CaprineSun
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2010
- Messages
- 579
......I have a concern.
I've read a great deal about fluorescence, read a great number of threads, have seen the pictures. I didn't feel I would mind fluorescence in a diamond & it would make my diamond a little more "unique." So I started specifically searching for these diamonds because as I have understood it to be:
- Only 2% of diamonds in the world will have a milky/hazy/oily appearance from VSB fluor based on the GIA study.
- May possibly help a lower color stone (ie. I/J) face up white in some lighting conditions
- the cool glow stick effect in clubs
- Negative connotation due to the scams in the 70's and misconceptions of outdoor appearance
- Can have a bluish/purplish hue outdoors in direct sunlight, but will NOT affect a diamond's performance (diamonds turn dark in direct sunlight any with or without fluor.)
- each diamond with fluor. must be judged individually, on their own merits.
So, I was all for it. But then I read this Journal article on PS & this came up: As posted by Garry in this thread https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/blue-fluorescence-in-diamonds.120497/page-4
It seems that although strong fluor. may be a plus for the consumers (mainly the 'non-experts') to have a "J" stone face up 'whiter' due, it may also be "fooling" GIA graders in their labs as well??? Leading to inaccurate color grading of a stone in lower colors?
This concerns me greatly. It seems almost akin to having an EGL graded stone where one may think they're buying one color & actually receiving a color grade much lower.
This has made me pause with my quest to find a stone with fluor. I wouldn't mind it as much if I was searching for an E or F stone; however, in looking for I or even J stones, it can make a big difference.
I did a search & this was briefly discussed in this thread as well (great thread btw) https://www.pricescope.com/forum/ro...ars-clubs-t145168-120.html?hilit=fluorescence where Garry mentioned his methods of minimizing UV light when he grades; however, how am I to know this has been resolved in the GIA labs or any other grading labs for that matter?
I've read a great deal about fluorescence, read a great number of threads, have seen the pictures. I didn't feel I would mind fluorescence in a diamond & it would make my diamond a little more "unique." So I started specifically searching for these diamonds because as I have understood it to be:
- Only 2% of diamonds in the world will have a milky/hazy/oily appearance from VSB fluor based on the GIA study.
- May possibly help a lower color stone (ie. I/J) face up white in some lighting conditions
- the cool glow stick effect in clubs
- Negative connotation due to the scams in the 70's and misconceptions of outdoor appearance
- Can have a bluish/purplish hue outdoors in direct sunlight, but will NOT affect a diamond's performance (diamonds turn dark in direct sunlight any with or without fluor.)
- each diamond with fluor. must be judged individually, on their own merits.
So, I was all for it. But then I read this Journal article on PS & this came up: As posted by Garry in this thread https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/blue-fluorescence-in-diamonds.120497/page-4
Back to one of the main themes of the article - here is a comment from Tom Tashi as a Letter to the Editor regarding over grading D-Z diamonds by GIA
http://www.gia.edu/research-resources/gems-gemology/issues/summer2009-contents/SU09LT2.pdf
Tom is a very considered and careful Gemologist - those who know him - know that his opinions carry weight.
Here is one paragraph from his letter:
"I was shocked when I first discovered in 1995, by
shielding the Verilux lamps in the GIA DiamondLite with
a clear Makrolon plastic film (which acts as a UV filter),
that stones with very strong blue fluorescence could
appear three or four letter grades lower in color. Similarly,
after sharing my findings and offering others some
Makrolon film for their own experiments, several of my
colleagues and former associates were as shocked as I was
to see these dramatic color shifts in strongly fluorescent
diamonds. I believe this to be a very significant issue in
the accurate color grading of D-to-Z diamonds, and I cannot
accept GIA’s recommendation for their standard viewing
environment."
It seems that although strong fluor. may be a plus for the consumers (mainly the 'non-experts') to have a "J" stone face up 'whiter' due, it may also be "fooling" GIA graders in their labs as well??? Leading to inaccurate color grading of a stone in lower colors?
This concerns me greatly. It seems almost akin to having an EGL graded stone where one may think they're buying one color & actually receiving a color grade much lower.
This has made me pause with my quest to find a stone with fluor. I wouldn't mind it as much if I was searching for an E or F stone; however, in looking for I or even J stones, it can make a big difference.
I did a search & this was briefly discussed in this thread as well (great thread btw) https://www.pricescope.com/forum/ro...ars-clubs-t145168-120.html?hilit=fluorescence where Garry mentioned his methods of minimizing UV light when he grades; however, how am I to know this has been resolved in the GIA labs or any other grading labs for that matter?