Should I buy an F-color diamond with strong blue fluorescence?
Hi Danny, I’m in the process of shopping for diamond engagement rings and noticed that the prices seem to be a little better for Brian Gavin Blue diamonds with fluorescence, as opposed to diamonds from the Brian Gavin Signature collection. I’m trying to decide between two diamonds, one is this 1.535 carat, F-color, SI-1 clarity, BGD Blue with medium blue fluorescence, and the other is this 1.553 carat, F-color, SI-1 clarity, Brian Gavin Blue diamond with strong blue fluorescence, which is a couple hundred bucks cheaper than the smaller diamond of the same color and clarity… and I’m wondering why, is the strong blue fluorescence a bad thing? Can you help me decide between the two diamonds? – Thomas C.
You’ve done a great job of selecting two excellent options from the Brian Gavin Blue collection Thomas, both diamonds have been cut to exacting standards and exhibit a high volume of light return and incredible sparkle. I took them for a walk side-by-side through the office and compared them under different lighting environments; the fluorescence is not noticeable to me in either diamond under normal lighting conditions.
Medium Blue vs Strong Blue Fluorescence:
The medium blue fluorescence is visible in the 1.535 carat, F-color, SI-1 clarity, Brian Gavin Blue diamond pictured to the left because the diamond is being photographed while being exposed to black light. In most instances, the blue fluorescence within diamonds will not be readily visible under normal lighting circumstances. In most instances, blue fluorescence within a diamond has a tendency to improve the visual properties of a diamond by providing a slight boost in body color, because the blue fluorescence acts to offset the effect of any yellow tones which might be present, think of blue fluorescence as nature’s whitewash for diamonds…
In extremely rare circumstances, extremely high concentrations of fluorescence, such as very strong to distinct blue fluorescence, the diamond might suffer from a slight milky appearance, and by “extremely rare” I am talking about 2% of gem quality diamonds according to a study by the Gemological Institute of America on the effect of fluorescence upon gem quality diamonds which was conducted in 1998.
With this in mind, and with the understanding that I’ve taken these diamonds for a walk and compared them side-by-side under a variety of lighting conditions, I can assure you that there is no visible difference between the Brian Gavin Blue, F-color, diamond with medium blue fluorescence and the one with strong blue fluorescence, they face-up the same in terms of color and thus the decision to purchase one diamond over the other comes down to price and the individual characteristics of each diamond.
Selection Criteria for Brian Gavin Blue Diamonds:
Every diamond featured within the Brian Gavin Blue collection of diamonds with blue fluorescence, has been cut to the exacting standards set forth by Brian Gavin, and personally inspected by him to ensure that the fluorescence is not impacting the diamond in a negative manner… thus our customers are ensured of the highest volume of light return and visual performance.
In this instance, both of the diamonds which you are considering have proportions which are within the center of the range for the zero ideal cut rating from the AGS Laboratory, and they have an overall cut grade of AGS Ideal-0 as determined by the AGSL on their Proprietary Light Performance grading platform.
Both diamonds are SI-1 in clarity and F-color, and contain similar inclusions. The difference in price is most likely due to the diamonds being from two different production cycles, the difference in carat weight is minimal and of no consequence, it amounts to less tha
