Possibly a silly question

[Octavia]

My wonderful FI just proposed to me a couple weeks ago, and I really love my ring. I''ve never worn much jewelry and have never had a diamond before, so this is my first prolonged experience with one. I''ve noticed that under some lights, it sparkles like mad and looks drop-dead gorgeous, but in other lights it just looks shiny and white, but no flashy sparkles. Is this normal?

I ran the cut proportions through the adviser tool, and came up with a 1.2 when I used crown/pavilion angles and a .9 when I used percentages, so the cut seems to be quite decent. It''s a .35 E VS1 stone, no fluorescence, precision excellent, symmetry very good, and polish excellent according to the Tiffany certificate. I haven''t had it separately graded or appraised, so I''m only working from what''s on the certificate they sent.

I''m guessing that this is a very nice stone (albeit small, but it suits me) and that diamonds just don''t sparkle as much under some types of lighting, but since I''m new to diamonds, I just want to make sure!

Thanks!

 

[JohnQuixote]

Not a silly question at all Octavia - and it's perfectly normal for a diamond to look different depending on its surroundings, and especially the illumination.

You have probably noticed that it looks bright but does not have much color or sparkle in diffused lighting (fluorescent lighting like you would find in many office buildings or classrooms). Alternately when you're in direct lighting, many small spotlights for instance, I suspect you're seeing great fire and scintillation. This is why jewelry stores use an abundance of direct light sources (look at the ceiling - and up inside the edges of the display cases the next time you're at T&Co) . You may often find your diamond looking incredible in elevators as they often use small spots, or in a certain room of your house if you have track lighting - or recessed canned lights up high. If you're interested there is more about lighting and diamonds in this article.

One of my favorite things to do with the fiance' is explore new haunts for dinner & drinks and give the place a "lighting grade." It's nice because when we entertain we know where to go to glow.

Tiffany & Co features great cut quality. Angles work better than percentages with the HCA, and either way it sounds like you've found a diamond it agrees with. Congrats.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/16/2008 1:48:20 AM
Author: JohnQuixote

One of my favorite things to do with the fiance'' is explore new haunts for dinner & drinks and give the place a ''lighting grade.'' It''s nice because when we entertain we know where to go to glow.

Tiffany & Co features great cut quality. Angles work better than percentages with the HCA, and either way it sounds like you''ve found a diamond it agrees with. Congrats.

You do that too?

And nice article you linked.


Octavia, as John said, your diamond sounds like it''s doing what it should. Enjoy!

 

[bee*]

Date: 1/16/2008 1:48:20 AM
Author: JohnQuixote

You may often find your diamond looking incredible in elevators as they often use small spots,

I so noticed that in the hotel the other day. The fire that was shooting out of my ring-I just wished there wasn''t so many people in the lift so I could take photos of it.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 1/16/2008 9:49:00 AM
Author: bee*

Date: 1/16/2008 1:48:20 AM
Author: JohnQuixote

You may often find your diamond looking incredible in elevators as they often use small spots,

I so noticed that in the hotel the other day. The fire that was shooting out of my ring-I just wished there wasn''t so many people in the lift so I could take photos of it.

Don''t underestimate your authority. Pull out your PS member badge, identify yourself as a federal addict, wave your camera and order them to drop to the floor.


(Doesn''t this happen at those PS GTGs?)

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/16/2008 10:10:40 AM
Author: JohnQuixote

Don''t underestimate your authority. Pull out your PS member badge, identify yourself as a federal addict, wave your camera and order them to drop to the floor.


(Doesn''t this happen at those PS GTGs?)

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/16/2008 10:10:40 AM
Author: JohnQuixote

Date: 1/16/2008 9:49:00 AM
Author: bee*

Date: 1/16/2008 1:48:20 AM
Author: JohnQuixote

You may often find your diamond looking incredible in elevators as they often use small spots,

I so noticed that in the hotel the other day. The fire that was shooting out of my ring-I just wished there wasn''t so many people in the lift so I could take photos of it.

Don''t underestimate your authority. Pull out your PS member badge, identify yourself as a federal addict, wave your camera and order them to drop to the floor.


(Doesn''t this happen at those PS GTGs?)

LOL!!!

 

[tberube]

Date: 1/16/2008 10:10:40 AM
Author: JohnQuixote

Date: 1/16/2008 9:49:00 AM

Author: bee*

Date: 1/16/2008 1:48:20 AM

Author: JohnQuixote


You may often find your diamond looking incredible in elevators as they often use small spots,

I so noticed that in the hotel the other day. The fire that was shooting out of my ring-I just wished there wasn''t so many people in the lift so I could take photos of it.

Don''t underestimate your authority. Pull out your PS member badge, identify yourself as a federal addict, wave your camera and order them to drop to the floor.



(Doesn''t this happen at those PS GTGs?)

hahaha! John, you''re always so funny...love it.

 

[Octavia]

Thank you so much for reassuring me, John, and thanks for linking the article too. I was at a concert hall last night and the ring looked amazing...I couldn''t pay attention to what was happening on the stage because I was so fascinated by the sparkles...so what you said about the lighting makes perfect sense!