Dark/greyish diamond normal?

[AmyMarie]

I am sorry if this is an ignorant post, but this is my first and only diamond so I have nothing to compare it to!

I recently received my first diamond and it is beautiful, but I was curious about one thing. In normal lighting (around the house, office, mall) it doesn''t sparkle that much (as expected since it is a very neutral lighting environment) but is white looking as I expected it would be.

However, in lighting that makes it really sparkle such as in-ceiling lights in a dim room or when shining a flashlight on the ring, it sparkles brilliantly but the center diamond itself appears much darker (it is set in platinum). It almost looks to be a darker grey, but really is sparkly.

I have checked out the ''specs'' and the diamond appears to be well cut, but I am just curious whether it is normal for diamonds to appear this greyish color when they are in certain lighting that makes them sparkle. I suppose I had always expected them to still look very white when they sparkle.

Looking at some of the photos on here, it looks like others have this same ''grey'' look to them, but when I''ve noticed sparkly rings in person in the past they always appeared white to me rather than greyish.

I''m sorry I haven''t had a chance to take pictures of my new ring yet, but promise I will as soon as I buy a digital camera later this week.

Thank-you!

 

[XChick03]

Diamonds tend to reflect colors around them, so it may just be reflecting the color of the platinum.

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome to PS

Many well cut diamonds can look dark in direct light such as sunlight, is this what you are seeing? I will see if I can find a pic for you to compare with in a sec.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-forum-engagement-ring-folder-eye-candy.5429/page-4 check out the diamond

in the 14th post down by Coloured Gemstone Nut. You will see the diamond looks dark in the picture due to the lighting. This is normal for a well cut stone. Diamonds can look very different according to the ambient light and also reflect colours around them too.

 

[AmyMarie]

It was darkish like this although not quite as dark. I didn''t notice it in sunlight as much but rather in the direct lighting similar to the in-ceiling/flashlight type lighting. I had expected it to be at its most brilliant in this type of lighting and it is, in terms of sparkles. It really sparkles light mad when direct light is on it... however it looks quite dark compared to the white platinum. I had expected more of a clear or white color. However, really just trying to figure out whether this greyish colour is normal. This is the first diamond I am lucky enough to own .

Thank-you again for responding to me!

 

[Lorelei]

If the diamond is new, you will especially notice that it looks much better in some lights than others and can behave quite differently. What is the colour grade? To go further in depth, sometimes diamonds can have a slight tone to them but this probably isn't the case with yours, shape plays a part in both round and fancy shapes, also it could be the platinum reflecting from the diamond. I am sure your diamond is beautiful and if you can we would love pics! Also keep it clean so it looks it's best at all times, most of us PS ladies do ours daily and a professional cleaning is a good idea from time to time.
Enjoy your rock!

 

[AmyMarie]

Thank-you again, Lorelei! The diamond is an H color and appears very clear/white in non-direct lighting. It is a round diamond.

I am very much enjoying it so far

 

[oldminer]

Does it have strongish UV fluorescence or some indication of "clouds"?

 

[AmyMarie]

It has no fluorescence and one smallish looking cloud on the report. It is a VS1.

 

[Rod]

Dear AmyMarie,

I''m sure your diamond is a knock-out. Congratulations! You likely have DOCD.....................

Diamond Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (DOCD), is an illness many of us suffer from on this forum. DOCD, discovered by Dr. Brillianteering in the early 1900''s, is a manifestation of mental anomolies when perfectly sane individuals become the owners of high quality diamonds. What typically occurs for an accurate DOCD diagnosis is euphoria upon the purchase of a nice gem, followed by self doubt, and ultimately downright concern that the purchased stone has somehow magically changed in appearance while the owner slept.
While there are no known medications available to combat DOCD, many people have reported the symptoms are reduced or completely eliminated by visiting chain jewelry stores, such as Zales or Kay, or having lunch with a friend who has a stone of poorer quality than the DOCD sufferer.

