Faint Fluorescence in a 1.5 carat F color stone

[sugarplum]

Hi All!

This is my first post but I have been a long time lurker (about 4 or 5 years)!

My BF and I have been searching for the stone for months now (since January). It has taken months and months because of the knowledge I''ve acquired through Pricescope (I wasn''t going to purchase any old stone or more like I wasn''t about to watch my BF purchase any old stone) and because we were looking for a round brilliant stone in the 1.4 range, E-F color, VS1-VS2, no fluorescence, no cutlet. We came across a handful of stones but none really met our criteria (the inclusions were dark, too many feathers near the girdle, pavillion angles were too deep, etc.). So after searching unsuccessfully for 6+ months for something in the 1.4 range and wanting to get engaged by end of July (originally end of May but that didn''t happen since we couldn''t find a stone! i''m not bitter...

ha ha), we''ve decided to explore beyond the magic number of 1.5, hoping for a bigger and better selection.

We''re interested in a few stones and the one we''re considering most has a faint fluorescence. Now I know faint fluorescence doesn''t have any major effects on a stone (and that stronger fluorescence helps lower color grade stones look whiter) but I was wondering, specifically, what effect faint fluorescence has on an F color stone that''s about 1.5 carats? Also, does the faint fluorescence devalue the stone?

-sugarplum

 

[Cehrabehra]

personally I''d hold out for med-strong blue fluor so if you''re concerned about faint I''d say - don''t be.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Well, i imagine that GIA had a reason for setting up their divisions they way they did, but my understanding is that if the same diamond were graded by AGS it would simply receive a mark of "negligible," right? I have a suspicion (also based on reading various reports by GIA) that the answer to your question "specifically, what effect does faint fluorescence have on an F color stone" that AGS is giving you the answer out right, where as GIA is taking a more technical approach--and then giving the answer in convoluted yearly reports--"Nothing"

 

[sugarplum]

Will faint fluorescence make an F color stone appear whiter in the sun (and look like it''s an E)? Or would that require stronger fluorescence?

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/12/2007 1:04:08 AM
Author: sugarplum
Will faint fluorescence make an F color stone appear whiter in the sun (and look like it's an E)? Or would that require stronger fluorescence?

Hi sugarplum,

It would require stronger flo.

I have a G with faint, and I don't notice it at all. You would be fine with it.

Some actually prefer med. to strong flo, you might do a search on here , there's many threads.


I take it you're looking at local stores?

 

[sugarplum]

Hi Ellen,

So you can''t detect the faint fluor in your G at all? Do you ever see a tiny bit of blue in the sun?

Yes, I''ve been looking at numerous local stores and going back and forth with a couple in particular that offer prices which are comparable to online prices. I''ve done a lot of searching online as well to see what else is available. At this point we''d like to make a purchase by the end of June, so it''s really about who has what and at what price.

-Sugarplum

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/12/2007 11:58:48 AM
Author: sugarplum
Hi Ellen,

So you can''t detect the faint fluor in your G at all? Do you ever see a tiny bit of blue in the sun?

Yes, I''ve been looking at numerous local stores and going back and forth with a couple in particular that offer prices which are comparable to online prices. I''ve done a lot of searching online as well to see what else is available. At this point we''d like to make a purchase by the end of June, so it''s really about who has what and at what price.

-Sugarplum

No. Now if it''s out where it can reflect the sky it turns blue, but not because of the flo.

I hope you find your stone soon!

 

[belle]

faint fluor is not going to have a significant effect on the stone. in reality, you won''t be able to tell the difference between an ''e'' and ''f'' color diamond without close observation and comparitive assistance and the fluor won''t change that until you get to at least ''medium''. levels of fluor below ''medium'' are more of a ''cya'' notation and don''t have a perceptible effect.
all well cut diamonds reflect their environment and will therefore look blue when viewed outside in sunlight.

here is a pic that i took of an ''h'' color diamond (outside in full sun) without any fluor

 

[sugarplum]

Thanks Belle. Pics always help.

Ellen, I hope I find my stone soon too!

 

[kcoursolle]

I wouldn''t worry about the faint flour. It''s effect is going to be small and the difference between an E and an F isn''t noticeable to the eye by most people.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Welcome!!! I have an F color stone with medium blue flourescence and it is simply invisible unless you put it under a black light (which is something I never have the opportunity to do!). Faint basically means there will be no effect at all.

I guess you realize if you look above 1.5, you are going to see a major price jump if you stick with E or F color.

 

[sugarplum]

Date: 6/12/2007 1:27:05 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Welcome!!! I have an F color stone with medium blue flourescence and it is simply invisible unless you put it under a black light (which is something I never have the opportunity to do!). Faint basically means there will be no effect at all.

I guess you realize if you look above 1.5, you are going to see a major price jump if you stick with E or F color.

Hi Diamondseeker,

Yes, we knew about the premium for going over a magic number. That''s why we''ve been searching for something in the 1.4 range for so long. However, in the months of searching unsuccessfully for a 1.4, the BF is now able to expand the budget a bit and wanted to explore into the 1.5 range (of course, now it''s strictly F, VS2...no Es or VS1s). The price tag for a 1.5 E VS1 is just tad out of the budget...ha ha.

We''d like to still be able to eat and have a roof over our heads after making this purchase. LOL. Also, the 1.5s we''re looking at aren''t ridiculously overpriced. We''re also seriously considering buying online now and saving some bucks that way.

-Sugarplum

 

[Ellen]

sugarplum,

I don''t know if you''ve already seen this, but thought I''d throw it out in case you hadn''t. It''s facing up slightly smaller than mine (I have a 1.40) because of the depth, but in the grand scheme of things, it will look like a 1.5. Once you get past 1 ct. you need a good bit of ct. weight jump to see a difference in size. So this would get you the "look" of a 1.5 without the price tag. It''s a well cut stone, and the IS is great. I bought my stone here also, they''re great to work with.

Anyway, just thought I''d mention it! Bankwire price is 12,783.00

http://204.17.89.15/diamond/3066/

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 6/12/2007 4:51:40 PM
Author: Ellen
sugarplum,

I don''t know if you''ve already seen this, but thought I''d throw it out in case you hadn''t. It''s facing up slightly smaller than mine (I have a 1.40) because of the depth, but in the grand scheme of things, it will look like a 1.5. Once you get past 1 ct. you need a good bit of ct. weight jump to see a difference in size. So this would get you the ''look'' of a 1.5 without the price tag. It''s a well cut stone, and the IS is great. I bought my stone here also, they''re great to work with.

Anyway, just thought I''d mention it! Bankwire price is 12,783.00

http://204.17.89.15/diamond/3066/

I think that is a great option, Ellen!

 

[sugarplum]

Thanks Ellen. Jstarfireb suggested that same stone as well (in a different thread). I came across the stone myself during my search on the net but we were unsure of the price and the cluster of inclusions (BF wanted to keep searching for now). We have a stone to check out at a local store that might be the one but if that doesn''t work out, this stone would be our next choice (unless some new stones pop up from now til then). The idealscope image does look great!