Sunday, October 16, 2011

Not Just Plain White Diamonds Any More: the Modern Eternity Wedding Rings

By Faustine Garnder


In fact, the results support the age-old belief that strong or even very strong blue fluorescence can improve appearance rather than detract from it, especially in diamonds with faint yellow body color . . . While the apparent benefits of blue fluorescence are less obvious in colorless to very near-colorless diamonds, they still were evident in the study. This should bring into question the trade's lower bid prices for moderate to highly fluorescent diamonds in the better colors.

Before diamond grading reports became so popular, there was a widespread preference in the trade for stones with fluorescence. These diamonds were called "blue-white" diamonds, and long time diamantaires can recall a time when many buyers would insist on diamonds with fluorescence. The preference began to decline after the FTC outlawed the misuse of the term "blue-white".

The following is excerpted from the Federal Trade Commission's "Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries" Misuse of the term "blue white."

It is unfair or deceptive to use the term "blue white" or any representation of similar meaning to describe any diamond that under normal, north daylight or its equivalent shows any color or any trace of any color other than blue or bluish. Unfortunately, it had the unintended effect of casting suspicion over any diamonds with fluorescence.

To address this controversy, researchers at the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory conducted an experiment on the effects of long-wave ultraviolet radiation on the color appearance and transparency of gem diamonds . . . [The findings of the] study challenge the perception held by many in the trade that UV fluorescence generally has a negative effect on the overall appearance of a diamond.




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