How does a diamond sparkle??

[Snoble]

I have an older diamond (.31 cts RB) that just doesnt seem to sparkle. It was my mothers and the jeweler told me diamonds just werent cut then (its probably about 25 yrs old) the way they are now. Ive been thinking about this and just dont know how much truth is behind it. I am starting to loose faith in thios Jeweler. While looking at my setting Ive noticed I cant see the bottom of my diamond and not much light if any can get to it. If I were to choose a different setting that allowed light in the bottom would that make it sparkle more? If not is it possible to have a smaller diamond recut or would that be a bad idea? I would like to put my diamond in a prong halo setting and hoping that would make it look more sparkly.

Thanks for your help!

 

[kenny]

A diamond is a little box of facets that function like mirrors and windows.
If all the facet angles are in the right place you get a better light show.
If the angles are wrong you don't.

Most diamonds, instead of being cut for good light performance, are cut to be as heavy as possible.
They do this to make more money since most buyers are ignorant about good cut.
They just want a 1-carat because her sister got a 3/4-carat.

 

[Lula]

Diamonds were cut differently then. But, before you assume it''s the cut, when is the last time your ring has been cleaned? Dirty diamonds don''t sparkle as well as clean diamonds. Depending on the way your stone is cut, putting it in a setting that lets more light in around the stone may improve its appearance.

 

[Snoble]

I do try cleaning it, I took it in and they steam cleaned it for me, then I took one of their diamonds and put it next to it and was shocked about how "non sparkly" mine was. And Kenny, Im sorry Im new to this whole thing, so if the bottom is covered does that mean its not gonna shine right? Thanks!

 

[kenny]

After getting a good cleaning if you are still not happy with it a setting that lets more light in and out may help the appearance.

I have a tension setting so I have a full side view of the rock.
The setting lets light in and out all over the diamond.

 

[jan can]

Date: 3/7/2010 6:22:54 PM
Author: kenny
After getting a good cleaning if you are still not happy with it a setting that lets more light in and out may help the appearance.

I have a tension setting so I have a full side view of the rock.
The setting lets light in and out all over the diamond.

kenny - I had to go look at your tension setting; it is beautiful.

 

[kenny]

thanx

 

[AprilBaby]

Why don''t you put your mothers diamond in a pendant and get a new modern cut .31. The cost is not too bad at that size.

 

[Snoble]

Aprilbaby- I agree with you and I did mention it to my husband that I wanted to do that and he was offended. Which I was kind of suprised about. I dont know why but I didnt want to push it. He thinks I should hold on to the sentiment of it and not care about the sparkle. So I thought change the setting for now and then in a couple years Ill mention it again and hopefully he will change his mind, and Ill just swap it out Or if you have any ideas on how to make my husband understand my view on it. You would think it was his mothers diamond LOL

 

[kenny]

Another possibility is to send it to someone like Brian Gavin to recut it.

I have no idea if it makes sense financially for this stone, but at least it will still be the same stone, only cut better and more beautiful.

Even though the diamond will lose some carat weight he may be able to keep the diameter the same so it looks the same size face up.

 

[jan can]

Can you wear your mother''s ring on your right hand? I''m not sure of your husband''s logic either. Even by re-using the parts of her special ring, it would retain the significance, imo. I intend to wear my mother''s ring on my right hand when the time comes. The value will only be in my memories. After my father died, she took his wedding ring and anniversary ring and had them made into a memory band for herself. Financial value was miniscule; emtional was, as they say, priceless.

 

[Black Jade]

Do you have any idea what the clarity is? Sometimes very included diamonds don''t sparkle as much. the inclusions can be white (clouds or something, I''m not sure of technical terms) and really affect how the light goes through the diamond.
I have a 26 year old diamond that is about .37 ct, in my engagement ring, and it sparkles a lot. there''s a little difference with my ACA, but not really enough to be fussed about.
Can you just think of it as something that reminds you of your mother and not worry about what the performance of the stone is? If not, maybe you should just put it away for a son or daughter, they might like their grandmother''s stone. I know I would wish to have one that belonged to my grandmother!

