The Diamond Fluorescence Advantage

Fluorescence in diamonds is one of those things that can be confusing.

Does it make the diamond glow in the dark? How does fluorescence affect the brilliance of a diamond in regular light? And if so, how?

To answer the first question, a fluorescent diamond may glow a little in the dark, but it will more likely glow under black light (UV light).

And to answer the second question there are a few points which might help cut through some of the confusion surrounding fluorescence.

There are two seemingly contradictory things about fluorescence.

1. Strong fluorescence can give the diamond a milky look.

2. Fluorescence does not always give the diamond a milky look.

How can both of these things be true?

Here's why: One in 50,000 diamonds with strong fluorescence will look milky, but even then it will only be in certain lighting.

As a result of this slight risk, jewelers don't try to push the fluorescent diamonds. They even discount them. Diamonds whose Grading Report says: "Strong Fluorescence" will be priced just below diamonds with other features which are exactly the same.

So, how we can use this information to get a better deal when shopping for a diamond?

After all, even at a jewelers we won't see the diamond in all different types of lighting (tube light, natural daylight, fire light, candle light) and won't know if it has any issues.

And if we are looking to buy a diamond online we certainly won't be able to see the diamond.

So here's the solution.

I recommend calling the diamond vendor and speaking to them directly. Ask them to look at the diamond you want and describe it to you. Any jeweler worth his salt will know a good diamond when he sees one. It's going to be hard for them to hide their enthusiasm when looking at a good stone. They've seen hundreds of diamonds and know which ones are going to be the "magical" ones.

You'll have an advantage by doing this as the majority of online shoppers don't bother to pick up the telephone, or even bother to click the call button on their smartphone.

And you'll stand a good chance of picking up a bargain by doing so.

Since it is only possible to judge how fluorescence affects the brilliance of a diamond by having eyes on the diamond most people stay away from the ones which show strong fluorescence when buying diamonds online.

The savings we get by buying a diamond which has strong fluorescence come with a risk of the diamond not looking as brilliant as one would wish. However as this is not the case with every single diamond which has a strong fluorescence some people are willing to take the risk. This is actually pretty smart because the risk is in fact extremely small. Some diamonds with strong fluorescence are actually very beautiful. The fluorescence makes some diamonds look fantastic when exposed to UV light, and they will look even brighter than their grading report suggests.

The last thing you can do to make sure you do not end up with a diamond which is not to your liking is to inspect it when you get it and return it if it does not suit you. Jewelers are used to this and are perfectly happy to exchange it for another diamond when this happens. If you're lucky you might even be given one without fluorescence at no extra charge. But don't hold your breath on that one. 

Still, I hope these few points will give you an idea of how to use diamond fluorescence to your advantage.

Here's a meticulous diamond jeweler, who is also an incredible diamond cutter, that checks fluorescent diamonds before buying them at wholesale and makes sure they are the sparkly variety and not negatively affected at all by diamond fluorescence. I've been pretty impressed by his world class workmanship too. As well as decent prices. Worth checking out when you get a chance.