Now understand diamonds better - GIA to provide more detailed information on fluorescence of diamonds

In an effort to help educate the public about the common, but little understood, phenomenon of ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence in diamonds, the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) will include, effective immediately, additional information describing fluorescence and its properties in every GIA Diamond Grading Report and Diamond Dossier® that carries a diamond fluorescence description of medium or stronger. A separate four-color insert addresses the most frequently asked questions about fluorescence, explains its properties in easy-to-understand terms, and includes comparison images of diamonds in both natural and UV light to illustrate varying intensities of fluorescence.

“Some diamonds show fluorescence and some don’t,” said Thomas M. Moses, GIA’s senior vice president of laboratory and research. “Fluorescence is the emission of visible light by a diamond when it is stimulated by invisible UV rays. It is a common characteristic of diamonds. The diamond simply glows under the UV lights, usually a blue color, which most often stops when the energy source causing it is removed.”

For more than 50 years, GIA has indicated the presence of diamond fluorescence on its diamond grading reports, but described it on the report as an identification characteristic only — not a grade, Moses said. The five terms GIA uses to classify the intensity of a stone's fluorescence are: none, faint, medium, strong, and very strong.

“This insert will help the public better understand diamonds in general, which gives them more confidence and knowledge when making a decision about a diamond,” he said.

The above is from a GIA press release. The fluorescence parameter and its impact on the quality of diamonds is generally not very well understood; and not just by customers but by jewellers too. The GIA move will do a world of good in educating everyone about the same.

More glory to GIA and more power to educated and informed diamond selling and buying!!! Sphere: Related Content