10/16/2026
Ever wonder how it is that a diamond could look so beautiful in different lighting? A lot of your answer lies on how your diamond interacts with light and the cut your diamond was given. In the industry of fine jewelry, this is a huge part of what seperates a truly impressive diamond versus one that only looks great under store lighting.
Let's take a closer look! Your diamond will present three different ways light reflects back to the viewer:
Brilliance: or bright flashes of white light; display a crisp, lively appearance of white light from reflecting off of the faceting from the inside of your diamond.
Fire: Diamonds have a high refraction index, which affects how light bends as it enters and exits the diamond. Dispersion is what happens next after light has entered your diamond. That white light is now split into its spectral colors. These colors create the beautiful flashes of red, blue, green, and other hues we call fire.
Scintillation: better known as your diamond's "sparkle"! Scintillation is the pattern of light and dark flashes you see as the diamond, light source, or observer moves. Three key elements influence scintillation:
Motion- Movement changes how light interacts with the diamond's facets, creating flashes of light.
Light and dark contrast- Alternating bright and dark areas create the contrast that makes a diamond's sparkle stand out.
Cut and proportions- A well-cut diamond is designed to direct light back toward the viewer, helping create attractive patterns of brilliance and contrast. The round brilliant, typically featuring 57 or 58 facets, is a classic example of a cut designed to maximize a diamond's light performance!
Now you know why your diamond shines bright! 😄💎✨
