Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Stone with Phosphorescence

RockyRacoon

RockyRacoon

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Feb 7, 2013
Messages
1,315
I am intrigued by the idea of owning a stone that exhibits both fluorescence and phosphorescence.

Does anyone have a good idea of how I might going about finding such a stone?

I've already talked to BGD and they don't carry any stones that exhibit both properties.

Thanks in advance for your assistance!
 
Thanks for that!

Reading the thread, the person bought the ring via ebay and didn't know it was phosphorescent when purchased.

Please let me know if anyone has any possible options!
 
Well, I don't think it is something that dealers usually test for, but then again I'm not positive. If it were me, I'd contact someone like GOG and explain what you are looking for. It may be something they can help you locate.
 
Jax - Thanks for the tip.

I will reach out to them.

Please keep the suggestions coming!
 
I have two melee stones in a pave setting with phosphorescence. I was playing with a black light in the dark and noticed that it glowed bright when the light was removed, but obviously I didn't know that it had that quality when I purchased it. I can post photos, but it seems you are already familiar with how it will appear, and are looking more for advice on how to obtain one. I'm not sure how uncommon it is or how long you may have to wait to find one especially if you are looking for specific cut, weight, color and clarity grade, but I think I would reach out to Jon at GOG and see if he could locate one for you.
 
I thought that I would post photos anyway just for fun. =)

colebike_040.jpg
 
That is AWESOME!

I am looking for advice on finding one, but I really enjoy seeing phosphorescence in action, as well.

I've reached out to Jon, so hopefully he's able to find a good fit.

Feel free to post some more pictures. Very fortunate to get those stones without seeking them out! It's a fascinating phenomenon.
 
Keep us posted! Fascinating topic.
 
I will be sure to post any updates!
 
Jonathan at GOG has been very helpful in the search. Definitely willing to go the extra mile!

I should have more info by the middle of next week on the hunt.

Until then, if anyone has any photos of their stones with phosphorescence, please post them, to tide me over!
 
I'm trying to remember but I think disneybride might have had a pear with phosphorescence. You could try a search of her name to see if she ever started a thread. Or just do a search for phosphorescence and see what comes up. Looking forward to hearing what Jon comes up with for you.
 
I can't wait to see what they come up with for you!
 
That is a pretty challenging search...a real needle in a haystack considering that only fluorescence is noted on the lab reports!
 
diamondseeker2006|1362969865|3401695 said:
That is a pretty challenging search...a real needle in a haystack considering that only fluorescence is noted on the lab reports!
Click to expand...


Around here fluorescence is considered a really cool characteristic of a diamond, I wonder if phosphorescence spiked in popularity (think blues in the 70's or 80's?) if vendors would begin to promote them as being special and beautiful, similar to the BGD Blue line. And if labs would then start noting it on lab reports? I know that if I had a choice between two diamonds of equal beauty, one containing no fluorescence and one having characteristics of both Fluor and phosphorescence that I would prefer to have the latter. It seems that there has been some increased interest in this phenomena lately....maybe people are on to something. I wonder what it would do to the price since this is such a rare find!

Looking forward to hearing what Jon finds for you RR!
 
The thing is, fluorescence is plentiful. I think I read about a third of all diamonds has it. But I do not know if they know the percentage with phosphorescence since that is not graded and documented. But I don't see how you can even find one unless the individual cutters have made a notation of it.
 
diamondseeker2006|1363015169|3401912 said:
The thing is, fluorescence is plentiful. I think I read about a third of all diamonds has it. But I do not know if they know the percentage with phosphorescence since that is not graded and documented. But I don't see how you can even find one unless the individual cutters have made a notation of it.
Click to expand...

The only way I can think to find one is to expose a group of diamonds with fluor to UV long-wave, and then see which stones (if any) exhibit the property.

Anyone have an easier solution? I'd love to hear of a different methodology!
 
I guess that would be the method, but it would be an unusual request to make to a diamond supplier! Lay out all your diamonds in X price range and see if any have phosphorescence! I'll be curious to see if Jon can find any!
 
Just wondering- if a diamond displays phosphorescence- would it need to have strong blue( or other) fluorescence first? If so, that might make the search easier as you would limit testing to stones that are documented as already being strongly fluorescent.
 
When I was looking for a diamond several years ago, one of the ones my jeweler brought in had pink phosphorescence. We noticed it when she put the stone under the UV light for us, and when she turned off the light, it continued to glow. I asked why and she didn't know. I went home and looked it up and figured it out. Unfortunately, that particular stone had cutting issues, or I would have loved to own it.

Since phosphorescence can appear in about any color, I'm waiting to see if people will not only ask for phosphorescence, but will also begin to specify the color and length of time they want in the phorphorescence. :naughty:
 
Fly Girl|1363031057|3402158 said:
When I was looking for a diamond several years ago, one of the ones my jeweler brought in had pink phosphorescence. We noticed it when she put the stone under the UV light for us, and when she turned off the light, it continued to glow. I asked why and she didn't know. I went home and looked it up and figured it out. Unfortunately, that particular stone had cutting issues, or I would have loved to own it.

