HCA is a tool.
It takes in a number of proportions and outputs a designation and description based on those proportions.
It is a tool that is designed first and foremost for convenience.
In reality, light return is a continuum. If you put a “TIC-esque BIC” and a “BIC-esque TIC” next to each other you may or may not see any character differences in performance across various lighting types.
If you put an “extremist TIC” next to an “extremist BIC” next to each other, you probably will see character differences in performance across various lighting types.
But what’s creating those differences isn’t the HCA type designation - it’s the stone’s proportions.
I’m also going to clarify your statement of “give off more white light”:
RBs with certain proportions will be more likely to show more white light return (and less coloured light)
across a variety of lighting environments.
Other RBs with alternate proportions will be more likely to show more coloured light return (and less white light)
across that same variety of lighting environments.
The key to how any diamond looks at any time is mostly determined by the lighting environment. Look through
@Karl_K’s posts.