Why does it turn cloudy?

[melz]

So I was on here awhile back trying to figure out what I wanted. I got so involved with the process that my BF was really not happy, and I felt like I was going a little crazy, so I finally stepped back and told him to go buy a diamond.

Anyway ..... so now I have a diamond. In regular light, most indoor light and indirect outdoor light it''s fine. In direct sunlight and some types of indoor lights (I think maybe flourescent) it turns cloudy and not pretty at all. Does anyone have any idea what''s happening? My only guess is that it''s fairly included and that this only becomes obvious in certain lighting.

I don''t have much info on this stone.

 

[lowphat]

He should have at least told you the carat/color/clarity, no?

 

[melz]

2.01 ct.
EGL cert says G-H, jewelry store appraisal said H-I, so I'm guessing I.
Clarity SI2. Again, this according to EGL and the jewelry store appraisal.

EDIT: oh - and no information whatsoever as to the cut.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/12/2009 2:09:03 PM
Author:melanie987123
So I was on here awhile back trying to figure out what I wanted. I got so involved with the process that my BF was really not happy, and I felt like I was going a little crazy, so I finally stepped back and told him to go buy a diamond.

Anyway ..... so now I have a diamond. In regular light, most indoor light and indirect outdoor light it's fine. In direct sunlight and some types of indoor lights (I think maybe flourescent) it turns cloudy and not pretty at all. Does anyone have any idea what's happening? My only guess is that it's fairly included and that this only becomes obvious in certain lighting.

I don't have much info on this stone.

It could be the fluorescence if it is graded strong blue or very strong, but this is rare. It will say if there is fluorescence on the report. Also does it have clouds as the grade making inclusion for SI2 clarity?

Is the diamond clean? This is important as diamonds are grease and muck magnets, so give it a good soaking in an ammonia solution as long as the setting isn't white gold, scrub and rinse. It is possible the diamond could do with a very thorough cleaning and this might improve matters.

 

[D&T]

no cert at all? well my sister''s first diamond was flourescent, and I can see milky cloudy in it, so be it has fluro

 

[Todd Gray]

Fluorescence has a negative impact on only about 2% of gem quality diamonds, usually only those with strong to very strong fluorescence. It might be something as simple as the diamond needing to be cleaned and the dirt and grime is simply more noticeable in direct sunlight. Take the ring to a qualified jeweler in your area and ask them to clean the ring and to tell you if the diamond exhibits fluorescence and if so, to what degree. Note that diamonds perform differently under different lighting conditions and often change appearance in direct sunlight for lack of contrast being imposed upon the diamond by objects in near proximity. Just for the record, I''m a big fan of blue fluorescence within a diamond and many of the diamonds I have owned personally exhibit strong to very strong blue fluorescence...

 

[melz]

The EGL information I got is ridiculous, it''s a little wallet size laminated card which doesn''t indicate cut, flourescence, or map where the inclusions are.

 

[melz]

Date: 6/12/2009 2:16:02 PM
Author: Todd Gray
Fluorescence has a negative impact on only about 2% of gem quality diamonds, usually only those with strong to very strong fluorescence. It might be something as simple as the diamond needing to be cleaned and the dirt and grime is simply more noticeable in direct sunlight. Take the ring to a qualified jeweler in your area and ask them to clean the ring and to tell you if the diamond exhibits fluorescence and if so, to what degree. Note that diamonds perform differently under different lighting conditions and often change appearance in direct sunlight for lack of contrast being imposed upon the diamond by objects in near proximity. Just for the record, I''m a big fan of blue fluorescence within a diamond and many of the diamonds I have owned personally exhibit strong to very strong blue fluorescence...

That''s a really good idea, thanks.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/12/2009 2:16:24 PM
Author: melanie987123
The EGL information I got is ridiculous, it''s a little wallet size laminated card which doesn''t indicate cut, flourescence, or map where the inclusions are.

I am familiar with those little cards, they don''t tell you much...

 

[denverappraiser]

Get it graded and appraised by an appraiser you trust. Ask them this question. I’m with the above in suspecting first fluorescence and second cleaning. An appraiser who has it in hand could get to the bottom of it very quickly.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[melz]

I just spoke with the jeweler who set the diamond for me (he had nothing to do with choosing the diamond). I asked him if the clarity grade, SI2, was accurate. He said no, sorry, it''s more like an I2, don''t bother getting it GIA appraised it will work against you. He also suspected flourescence based on what I was telling him about the cloudiness.

Moral of the story: listen to your helpful pricescope advisors!

 

[stone-cold11]

WoW! Sorry to hear that.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/12/2009 2:24:24 PM
Author: melanie987123
I just spoke with the jeweler who set the diamond for me (he had nothing to do with choosing the diamond). I asked him if the clarity grade, SI2, was accurate. He said no, sorry, it''s more like an I2, don''t bother getting it GIA appraised it will work against you. He also suspected flourescence based on what I was telling him about the cloudiness.

Moral of the story: listen to your helpful pricescope advisors!

I would do as Neil suggests, get an independant appraiser to examine your diamond and give you their opinion.

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 6/12/2009 2:24:24 PM
Author: melanie987123
I just spoke with the jeweler who set the diamond for me (he had nothing to do with choosing the diamond). I asked him if the clarity grade, SI2, was accurate. He said no, sorry, it''s more like an I2, don''t bother getting it GIA appraised it will work against you. He also suspected fluorescence based on what I was telling him about the cloudiness.

Oooh, sorry to hear that! There is a big difference between SI-2 and I-2 in terms of appearance and durability... And the grading of GIA / AGS grading and that of other laboratories in my experience. This is one of the dangers of Price Scope, people actually look at their diamonds

 

[melz]

Thanks everyone. I''m going to try to return it (even though the 30-day window expired about a month and a half ago). It is just so upsetting. I knew better.

