Diamond Fluorescence
Information on diamond fluorescence
What is diamond fluorescence? What does this mean? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? How does it affect the value?
"Diamond fluorescence is the emission of light after a substance has absorbed UV radiation. If the emission ceases upon removing the radiation, this substance is said to exhibit fluorescence."
These are all things that people ask when it comes to diamond fluorescence. It is a characterisitc that will be outlined on most diamond certificates and something you may or may not be aware of. Put very simply, some diamonds emit visible light when viewed under invisible ultraviolet radiation (UV light.) This can affect diamond colour. The true whiteness of a diamond is graded by letters of the alphabet, beginning with D colour, the whitest possible colour. (See also diamond colour)
Different strengths of fluorescence can be exhibited in diamonds, brought about by the presence of sub-microscopic particles. It is one of the identifiying characteristics of a particular diamond and can be seen sometimes in daylight and under some artificial lights due to the presence of UV radiation. The most common form found is blue fluorescence. The presence of fluorescence does often affect the price of a diamond, with strong fluorescence resulting in a slightly lower price. Occasionally strong blue fluorescence can result in a slight milky appearance to the diamond. It is therefore necessary to view such diamonds "in the flesh" as often, this slight milkiness will not be observed.
Checking for fluorescence under a UV light
The presence of fluorescence can actually be advantageous in certain diamonds. Lower coloured diamonds that are very slightly tinted in colour when viewed from the side, can appear much whiter when viewed table-top up, due to the presence of blue diamond fluorescence. This itself can result in a slightly higher price on such lower colour diamonds due to this "improving" characteristic.
Observed in everyday life, fluorescence will probably not be observed by the wearer unless under certain conditions. For example, engagement rings containing multiple diamonds, could exhibit one or more of the diamonds appearing to "glow" when viewed under the UV lights of the club. This is at no detriment to your jewellery and under normal conditions this not noticed. If you feel strongly about not having fluorescent diamonds, we will make sure that your diamonds do not exhibit this characteristic. It is a simple process of checking for diamond fluorescence when we sort your diamonds.
