One of the most common questions we see at Jonathan’s Fine Jewelers is about the characteristic of fluorescence, which can be found in roughly 25-35% of diamonds. When you do come across a diamond that has fluorescence, it’s important to have a good idea of what it is, and more importantly what it means for your diamond.
First of all, what is fluorescence?
Fluorescence is actually fairly simple when it comes to diamonds. Some diamonds reflect varying amounts of UV light, which most commonly comes from the sun and fluorescent lamps. The presence of this effect is usually not noticeable, or could even make your diamond look more desirable depending on the stone’s color rating.
Technically, fluorescence is considered an imperfection in a diamond. However, many in the diamond industry don’t really consider it that way at all since it can actually improve the visual appeal of a stone.
How does fluorescence change how my diamond looks?
Fluorescence in diamonds is typically a faint blue reflection, although from time to time an orange or yellow color can be emitted as well.
That blue tint can actually give a diamond the illusion of more sparkle and fire than a stone without fluorescence. This is most common with diamonds in the I-M color range. In addition to more fire and sparkle, diamonds in this range with fluorescence may also look a full color grade better.
At Jonathan’s, we always encourage customers to focus less on the specifications of the diamond, and more on how the diamond looks to them in real life.
If you are choosing between a diamond with fluorescence and one without, and the fluorescent one looks better to you – you shouldn’t have any hesitation towards that particular stone at all.
Will fluorescence be listed anywhere on my GIA report?
Yes. The GIA displays your particular diamonds fluorescence grade on the report as either Very Strong, Strong, Medium, Faint, or None.
Will my fiancé know if the diamond has fluorescence? Will she care?
Most likely, no on both questions. If anything, she may notice the faint blue tint and think that the diamond actually looks better than a diamond without it.
In 1997, the GIA performed a study that actually found that observers couldn’t reliably tell which diamonds had fluorescence when viewing the diamonds face up on a table. In the rare instances that they could, the participants weren’t able to agree on how strongly each stone was affected.
From the GIA:
“For the average observer, meant to represent the jewelry buying public, no systematic effects of blue fluorescence on the face-up appearance of the groups of diamonds were detected. Even experienced observers did not consistently agree on the effects of fluorescence from one stone to the next.” – GIA.com
This just further backs up what we previously mentioned – if you love a stone that happens to have fluorescence, you should have no reservations in getting down on one knee and proposing with it!
Go here to read more about the GIA’s report.
Conclusion:
While fluorescence can initially seem intimidating because it is technically a flaw in a diamond, it really should be taken with a grain of salt. Many times, diamonds with fluorescence can actually look better than ones without.
Unless the fluorescence in a diamond is extreme, it should probably not be the deciding factor for you when shopping for a diamond.
Are you interested in creating your engagement ring with a loose diamond from our inventory? Contact Sergio@jfjco.com to schedule an appointment and find the perfect diamond today.
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