 

[DiamondFlame]

I''m sorry to hear about your diamond. From your description, it sounds like ''bad'' fluorescence that afflicts the 2%. Is your BF aware of this? If he is perhaps he will have less objection to your involvement in future diamond selection/purchase.

 

[D&T]

man, what a bummer, so sorry. I hope you can return it

 

[melz]

Date: 6/12/2009 3:28:32 PM
Author: D&T
man, what a bummer, so sorry. I hope you can return it

Thanks D&T. I will certainly follow up here with a Yeah-Hoo if I can!

 

[oldminer]

A jeweler who guesses about fluroescence and then tells you I2 on an SI2 graded EGL stone is likely not one to be blindly trusted. It just not sound professional.

 

[melz]

Date: 6/12/2009 4:18:32 PM
Author: oldminer
A jeweler who guesses about fluroescence and then tells you I2 on an SI2 graded EGL stone is likely not one to be blindly trusted. It just not sound professional.

I guess I'm not sure what you mean. I talked to him about flourescence over the phone and he basically did what you guys did, which is to make an educated guess. As to the clarity, he saw the stone (although he didn't provide it) so that's where he gets that opinion. (I asked if I brought it in if he could test for flourescence and he said no, he doesn't have that equipment). I'm not sure why a stone graded SI2 by the EGL actually being I2 would be surprising/suspect.

 

[oldminer]

Here is a picture without UV of a highly fluorescent diamond.

 

[oldminer]

Here is the same diamond with UV added. Note how there is less transparency although there is more light overall being returned to the camera lens. You can see how the large culet is less clear in this photo compared to the first photo. This demonstrates that transparency has been compromised by the UV Fluorescence effect.

 

[Ice Scream]

Date: 6/12/2009 4:25:56 PM
Author: melanie987123

Date: 6/12/2009 4:18:32 PM
Author: oldminer
A jeweler who guesses about fluroescence and then tells you I2 on an SI2 graded EGL stone is likely not one to be blindly trusted. It just not sound professional.

I guess I''m not sure what you mean. I talked to him about flourescence over the phone and he basically did what you guys did, which is to make an educated guess. As to the clarity, he saw the stone (although he didn''t provide it) so that''s where he gets that opinion. (I asked if I brought it in if he could test for flourescence and he said no, he doesn''t have that equipment). I''m not sure why a stone graded SI2 by the EGL actually being I2 would be surprising/suspect.

I am no expert, so someone can correct me if I am wrong. I believe you should be able to test for fluorescence yourself using a simple black light. If the stone glows one of a number of colors (usually blue), it has at least some degree of fourescence.

On a related note, I had my diamond independently appraised this past wednesday, and the appraiser showed me the fluorescence. The GIA cert said it was medium blue, but the appraiser said there was no way it was anything less than strong. I thought it looked pretty neato though how it lit up bright blue. It doesn''t effect the clarity of my diamond at all in normal lighting. Also the setting has four diamonds in it. When he put the setting under the fluorescence viewer one of the diamonds had a faint fluorescence and another was very strong. I can''t wait to take my FF to Disney World or somewhere else with a lot of blacklights. I think it will surprise her when parts of her ring start to glow!!

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 6/12/2009 4:25:56 PM
Author: melanie987123

Date: 6/12/2009 4:18:32 PM

Author: oldminer

A jeweler who guesses about fluroescence and then tells you I2 on an SI2 graded EGL stone is likely not one to be blindly trusted. It just not sound professional.

I guess I''m not sure what you mean. I talked to him about flourescence over the phone and he basically did what you guys did, which is to make an educated guess. As to the clarity, he saw the stone (although he didn''t provide it) so that''s where he gets that opinion. (I asked if I brought it in if he could test for flourescence and he said no, he doesn''t have that equipment). I''m not sure why a stone graded SI2 by the EGL actually being I2 would be surprising/suspect.

I think what David is trying to say here is that the jeweler is not independent in his judgment. He might just be criticizing your stone in the hope that you return it and buy a ''better'' stone from him, maybe even unconsciously. That is why it is important to get an independent appraisal in this case.

 

[melz]

Oh got it thanks. I am making an appointment with an independent appraiser this week.

 

[3Rocks]

Date: 6/12/2009 2:30:13 PM
Author: Todd Gray

Oooh, sorry to hear that! There is a big difference between SI-2 and I-2 in terms of appearance and durability... And the grading of GIA / AGS grading and that of other laboratories in my experience. This is one of the dangers of Price Scope, people actually look at their diamonds

Ditto!!!

My FI gave me a promise ring with 0.40ct diamond solitaire (a year ago) and I already known Pricescope then. So, I take it close to a light and I can see immediately that the diamond has a tint of yellow and I can see scratches across the tables. Then, he felt that Pricescope is a bad influence since I really really really examine the diamond to a T. He said its zap out the romance.

I did that only for knowledge. I called it getting intimate with my diamond.

 

[the tree sees]

3Rocks,

That''s funny, I wish my GF paid more attached ton Pricescope. I sort of feel like I''m going to be looking more for an e-ring that matches my own preferences than hers!

 

[melz]

So I thought folks who chimed in here might be interested in the results of the independent appraisal. EGL USA graded this stone in March 2008 as G-H color and SI2 clarity. In fact, it is I-J color and I1 clarity. So what I thought was flourescence in certain lighting making the ring look bad were probably just all the inclusions I was seeing. In addition, he said the cut grade is "good" due to the depth (64%), so I''m sure that is not helping either.

Ah well. Live and learn. And try to return!