Does weather affect sparkle?

[Lexie43]

Hi everyone...need some advice from all the experts on this forum. Have been shopping for cushion cuts, and saw this stone that I feel like I ought to love but for some reason it didn't seem to sparkle that much for me. I liked the cut pattern (cushion brilliant), color (G) and clarity seemed decent (VS1 or VS2, I believe). I just didn't think it sparkled as much as other ones I've liked....the way it moves...the dance! I think I saw nice fire...so I'm wondering if a rainy day might affect how a stone looks? Because it was POURING the day I went to look at it...

Do you guys see something in this stone that would cause it to sparkle less? Would like to feel a bit more confident that I'm not giving up on a really nice stone.

Thanks!!

 

[marcy]

Lighting will affect sparkle. I think you answered your own question though on whether you should get this diamond. If you don't love it, I think you should keep looking.

 

[tyty333]

Anyway to get an aset of the stone so you could check if there is any major leakage? It looks like it has a bowtie area towards
the middle but that could just be the picture. Definitly go back when its sunny. View it in all different lighting. If you get
the feel that its not as sparkly as others then keep on searching.

 

[denverappraiser]

Weather does not affect the optics per se, but lighting is everything and weather can affect lighting. Overcast skys reflect differently than direct overhead sunlight, grey looks different than blue. etc.

 

[kenny]

The smaller the light source the more the sparkle.
I guess in theory, you'd get maximum sparkle in a room with black walls, black ceiling, black floor and you wearing black clothing and there being one single tiny bright light in the ceiling.

Now, paint the walls white and you have added more light sources, the reflected light coming from the walls.
There will still be plenty of sparkle but IMHO it would be less dramatic.
As the sparkles flash on and off the off portions would not be as dark, so the overall look would have less contrast.

A cloudless sunny day vs. an overcast pure white sky are quite different in terms of the size of the light source.
The sunny sky does have two light sources, the sun and the huge dome of blue sky, yes blue sky IS a light source.
However the sun is so bright and overpowering compared to the big blue sky that is dominates what you see, and gives you TONs of sparkle.
A solid white overcast sky is one single huge light source and will result in no sparkle.

I'll bet if you wore your diamond on the moon on a sunny day there would be even more sparkle since the moon has atmosphere to scatter light which creates our blue sky.
On the moon the sky is black on a sunny day.

 

[Karl_K]

The smaller the light source the more the sparkle.
I guess in theory, you'd get maximum sparkle in a room with black walls, black ceiling, black floor and you wearing black clothing and there being one single tiny bright light in the ceiling.

Led light array say 1000 in a 1 inch spaced grid with black between them would give more sparkle than a single light source.

 

[Dreamer_D]

A well cut stone will look nice even on an overcast day! It seems to me that cut on this stone is not as good as others you have seen. The picture shows a dark band accorss the middle of the stone, suggesting perhaps its cut is not optimum.

 

[kenny]

The smaller the light source the more the sparkle.
I guess in theory, you'd get maximum sparkle in a room with black walls, black ceiling, black floor and you wearing black clothing and there being one single tiny bright light in the ceiling.

Led light array say 1000 in a 1 inch spaced grid with black between them would give more sparkle than a single light source.

Agreed, but there is a wonderful science project I'd love to do.
At some point (hahah) adding more points of lights would go too far and the effect would begin to diminish.

It would be cool to put a diamond in a huge black dome which is entirely lined with tiny LEDs controlled by a computer program.
Then you could turn on any number or combination of them.
As a diamond geek I'd have hours and hours of fun photographing the result.

 

[kenny]

A well cut stone will look nice even on an overcast day! It seems to me that cut on this stone is not as good as others you have seen. The picture shows a dark band accorss the middle of the stone, suggesting perhaps its cut is not optimum.

Our ACA and our Solasfera turn almost solid bright white under an even white overcast sky.

 

[kenny]

On the moon the sky is black on a sunny day.

I'm so stupid.
It should read, On the moon the sky is black every day.
With no atmosphere there can be no clouds. DUH!

 

[Lexie43]

Hmm. I did ask about that shadow/dark band and was told it was just how the light reflected, which I suppose isn't a false reply.

Ok - I guess I will stick to my gut. Will take a look again in a couple days to be sure but seems like it could be a pass.

So I'm in a bit of a situation because I live in Asia, and my jeweler who is helping me source says 2ct cushions are really difficult to come by, not just in Asia but worldwide (the 2 stones she showed me were from NY). Something about RBs increasing in price so all the cutters are cutting rounds now. I've visited many shops as well, and they all say 3ct is the minimum for cushions here. Is this true (for those who are part of the trade)? 3ct is NOT a consideration..LOL!

If it's not a worldwide issue, perhaps I should try GOG or ERD and purchase online? I wanted to see the stones and do everything in person, but seems like it's going to be difficult.... How do the online thing work from overseas - does anyone know?

Thanks!