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Often overlooked until later stages, diamond fluorescence can provoke anxiety during the final steps of buying a loose diamond. However, understanding fluorescence from the start can be beneficial.
Fluorescence is akin to the diamond industry’s Cardi B—enigmatic and often confusing, leaving many to ponder its pros and cons.
Defining Diamond Fluorescence
Fluorescence in diamonds is a frequently misunderstood characteristic. Essentially, fluorescence in a diamond results from its reaction to UV light, such as black light, causing it to emit a blue glow in a UV setting. This reaction can also produce white, yellow, green, or red hues. Approximately 30% of gem-quality diamonds exhibit fluorescence, attributed to trace elements naturally integrated during the diamond’s formation process.
Evaluating Diamond Fluorescence: Pros and Cons
To gain insight, watch our co-founder Anubh discuss fluorescence:
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has conducted extensive research on fluorescence and its potential impact on a diamond’s visual appearance. Through years of testing, GIA concluded that fluorescence typically has no significant effect on a diamond’s sparkle or visibility, with fewer than 1% of instances showing any noticeable influence.
Advantages of Purchasing Lab-Grown Diamonds
Cost-Effectiveness
Lab diamonds are often up to 50% less costly than their natural counterparts while maintaining comparable aesthetics, enabling buyers to choose larger or higher quality diamonds within their budget.
Environmental Responsibility
Creating diamonds in a lab consumes less energy than mining natural diamonds, reducing transportation, labor, and environmental impact. Lab-grown diamonds represent an eco-friendlier option.
Varied Availability
Lab-created diamonds are produced in diverse shapes, colors, and qualities, allowing consumers to find a diamond that precisely meets their specifications within their budget.
When Does Diamond Fluorescence Pose Issues?
Diamond color is graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light color). For diamonds rated D, E, and F, particularly strong blue fluorescence can give them a milky, hazy, or grayish appearance, reducing their brilliance. Consequently, Artful Bracelets avoids carrying diamonds with very strong blue fluorescence. For grades labeled “none,” “faint,” or “medium,” this concern is generally insignificant. For strong blue diamonds, contact an Artful Bracelets gemologist for further details about a specific stone.
Benefits of Diamond Fluorescence
For diamonds with a warmer yellow tint, typically graded J through L, medium to strong fluorescence can make them appear whiter, subtly reducing the yellow hue. Although the effect is minor, it can elevate a J color diamond to an I color diamond in many instances, but it won’t transform it to a D, E, or F grade.
Generally, fluorescence does not affect a diamond’s sparkle, structural integrity, or robustness; it’s more of an incidental trait.
Impact of Fluorescence on Diamond Pricing
Fluorescent diamonds are typically priced 10% to 15% lower than those rated “faint” or “none,” offering substantial savings and value. Given that fluorescence rarely affects visual properties, the GIA records it primarily for transparency.
If you have questions about diamond fluorescence or are interested in a particular diamond on our website, connect with one of our expert gemologists for a detailed discussion.
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