What is Diamond Fluorescence and why is it important?
What Is Diamond Fluorescence?
Fluorescence is the visible light some diamonds emit when they are exposed to invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays. On a Diamond Grading Report, fluorescence refers to the strength, or intensity, of the diamond's reaction to long-wave UV, which is an essential component of daylight. The light emitted lasts as tong as the diamond is exposed to the ultraviolet source.
It's All About First Impressions...
Some people seek diamonds that produce this unique effect, while others avoid it. The visible effects of fluorescence grades of faint, inert, negligible, and medium, can only be detected by a trained gemologist with specific UV light.
A fluorescence grade of strong or very strong can make a diamond with a near-colorless grade look even whiter. In some very rare instances a diamond with very strong fluorescence can give the diamond a slight hazy or oily appearance.
Diamonds with a strong or very strong fluorescence are a better value for the end customer because the market prices them slightly lower than diamonds with faint or negligible fluorescence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1:
Q: What impact does fluorescence have on the appearance of a diamond?
A: Studies show that, for the overwhelming majority of diamonds, the strength of fluorescence has no widely noticeable effect on appearance. In many instances, observers prefer the appearance of diamonds that have medium to strong fluorescence. In rare cases, some diamonds with extremely strong fluorescence may appear hazy or oily; fewer than 0.2% of fluorescent diamonds exhibit this effect.
Question 2:
Q: Does fluorescence compromise the structural integrity of the diamond?
A: No. A diamond that fluoresces has the same integrity as one with no reaction to UV. Submicroscopic substitutions and/or shifts in the diamond structure can cause fluorescence as well as prevent it. Nothing in either instance inherently weakens or is bad for the diamond.
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