Are larger stones more firey

[echelon6]

First question:

Assuming the number of facets remain the same, as size increases, the size of virtual facets also increase, and therefore so does the size of the flashes. The larger the flashes, the more chance our retinas will be able to differentiate the colored light as it reaches our eyes, right?

Or alternatively, the larger the stone, the longer the path for light to travel, the more it is able to disperse. By the time it leaves the diamond, light rays would be much more dispersed relative to a small stone, right?

Do either of these reasons mean larger stones exhibit more fire?


Second question:

Do fire-ier stones exhibit superior scintillation? Don''t dismiss this question so fast... think about scintillation caused by black vs white, verses colored light changes. Assuming the same frequency / size of the rapid changes of virtual facets which constitute what we call scintillation, wouldn''t more "life" be perceived from a stone if the changes are on/off PLUS colored light, vs on/off black vs white only?




Today I went window shopping with my girlfriend at Tiffanys and I noticed that the larger stones (2ct+) consistently looked better than the smaller stones. I don''t know why (its fair to assume same cut quality for all), but it got me thinking that maybe the answers to both of the above is yes.

 

[strmrdr]

1: exact same angles would likely have larger flashes but the crown angle and lgf% can make a difference. Size is only 1/2 the story the number being the other.

2: large stones require more facets to have the same level of scint as a smaller stone.
This is why round stones of more than 58 facets come into their own in larger sizes.
Remember that scint is dynamic fire + dynamic contrast not just dynamic fire.

 

[echelon6]

strm,

So you agree that all else equal, size is proportional to fire?

Then wouldn''t more dynamic fire, as you call it, produce better scintillation as opposed to black vs white in smaller stones? Again, I''m assuming there''s no tradeoff between increase in fire vs "dynamic contrast".



I''m just trying to find a reason why I found that larger stones consistently looked much more pleasing than smaller stones. Think of colored scintillation vs black n white scintillation and you''ll know what I mean.

 

[strmrdr]

tiff traditionally picks stones that emphasise white light over fire so if they were close to the same angles and lgf% then it would explain it.
lets put it this way why it isnt always true, a 1.5ct FIC or OEC is going to be more fiery than a 2ct BIC
Its not as simple as saying larger stones have more fire.

Smaller virtual facets once they are large enough that they seperate the light at normal viwing distances will have more scint than large virtual facets (this is why single cut 1 and 2 pointers also kick butt over RB cuts. The small RB doesnt produce well spererated scint events.)
Lets put it this way:
smaller but not too small virtual facets: on off on off on off
large virtual facets: on on off off on on off off

Step cuts are a little different as they may be: off on on on off off on off on on due too the mix of virtual facet sizes from huge to small.

 

[echelon6]

Maybe the on-on off-off scintillation of larger virtual facets was responsible for what I thought was a better look.

I noticed that the scintillation of the smaller stones (<1 ct) occurred so rapidly and with such small flash sizes in mostly black and white that it had a liquid feel to it. It was like looking into TV static.

Maybe the longer duration flashes of larger stones do make a prettier stone.