Can a non-fluorescent diamond glow blue?

[Fergusb83]

Hi,

I recently bought the pictured engagement ring for my girlfriend - see below. 1.65 D Si2 3Ex NON-fluorescent (GIA).

Now that she is wearing it I noticed it seemed to be glowing blue in direct sunlight. I thought it was really noticeable and concerned the whole diamond and not just blue fire flashes.

I’m really confused as this is Non-fluorescent, according to the cerificate. Is it the case that a D stone can appear (this) blue in sunlight and still be classified as Non-F? If so I can’t imagine the colour of a Strong F!?

Now, there are 3 other things that are making me wonder if something is amiss:

1) It’s an Si2 and yet when I viewed it up close with the ‘thingy’, i couldn’t see any flaws. I’m no expert obviously, but I had seen obvious flaws in diamonds at higher clarity grades. The certificate notes a number of inclusions in the table though it’s hard for me to say if these should be visible with the naked eye or in the magnified view. Having seen the state of Si2s on BlueNile etc this seems slightly odd? The seller told me it was a very good Si2 and so was eye-clean.

2) After purchasing the ring I was given the insurance estimate. It was about 50% higher than the amount I had just paid! I questioned why that was and was told, again, that I had a very good rock and could choose to insure it at another level if I wanted.

3) The seller seemed quite nervous when I was picking up the ring and making payment. It struck me at the time - and worried me a bit - and now that it looks blue in daylight I’m wondering again. He was really keen for us to come back in as soon as physically possible for the re-sizing of the ring. (Maybe before we have seen it in blazing sunshine?).

I may well take it to an independent retailer for their view but is it possible that this is not the diamond for the certificate that I have? I mean, how hard is it to mix them up, intentionally or otherwise? I know each diamond has a lasered code to match the certificate but can this even be seen after it is set in a ring? Is it even a natural diamond???

Any thoughts and advice gratefully received. It’s putting a bit of a downer on things at what should be a really happy time.

 

[Fergusb83]

[
Here it is when not in direct sunlight

 

[Tophat1]

Does the certificate indicate an inscription on the diamond?

 

[ChristineRose]

The sky is blue, so yes, it is possible for it to look blue.

An independent appraiser will be able to tell you if the stone matches the certificate. This is a better choice than a retailer, as many retailers will start by telling you how bad the stone is compared to what they sell.

You don't give a lot of details about the seller, but you seem to think they might have cheated you. Actual jewelers do occasionally make mistakes like putting the wrong stones into settings. They will of course make it right. As for how easy this is for other people, I guess it depends on how easy it is to find them. It however very rare for a professional jeweler to do this on purpose. It doesn't really save them that much money as they still have to provide a stone that will pass for what was sold. If they get caught more than once or twice it's the end of their business. If they are that desperate, then the business is probably about to implode anyhow.

The simplest to find out might be to get your hands on a black light. Be sure it's a real black light and not just a purple colored ordinary light bulb.

 

[lagirlie]

My ring also does this and I read on this board it is a reflection of the sky? I guess it’s possible!

 

[Bron357]

Easier way, grab a cheap UV light and test it.
If it glows blue under UV, it is fluorescent, if not, it’s just a reflection of the sky.

 

[lagirlie]

My ring is supposed to have zero fluorescent!!

One is when it looks blue (this is not even during daylight?????) light was yellow not blue??

This one is how it looks normally:

 

[lagirlie]

Easier way, grab a cheap UV light and test it.
If it glows blue under UV, it is fluorescent, if not, it’s just a reflection of the sky.

Ordering a UV light on amazon now

 

[LightBright]

My ring also does this and I read on this board it is a reflection of the sky? I guess it’s possible!

My E color, SI1 appears to be sky blue... not at all times outdoors but sometimes, outdoors under a blue sky. It has no fluorescence. It is a Crafted By Infinity from HIgh Performance Diamonds, so I know there is no “undetected” fluorescence. I’m pretty sure it’s reflecting the sky. It’s beautiful!

