WF and BG pieces, color and cleanliness will be the two factors influencing brightness. Having compared I and J color ideal cuts to my G, there is zero doubt that higher colors of ideal cuts are brighter/whiter stones than lower colors. So the F/G to I color explains that. The melee in your WF DBY is probably the same color and clarity and cut as the huggies, so that can only be explained by them needing to be cleaned in an ultrasonic.

You have a lovely, classic collection, by the way!

 

[mustangsally]

If you have WG pieces, I definitely agree with HopeDream and Karl K.

I just got a new WF 5 stone last week which is incredibly bright and sparkly. So much so, in fact, that it made my e-ring and wedding bands look really dull, grey and lifeless in comparison. I had them cleaned which helped but then I also had the e-ring and w bands replated. It has really made such a huge difference.

Love your collection, by the way!

 

[CharmyPoo]

Doh.. they all look the same to me.

 

[Akvileja]

Thank you for all your replies!

I think the small, high color, precision cut diamond combo which has it's brightness reflected in the white gold with rhodium setting is responsible.

Seems like there are many resons why the huggies are brighter .

1: have them all professionally cleaned. Repeat test.

The huggies probably have the least wear, so this may very well be part of the reason.

Having compared I and J color ideal cuts to my G, there is zero doubt that higher colors of ideal cuts are brighter/whiter stones than lower colors.

I was afraid you were going to say this... It makes future purchases so much more expensive.

I am just trying to sort out what my priorities are if (well, probably when ) I get another piece.

 

[Akvileja]

Doh.. they all look the same to me.

Well, that's because I can't take pictures and I have an old and simple camera...

 

[Dreamer_D]

Smaller stones = brighter, whiter, and more "twinkly" than larger stones of same proportions - b/c facets are smaller.
Bigger stones = bigger, slower, more powerful flashes (of white and colour) than smaller stones of same proportions.
Through a variety of lighting types

This combined with body color is my experience. Smaller stones look "whiter" in part because they show less body color and because they don't pick up environmental colors in the same way.

 

[bunnycat]

I'm going to guess there may be a number of factors at play, especially if you are saying that your huggies also appear whiter than the other WF DBTY necklace that also has F/G VS stones. Those are bezel set, and in a different metal that is not rhodium plated. Most of the ones you are comparing them too are going to have a strong tendancy to pick up skin oils and other grunge (rings and necklace since they are resting ON your skin and so not able to be backlit like dangling earrings might. The studs get dirty because you handle them probably more than the stones in the huggies. I am guessing when you put the huggies on, you may touch the metal more than the stones (but don't have any huggies so can't say for sure). The studs are also larger and lower color. So I second Karl's suggestion to clean all of it.