![]() Contrast-leakage may reveal colors underneath the diamond or gather reflections from the environment, creating an aesthetic unique and specific to each stone. Some leakage can create positive contrast effects in a diamond, particularly in fancy shapes, antique diamonds and cuts which don’t prioritize brightness. Round diamonds produced long ago, or fashioned from oddly shaped rough, may have chaotic, asymmetrical contrast patterns where negative leakage becomes a contrast component. Round diamonds cut for abundant fire (Steep-Shallow and Antique cuts) typically have wide pavilion mains designed to create larger dispersive-fans, reducing brightness but increasing the potential for a viewer to see fire. Round diamonds cut for balanced brightness and fire (Tolkowksky-Ideal and Super-Ideal) typically have a balanced, symmetrical pattern of red and black in the contrast pattern. ![]() Round diamonds cut to have more brightness than fire (Shallow-Ideal and 60-60) typically have narrow pavilion mains, so you will see red than black in the contrast pattern. This simulates the amount of light obstruction caused by the average person’s head at a distance of 25cm (10 inches). Ideal Scope codes light from directly above the diamond black. This creates a contrast pattern which can be useful for assessment. When a diamond is being photographed the camera itself blocks light from the highest angles and the lowest facets are darkened, reflecting the black of the camera lens. Light from high above usually illuminates the lowest facets on the diamond (the pavilion mains on a round brilliant). When moving, a diamond’s contrast becomes a dramatic component of scintillation. The brighter the bright areas and the darker the dark areas, the more contrast the diamond has. This works like a chess board, which has only 1/2 the brightness of a sheet of white paper, but appears brighter by comparison. Image courtesy of AGSĬontrast photos by PriceScope members Thanks to Lucky_Rabbit, Munchee & the_mother_thingĪ symmetrical, balanced pattern of contrast helps bright areas appear brighter. This creates a pattern of areas which are temporarily dark. Some light above the diamond will be blocked (obstructed) by the head of a viewer. Click any Ideal Scope link for a fast overview of this simple tool. PriceScope Pointer: Throughout this page we’ll reference Ideal Scope. Pro tip: An Ideal Scope image will reveal dark or dead areas where light exits through the bottom of the stone. Jewelry store spotlights can be used to over-brighten stones, disguising leakage. Under normal lighting, areas of leakage cause it to appear smaller and darker than Stone A. In general terms, brightness is desirable, leakage is to be avoided – with exceptions. Intermediate Diamond Performance Brightness and Leakageĭepending on the main facet angles, light entering a diamond will either reflect and shoot up to the viewer’s eyes (as brightness) or escape through the bottom (as leakage or windowing). Request an Ideal Scope image of diamonds you’re considering, to decisively assess brightness, leakage and contrast. PriceScope Pointer: Use our free Holloway Cut Advisor (HCA) tool to reject poor round diamond performance.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |