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Understanding a diamond picture

kmk42019

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 28, 2015
Messages
15
I've been looking for a diamond online and have a few questions about different characteristics. Below are two different diamonds I'd like to compare.
http://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-779436

http://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.91-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-743004

The first stone doesn't have all black arrows in the picture as compared to more pronounced arrows in the second stone. What is the cause of this? Is just the picture or is the cut different between the two?

The next two diamonds are different in there overall haziness and color.

http://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.92-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-749967

http://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-630267

The first diamond has a brighter cleaner look to it than the second diamond. The second one has a more blue hue to it and the first seems more yellow and crisp. Is this also just the photo, or are these attributes to different qualities of the stones. Which is a better quality stone?
 

pittin

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 21, 2014
Messages
37
I've been wondering these same things.
 

0-0-0

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Messages
1,257
1. cut difference

2. possibly photo setup, possibly actual color/clarity difference
 

solgen

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Apr 10, 2015
Messages
563
It could be either differences in the diamonds or the recording set up or even both. Lighting the same for both with them the same distance from the diamonds? Camera the same distance from each diamond? Both color and gray scale balanced? There's too many variables to say for sure so you'd really need both diamonds side by side to tell if it's recording set up or due to the diamonds themselves.
 

AdaBeta27

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Sep 7, 2004
Messages
1,077
In real life, the arrows aren't black. They are almost never dark or black. They alternate between brilliance (white light) and fire. The most common reason given for black arrows that you see in so many photos is that they are reflecting the camera body or some other nearby dark colored object. There are ways to cut a diamond so that the arrows look like black arrows, paddles, or lines much of the time, but that's not a very well-cut diamond.

Diamonds can have haze throughout. The comment about grade set by clouds not shown or words to that effect means there are clouds scattered throughout. Those will affect brilliance and clarity. Sine most of the cutters and photographers know to clean the diamond so that it shows its best, I'd be suspicious of anything that looks cloudy in those videos or photos.

eta: Some diamonds have more contrast than others. Some have fatter arrows and throw broader flashes of light. Some, like Solasfera diamonds, throw more slivers. There are nuances and there are more pronounced differences between some of the superideal diamonds, even. Part of the fun is to decide what make or "flavor" you like.
 
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