Since phosphorescence can appear in about any color, I'm waiting to see if people will not only ask for phosphorescence, but will also begin to specify the color and length of time they want in the phorphorescence. :naughty:
Click to expand...

:lol:
 
Fly Girl|1363031057|3402158 said:
When I was looking for a diamond several years ago, one of the ones my jeweler brought in had pink phosphorescence. We noticed it when she put the stone under the UV light for us, and when she turned off the light, it continued to glow. I asked why and she didn't know. I went home and looked it up and figured it out. Unfortunately, that particular stone had cutting issues, or I would have loved to own it.

Since phosphorescence can appear in about any color, I'm waiting to see if people will not only ask for phosphorescence, but will also begin to specify the color and length of time they want in the phorphorescence. :naughty:
Click to expand...

As comical as it may seem, I would definitely use this as part of my purchase criteria.

Reminds me of PSAs during Saturday morning cartoons - 'The More You Know'
 
Fly Girl|1363031057|3402158 said:
When I was looking for a diamond several years ago, one of the ones my jeweler brought in had pink phosphorescence. We noticed it when she put the stone under the UV light for us, and when she turned off the light, it continued to glow. I asked why and she didn't know. I went home and looked it up and figured it out. Unfortunately, that particular stone had cutting issues, or I would have loved to own it.

Since phosphorescence can appear in about any color, I'm waiting to see if people will not only ask for phosphorescence, but will also begin to specify the color and length of time they want in the phorphorescence. :naughty:
Click to expand...


This is exactly how I thought it could be accomplished. GIA grades for fluorescence anyway, wouldn't it make sense that they could document that it also contained phosphorescence when the stone continued to glow after removing the light source? I found that mine phosphoresed by accident, I was just checking to see if any of my stones had fluorescence and thought it was cool when an uncerted marquise that I owned did. Very shortly after I shut off the lights to go to bed and noticed a bright green glow coming from my hand. I freaked because I thought that a fire fly had gotten into the house and was sitting on my hand and couldn't shake it off! :lol: Turned the lights back on and nothing....shut them off and it was glowing again. Anyway eventually it dawned on me that it was the melee in my ring, though at the time I had never heard of such a thing.

Anyway, regardless of whether of not GIA ever decided to document that a particular stone had phosphorescence, I think that a smart vendor would find a way to create their own little niche out of it. Like DS said though who knows how many are actually out there and if there would be enough in popular sizes to create a market, but I know that I'd want a much larger one. :love:
 
Christina...|1363046309|3402426 said:
Fly Girl|1363031057|3402158 said:
When I was looking for a diamond several years ago, one of the ones my jeweler brought in had pink phosphorescence. We noticed it when she put the stone under the UV light for us, and when she turned off the light, it continued to glow. I asked why and she didn't know. I went home and looked it up and figured it out. Unfortunately, that particular stone had cutting issues, or I would have loved to own it.

Since phosphorescence can appear in about any color, I'm waiting to see if people will not only ask for phosphorescence, but will also begin to specify the color and length of time they want in the phorphorescence. :naughty:
Click to expand...


This is exactly how I thought it could be accomplished. GIA grades for fluorescence anyway, wouldn't it make sense that they could document that it also contained phosphorescence when the stone continued to glow after removing the light source? I found that mine phosphoresed by accident, I was just checking to see if any of my stones had fluorescence and thought it was cool when an uncerted marquise that I owned did. Very shortly after I shut off the lights to go to bed and noticed a bright green glow coming from my hand. I freaked because I thought that a fire fly had gotten into the house and was sitting on my hand and couldn't shake it off! :lol: Turned the lights back on and nothing....shut them off and it was glowing again. Anyway eventually it dawned on me that it was the melee in my ring, though at the time I had never heard of such a thing.

Anyway, regardless of whether of not GIA ever decided to document that a particular stone had phosphorescence, I think that a smart vendor would find a way to create their own little niche out of it. Like DS said though who knows how many are actually out there and if there would be enough in popular sizes to create a market, but I know that I'd want a much larger one. :love:
Click to expand...


It would be great to know, but I doubt that GIA wants to put something that people don't understand on their report. Just getting the 4 C's explained can be a chore. It's hard enough explaining flour to people and getting them to accept that it isn't a defect.

Remember that the certs exist to help sell diamonds to people who don't know a lot about jewelry by reducing confusion.
 
RockyRacoon|1363036053|3402236 said:
Fly Girl|1363031057|3402158 said:
When I was looking for a diamond several years ago, one of the ones my jeweler brought in had pink phosphorescence. We noticed it when she put the stone under the UV light for us, and when she turned off the light, it continued to glow. I asked why and she didn't know. I went home and looked it up and figured it out. Unfortunately, that particular stone had cutting issues, or I would have loved to own it.