Best wishes

 

[Amandas_Jewels]

Diamond Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (DOCD), is an illness many of us suffer from on this forum. DOCD, discovered by Dr. Brillianteering in the early 1900''s, is a manifestation of mental anomolies when perfectly sane individuals become the owners of high quality diamonds. What typically occurs for an accurate DOCD diagnosis is euphoria upon the purchase of a nice gem, followed by self doubt, and ultimately downright concern that the purchased stone has somehow magically changed in appearance while the owner slept.

While there are no known medications available to combat DOCD, many people have reported the symptoms are reduced or completely eliminated by visiting chain jewelry stores, such as Zales or Kay, or having lunch with a friend who has a stone of poorer quality than the DOCD sufferer.


Hahaha that is hillarious!

 

[AmyMarie]

Ha ha ha! That is very funny. I think it may be true in my case. I have examined the stone in every lighting condition I could think of and thought it was odd that when it is the ''dullest'' such as in office lighting or regular indoor lighting, or even in shadows, it appeared very very white but when it was at its most intense sparkles, it was dark greyish. I am guessing this is normal and I am a goofball who does suffer from "DOCD"!!

 

[Rod]

Date: 4/17/2006 4:50:12 PM
Author: AmyMarie
Ha ha ha! That is very funny. I think it may be true in my case. I have examined the stone in every lighting condition I could think of and thought it was odd that when it is the ''dullest'' such as in office lighting or regular indoor lighting, or even in shadows, it appeared very very white but when it was at its most intense sparkles, it was dark greyish. I am guessing this is normal and I am a goofball who does suffer from ''DOCD''!!

You''re in mighty fine company, I assure you!!!!!

 

[Kaleigh]

Haha if you''re reading this you defintely have DOCD!!!!

 

[AmyMarie]

I''ve waited a couple more days and thought the "DOCD" would pass, but it hasn''t! I am now finding that I like the diamond when it is not sparkling better. When it sparkles it just goes soooo dark.

My question - is this just the way diamonds work? Or are there diamonds that have both the sparkle and fire as well as remaining very white all the time, even when they sparkle?

Anyone have one of these? Or is everyone else in the same boat as me? Any pictures?


Thank-You!!

 

[Lorelei]

Post a PIC!!! Mine looks very different according to the light. Outside under a tree in daylight it is a mix of fire and brilliance and looks very white if that makes sense. In a dim building with a little light it is all fire. In fluorescent light it is bright sparkly white. Direct sun in front of me it is dark. Sun behind it is bright and sparkly. Halogen light it can either be dark or very firey and sparkly depending on the angle. In cloudy conditions outside it is just white with a little brilliance. I don't know if any of this makes sense, but I am trying to say my diamond behaves very differently depending on the light and this is normal...I know it might be tricky but if you could post pics of different lights with the diamond it might help. Also in the video gallery, check out the clips there by Garry and co - this might help too.

There is also a clip in the gallery of head obstruction where your head can block some of the light to the diamond and affect how it looks to you as it can look different to the wearer than the observer who isn't wearing it - could be this you are noticing.

 

[glitterata]

Yes, that''s the way diamonds work. I believe it''s because in very direct light, such as direct sunlight or those downward-pointing intense lights you get in some stores or restaurants, all the light rays are going into the diamond in parallel from basically one spot. What makes things look white is the rays scattering around and coming back to your eye indirectly. But since the lighting is so strong and intense, the rays don''t get as broken up, so all you see are the intense flashes. Those are colorful because the diamond does its work of spreading the light out into rainbows, but it doesn''t scatter the light much.

I''m sure the people on this board who are more physics literate than I am will correct that explanation if it''s wrong. But the upshot is, don''t worry--that''s what good diamonds do.

There have been threads about this before--maybe somebody can find one? They tend to be called things like "Why does my diamond look dark in the sun?"

 

[togal]

Rod,

I''m laughing so hard I''m crying! I KNOW I have DOCD......and yes, vising Zales and Kays (People''s in Canada) is a wonder-drug for the affliction.

 

[Rockies]

AmyMarie, I am experiencing the exact same thing as you. In fact, I posted a new topic asking about this before I came across your post. My ring also looks really, really white and less sparkly in indirect lighting, and quite dark but blindingly sparkly in direct sunlight and some other concentrated types of lighting (cannister lights, etc). I am totally new to diamonds, so I was also wondering whether this is normal.....