 

[Karl_K]

Diamonds pick up colors from all around it. When you see blue look around for something blue then move the diamond around.
If its outside and its not the sky a gia no florescence diamond can still show the effects of florescence in sunlight, sometimes very strongly based on my personal experience.
No one really knows how common or rare that might be.
GIA just tests against a very narrow range of UV not the entire possible range.

 

[Johnbt]

This one only does it under a Carolina blue sky. The rest of the time it’s a plain old sparkly WF F VVS2 ACA.

 

[foxinsox]

These are two pictures of my no-fluoro OEC in sunlight and under a blue sky with no sunlight directly on it, same day, same time, I just pivoted away from the sun in the second one. It must just be reflection but I can’t quite account for why it’s so blue when there’s sun directly on it but not when it’s shaded by me but under the same blue sky

 

[HappyNewLife]

It’s probably a reflection of the sky. Is it inscribed by GIA? If so, get a cheap 30x loupe on amazon and check the inscription #

 

[Fergusb83]

Thank you all for the helpful replies! I can’t believe how quickly you all responded. Went to sleep (in France), woke up and saw all this.

Feel so much better and falling back in love with my (her) lovely rock.

Will order the back light and maybe the 30x magnifier and possibly visit someone also. Great to see that I am probably just ‘playing conspiracy theories’ (it has been known!) and you guys have seen similar things with your rocks. Thanks again!

 

[Fergusb83]

Does the certificate indicate an inscription on the diamond?

My ring also does this and I read on this board it is a reflection of the sky? I guess it’s possible!

I think I saw that one!

 

[angeljosephy]

I have a D VVS and it also looks blue in the sunlight sometimes, so I suppose there is nothing wrong with your diamond!

 

[Johnbt]

"...but I can’t quite account for why it’s so blue when there’s sun directly on it but not when it’s shaded by me but under the same blue sky"

NASA to the rescue.

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/blue-sky/en/

Blue light waves are on the short end of the spectrum and are easily, and constantly, scattered and rescattered as they pass through the atmosphere. That's why the sky is blue and your diamond will reflect blue when out in the open.

When you move your diamond into your shadow the reflected light is not the blue from overhead, but is light from ground level...
"the surface of Earth has reflected and scattered the light. All this scattering mixes the colors together again so we see more white and less blue."



If you look at the first pic I posted, the sky near the horizon is whiter than the blue sky above.

 

[LightBright]

Diamonds pick up colors from all around it. When you see blue look around for something blue then move the diamond around.
If its outside and its not the sky a gia no florescence diamond can still show the effects of florescence in sunlight, sometimes very strongly based on my personal experience.
No one really knows how common or rare that might be.
GIA just tests against a very narrow range of UV not the entire possible range.

Wow, I’m glad you told us this Karl. My current E color CBI picks up blue from the sky. But in most outdoor light it is icy white. A year ago I was trying out another E, an antique stone that was GIA certified as no fluorescence. That particular stone seemed to glow robin’s egg blue any time I took it in the sun. It was very beautiful. I always wondered if GIA fluorescence was based on a certain part of the UV spectrum. So maybe that’s the explanation for why that stone was blue.

 

[Karl_K]

Wow, I’m glad you told us this Karl. My current E color CBI picks up blue from the sky. But in most outdoor light it is icy white. A year ago I was trying out another E, an antique stone that was GIA certified as no fluorescence. That particular stone seemed to glow robin’s egg blue any time I took it in the sun. It was very beautiful. I always wondered if GIA fluorescence was based on a certain part of the UV spectrum. So maybe that’s the explanation for why that stone was blue.

It could have very well been the case.
My thoughts are that it is/has been dismissed as being a reflection of the sky which it often is but not always.

 

[Ally T]

My D VS2 pear cut has no flouro, but it too can take a pale blue appearance in strong direct sunlight. It fascinates me & just adds to it's beauty & mesmerising, unique character!