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 3/7/2010 9:50:31 PM
Author: Snoble
Aprilbaby- I agree with you and I did mention it to my husband that I wanted to do that and he was offended. Which I was kind of suprised about. I dont know why but I didnt want to push it. He thinks I should hold on to the sentiment of it and not care about the sparkle. So I thought change the setting for now and then in a couple years Ill mention it again and hopefully he will change his mind, and Ill just swap it out Or if you have any ideas on how to make my husband understand my view on it. You would think it was his mothers diamond LOL

BGD or Singlestone can also try to re-polish it, if a recut won''t work. That might help a little.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Covering the underside of a diamond that is well cut will not affect its optics because the light is reflected from the top surface, not the bottom.

Why not wear your mom's diamond on your right hand and then use your own money to buy a ring you want for you left hand

That's what I would do. But then I am not sentimental about my ring. It is something I love and cherish and enjoy, but it is a piece of jewelry to me.

Maybe your husband doesn't want to do it because he does not really understand the price of diamonds? He may think you are talking about thousands of dollars to buy a new .30, instead of the $500 it would actually cost.

Again, I am not overly sentimental, but I don't think I would spend a few thousand to set a diamond that doesn't rock my world.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 3/7/2010 9:50:31 PM
Author: Snoble
Aprilbaby- I agree with you and I did mention it to my husband that I wanted to do that and he was offended. Which I was kind of suprised about. I dont know why but I didnt want to push it. He thinks I should hold on to the sentiment of it and not care about the sparkle. So I thought change the setting for now and then in a couple years Ill mention it again and hopefully he will change his mind, and Ill just swap it out Or if you have any ideas on how to make my husband understand my view on it. You would think it was his mothers diamond LOL

don''t tell him

buy a nice 1/3ct then swap the stones.

 

[Dancing Fire]

.95%; HEIGHT: 168px" class="ibbquote">Date: 3/7/2010 9:58:29 PM
Author: kenny
Another possibility is to send it to someone like Brian Gavin to recut it.

I have no idea if it makes sense financially for this stone, but at least it will still be the same stone, only cut better and more beautiful.

Even though the diamond will lose some carat weight he may be able to keep the diameter the same so it looks the same size face up.

no it wouldn''t,not in this case.

 

[kenny]

Date: 3/8/2010 2:05:02 AM
Author: Dancing Fire
Date: 3/7/2010 9:58:29 PM

Author: kenny

Another possibility is to send it to someone like Brian Gavin to recut it.


I have no idea if it makes sense financially for this stone, but at least it will still be the same stone, only cut better and more beautiful.


Even though the diamond will lose some carat weight he may be able to keep the diameter the same so it looks the same size face up.
no it wouldn't,not in this case.

Frankly I was reaching for a gracious way to say recutting may cost more than the stone's worth but sometimes great sentimental value makes people go for it anyway.

This happens often with pianos.
People will make an informed decision to pay $20,000 to rebuild grandma's piano even knowing that it will be worth much less than that when complete.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/7/2010 9:50:31 PM
Author: Snoble
Aprilbaby- I agree with you and I did mention it to my husband that I wanted to do that and he was offended. Which I was kind of suprised about. I dont know why but I didnt want to push it. He thinks I should hold on to the sentiment of it and not care about the sparkle. So I thought change the setting for now and then in a couple years Ill mention it again and hopefully he will change his mind, and Ill just swap it out Or if you have any ideas on how to make my husband understand my view on it. You would think it was his mothers diamond LOL

Hi Snoble

Is this stone used for your engagement diamond?

 

[Snoble]

Thanks everyone for your help. My diamond has an I1 clarity which I know isnt very good, so is that why it dosent sparkle?

There is no convincing me, I want to switch out my diamond, and I would love to make it into a pendent but there is no convincing my husband right now. Unless someone has a different way for me to explain it to him, lol. He thinks im just being a spoiled brat that always needs the best of everything, lol.

I think I would be perfectly happy with the size of a .31 that sparkles. I wouldnt need anything bigger, and I have thought of switching it out without telling him but I dont think I have it in me. Im perfectly fine with lying to my dad and telling him its the same one, lol. But I cant lie to my husband.

He said I have to keep the diamond since thats the one that he proposed to me with, I told him its not like he picked it out or like I knew I was always gonna get my moms diamond. My dad didnt offer it until my husband asked his permission, and it just dawned on him then. He wasnt planning on it or anything. So I told him he could pick out the diamond just like he would have if my dad had not gave him my moms diamond. Still got me nowhere. And he just gives me the look of hurt which is 10 times worst then being mad. lol

Ugh...what to do? Should I just keep the diamond and then when he warms up to the idea in a couple years switch out the diamond with another diamond of the same size?