What happens when light hits the pavilion

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

I understand the idea of light entering the top of the diamond, but what about when light hits the pavilion on the side? does it just come out the other side of the pavilion? On my diamond it is incredibly brilliant and wonderful in light performance form the top down, which it is my understanding is how the cut is designed. However If I look a it from the pavilion and I put something on the other side of the pavilion I can see it through the pavilion (though not from the top of course). I assume that is ideal right? I just want to make sure from you guys instead of just trusting what seems obvious to me.

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 6/10/2007 11:30:04 AM
Author:WorkingHardforSmallRewards

I understand the idea of light entering the top of the diamond, but what about when light hits the pavilion on the side? does it just come out the other side of the pavilion? On my diamond it is incredibly brilliant and wonderful in light performance form the top down, which it is my understanding is how the cut is designed. However If I look a it from the pavilion and I put something on the other side of the pavilion I can see it through the pavilion (though not from the top of course). I assume that is ideal right? I just want to make sure from you guys instead of just trusting what seems obvious to me.

You are correct, your diamond is designed to return the majority of the light it receives through the top back out the top. Experimentation with one of the diamonds that I have here clearly shows that if you hold the diamond top to culet, looking through the stone at a right angle to the girdle and place an item behind the diamond that you can in fact see through the diamond.

I would have bet that this was the case, but looked through an AGS 0 cut diamond just to verify it.

Wink