Since phosphorescence can appear in about any color, I'm waiting to see if people will not only ask for phosphorescence, but will also begin to specify the color and length of time they want in the phorphorescence. :naughty:
Click to expand...

As comical as it may seem, I would definitely use this as part of my purchase criteria.

Reminds me of PSAs during Saturday morning cartoons - 'The More You Know'
Click to expand...
Indeed, I expect you would want to know color and extent of the glow. :)) It does make the task of documenting the diamond inventory ever more difficult for the diamond vendor. :sick:
 
I'm a sciencey person and -- thanks to this thread -- checked my e-ring stone for phosphorescence. It's no Christina-strength, but it does have some! My diamond has SBF and pretty weak orange(?) phosphorescence; it's almost so dim you have to see it with your peripheral vision, which is tough to use for color perception. Anyway, see the photo montage: light (ignore faded black sock on which the ring rests), little LED UV light, and then the bottom two images are varying levels of Photoshop. I could see the orange phosphorescence on my camera's screen, but not once I downloaded it to my laptop. The second (probably almost all black-looking) photo is unadjusted and not cropped.

Has anyone found a diamond with SBF/VSBF that doesn't have phosphorescence? I wonder if it's just part of having strong fluor.

phosphorescence_montage.jpg

img_692.jpg
 
evergreen|1363056943|3402578 said:
I'm a sciencey person and -- thanks to this thread -- checked my e-ring stone for phosphorescence. It's no Christina-strength, but it does have some! My diamond has SBF and pretty weak orange(?) phosphorescence; it's almost so dim you have to see it with your peripheral vision, which is tough to use for color perception. Anyway, see the photo montage: light (ignore faded black sock on which the ring rests), little LED UV light, and then the bottom two images are varying levels of Photoshop. I could see the orange phosphorescence on my camera's screen, but not once I downloaded it to my laptop. The second (probably almost all black-looking) photo is unadjusted and not cropped.

Has anyone found a diamond with SBF/VSBF that doesn't have phosphorescence? I wonder if it's just part of having strong fluor.
Click to expand...

I can see it! Man, I'm so bummed my upgrade didn't come with fluoro!! waaa. Well, budgeters and impatient people (ahem, me) can't be choosers.

I hope you find a super cool stone, RockyRacoon, and post a ton of pics!
 
evergreen|1363056943|3402578 said:
I'm a sciencey person and -- thanks to this thread -- checked my e-ring stone for phosphorescence. It's no Christina-strength, but it does have some! My diamond has SBF and pretty weak orange(?) phosphorescence; it's almost so dim you have to see it with your peripheral vision, which is tough to use for color perception. Anyway, see the photo montage: light (ignore faded black sock on which the ring rests), little LED UV light, and then the bottom two images are varying levels of Photoshop. I could see the orange phosphorescence on my camera's screen, but not once I downloaded it to my laptop. The second (probably almost all black-looking) photo is unadjusted and not cropped.

Has anyone found a diamond with SBF/VSBF that doesn't have phosphorescence? I wonder if it's just part of having strong fluor.
Click to expand...


Very very cool! :appl: Mine will only glow for about a minute and then it fades back to nothing. I'm not sure if it would glow longer if I applied the black light for a longer length of time....seems that I read a thread that it takes varying amounts of time for the stone to come to an excited enough state that it will glow, perhaps the length of time of exposure also determines the length of time it will glow?

I think someone else asked the same question about SB VSB being a pre-requisite to phos, but I'm not sure that it was ever answered. Wish I new the strength of mine, I'm assuming strong blue the way it lit up under black light, but I'm sort very inexperienced with this stuff. ;)) I wish someone in the trade would chime in!
 
VERY cool!

Those pictures are awesome. Definitely the sort of effect I am looking for.

I will be sure to update once I find the proper stone!
 
Below is a simplified explanation of phosphorescence that I wrote in a thread about three years ago. Keep in mind that not all excited electrons will emit energy in the visible light spectrum, but generally you will need fluorescence to get phosphorescence. If the electrons fall rapidly back from their excited state to their normal state, you won't see phosphorescence, at least not for any length of time.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-diamond-is-not-only-fluorescent-but-also-a-phosphorescent.147232/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-diamond-is-not-only-fluorescent-but-also-a-phosphorescent.147232/[/URL]

Phosphorescence is fluorescence that continues after the exciting source (in this case, the UV light) has been removed. As I understand it, the UV light excites electrons into a higher energy state, and when the electrons fall back into their normal resting state, a bit of light is released. They can also fall to intermediate energy states, and not go directly to the normal resting state, and this will also release a bit of light. How far the energy states are apart will be reflected in the different colors of light being emitted. The amount of time the electrons sit in the intermediate states also determines how long the phosphorescence continues.
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top