Do Diamonds Really Glow Under UV Light?

Do diamonds really glow under ultraviolet (UV) light? Learn more about this phenomenon from an expert's perspective and find out how to make an informed decision when buying a diamond.

Do Diamonds Really Glow Under UV Light?

Do diamonds really glow under ultraviolet (UV) light? The answer is yes, but it's not as simple as that. Approximately 35% of natural diamonds show some degree of fluorescence, which is the brightness that can be seen when the diamond is exposed to UV light. This effect is caused by certain minerals in the diamond composition and is completely natural. GIA rates diamond fluorescence as None, Weak, Medium, Strong and Very Strong.

When it comes to buying diamonds with fluorescence, Brian Gavin is a retailer known for its unique super-ideal cut diamonds. In general, diamond fluorescence should not be a major factor in buying a diamond, since its effects are negligible, if not slightly positive. However, some jewelers believe that diamonds that fall within the range of the D-Z color scale are worth less when they are fluorescent because the diamond can sometimes appear milky or cloudy. The amount of fluorescence a diamond has will appear in the GIA report, so there will be no mystery or surprise when buying a diamond.

Fluorescence can cause I-M colored diamonds to appear up to a degree whiter. But rest assured that your diamond will look perfectly good in most light and won't be visible most of the time. If you're a regular at a tanning salon, dance club, nail salon, or other places where UV light is often used, you may notice it more often. Diamonds with a VERY STRONG fluorescence will appear somewhat blue in DIRECT sunlight. However, it's usually not enough to detect weak-to-strong fluorescence in a diamond since the sun does emit some UV rays. When comparing diamonds to each other, you will definitely see a difference between a diamond with a strong fluorescence and one with little or no.

The diamond may appear to glow purple under a black light because the source itself looks a little violet. The truth is that brilliance and brilliance are determined by the quality of the cut and not by whether the diamond has the ability to shine with black light. For example, according to the table, an E-color diamond of clarity VS1 and Strong Fluorescence will tend to sell for 3-5% less than a similar diamond without fluorescence. If you've done your homework and googled diamonds for fluorescence, you may have read about a certain GIA study that claims that even strong blue is almost always completely imperceptible to the average diamond consumer. The exception would be to be careful when buying a diamond with strong fluorescence in D-F color diamonds or very strong fluorescence in G-H color diamonds (which do not have enough body color to compensate for the degree of fluorescence). We are going to debunk some myths about diamonds with fluorescence so you can make an informed and safe decision when buying a diamond.

Jerome Tarrants
Jerome Tarrants

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