OTHER COLOR PARAMETERS

There are three other color parameters, namely Luster, Tinge (Overtone), and Fluorescence that significantly impact beauty and therefore value and need to checked before purchasing any diamond. Unfortunately luster and Tinge (color overtone) is generally not graded by 3rd Party certificates, hence we suggest that all pieces should be verified by IDIAM.com so you are aware of these important aspect of the diamond you are intending to purchase.

FLUORESCENCE AND FLUORESCENCE COLOR

When we speak of Diamond Fluorescence, we are referring to the diamonds tendency to emit a soft colored glow when subjected to ultraviolet light. Some diamonds do not exhibit any fluorescence, while others can have varying intensity of fluorescence. If Fluorescence is present, it can be of different colors such Blue, yellow, white, orange, green, red. Blue is by far the most common fluorescence color. Usually fluorescence is unnoticed by the human eye in ordinary light. Fluorescence can cause a diamond to appear less clear or slightly hazy if the diamond exhibits very strong or extreme fluorescence.

Buying Tip:

Fluorescence is a common term you will hear when you purchase a diamond. Fluorescence is graded by 3rd party certificates. Usually fluorescence is unnoticed to the human eye in normal light conditions. Sometimes in lower colors fluorescence can make a diamond look whiter when there is strong fluorescence of blue color. Sometimes though fluorescence can cause a diamond to appear less clear or hazy and hence is not preferred especially in higher colors.

TINGE INTENSITY AND SHADE

While the color grading is a grading of the ‘tone’ of the color, the Tinge grading is a grading of the ‘Hue’. Whereas 3rd party certificates do not provide grading of tinge, the IDIAM verification report provides detailed grading of Tinge. This is an important parameter to understand quality and appraise a value for a diamond.

The tinge grading is based on two parts

1.The intensity of the tinge and

2.The color(s) of the tinge.

Tinge Intensity: The tinge intensity specifies the strength of the tinge color. Possible grades are none, faint, medium, and dark.

Tinge Color: Tinge color specifies the color of the tinge (hue) in the diamond over and above the basic color. Idiam allows upto two tinge colors as applicable. Tinge colors are specified as primary (main) and secondary.  Possible tinge colors are brown, green, grey, black, pink, blue, purple, orange, & golden.

Buying Tip:

Usually diamonds range from being colorless(white) to varying of degrees of yellow. But sometimes there are overtones (tinge) and they need to be evaluated before purchasing a diamond. Overtones again are not graded by 3rd party certificates and therefore should be verified before purchasing. Idiam verification services cover this important aspect. Certain overtones such as brown/green/grey are not desirable and severely impact the value of a diamond. If you are willing to accept, you should get that piece at a lower price. Resale market for pieces is not as robust as there is less demand for pieces with overtones. Other color overtones such as pink, blue, orange are rare and there isn’t much significant study on their pricing. It may be possible that these overtones do not impact price negatively.

LUSTRE

This is another parameter, which is important in determining the value and quality of a diamond. The amount of light that the stone reflects and the type of light that is emitted by the stone determines the luster of a diamond.

Buying Tip:

Luster is the amount and type of light that the piece reflects back. Sometime the diamond material is not translucent enough so that the diamond is not reflecting the full light back. If that is happening than the beauty of the diamond is severely impaired. Excellent is the best grade for luster meaning that the diamond has no impedance of light at all.