The Ideal Scope /
Fire Scope
A perspective on the internal ...
You pull up to your friends house and there sitting in the driveway is a 1963
Corvette ... candy apple red in pristine condition... just purchased and
delivered to his driveway. WHOA it looks good! You'd like to
take it out for a cruise and when your friend turns the key to start it ... PUTT
PUTT .... BAM BAM ... CHUG CHUG!!! ???
Nobody remembered to lift the hood to check out the engine!!!
This is EXACTLY what's happening today to 99% of the diamond buyers in
stores, malls and YES most of all ... the Internet. How exactly can we lift
up the hood of a diamond and check it's engine you ask? Quite simple.
Through the use of a device I've put together which runs along the idea of of an
instrument called the FireScope™ and another instrument gaining popularity on
the internet called the Ideal Scope I can see with incredible
clarity not only light return vs light leakage but also the the intensity of
that light return and how much of it is present within the stone. What I've made is kind of similar to both
though I believe is a bit more advanced in the quality of information it gives for a number of
reasons that will be demonstrated further on in this report. As of this writing I have not
devised a name for the instrument I have made so for all sakes and purposes I'll
simply refer to it as "LightScope".
A true 2nd generation instrument
As you are browsing the images on this page and also in
our For Sale section you'll be
viewing images I've taken with LightScope. Other websites are beginning to
pop up who
are attempting to copy my work (I'm flattered) and while the efforts are noted
they are still
back in 1st generation technology. Take for example these 2 images which
are of the same diamond
yet under different viewers. These first 2 images, while looking very nice
are similar to 1st generation
FireScope™ images.
All the reds appear to be of the same saturation and the pics are definitely
more friendly to leakage in that all reds appear to be rich and dark.
Here is the same diamond under LightScope.
Take note ... all these pics were taken under the same
resolution, with the same camera and are
UNRETOUCHED original photo's. As you can plainly see the quality of the
optics and the science into
developing our LightScope was not an overnight experiment. The lens used is
custom made by a medium
format camera company and only the highest precision optics are used and custom
made for our photo
setup. In the LightScope pic you can plainly see the high contrast between
the dark red vs the light
reds and every shade in between. This is crucial to interpretation since
light reds are telling us something
completely different than the dark reds. You'll learn more about this
below and why this is important.
Looking at an image that's giving you the illusion of all
dark reds can be deceiving when making critical
gemological analysis. Especially when it involves thousands of your hard
earned dollars.
A definition of terms
-
In this article I will be limiting my use of the word brilliancy, brilliant
& brilliance to refer strictly to white light return as it is reflected
*internally* within a diamond. Although the word "brilliance"
can refer to the overall brilliance of a diamond encompassing TOTAL light
reflection, I am, for simplicity sake using it to ONLY refer to white light
return from internal reflections as a direct result of observation under direct
or strong lighting such as halogen bulbs or the sun.
-
I will also be using the words "colored light return", (also
known as fire) & "dispersion"
interchangeably although GIA has defined a difference between the 2. When
I mention either of the 2 I'm talking about the diamonds ability to break down
white light and disperse it into the colors of the rainbow (which we all like to
observe in the most beautiful diamonds).
-
Scintillation, simply as the
movement of the white and colored light within the diamond as either the light
source is moved over the diamond, or the viewers head over the diamond or both.
Basic principal & use
A diamonds facets are functioning in either one of 2 roles. They're
either functioning as mirrors or windows. The primary facets that should
be functioning in the role of "mirror" are the pavilion facets, which
when coupled with the proper crown angles will reflect beautiful rainbows, white
light and sizzle (or scintillation) we all love to observe in fine diamonds. While the LightScope itself cannot interpret "white
light return/colored light return/scintillation", nor can it attribute
numerical data in quantitative results like the BrillianceScope can, it does
show it's observer some very interesting information about the light return of
diamonds which I will attempt to educate you on.
The basic principal and use
of the LightScope is to encapsulate and surround a diamond with 2 solid colors
(red and black). Have a contrasting color beneath the diamond (white) and
observe how nicely or poorly the diamond reflects the colors being transmitted
into it. So ... in basic principal there are 3 primary colors one
will observe. Black, red or white.
Interpreting
the colors.
-
Black or dark gray = Light entering and exiting the diamond
perpendicular or near perpendicular to the table. This is simply the reflection of the shadow of
your eye as you look into the viewer. The eyepiece/lens is
perfectly centered over the diamond, therefore the color that is directly
perpendicular to the diamond is the shadow of your eye.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The facets that function in this role are the facets that
are functioning like mirrors that are being directly pointed in your
face. Facets that function in this manner represent areas of the
diamond that will reflect the most intense beams of light in the diamond and
is primarily responsible for colored light return, scintillation and in a
lesser manner white
light return. The more broad the mirrors are, generally the more
colored light return we'll get, the more tiny mirrors we have positioned towards our
face the more scintillating the diamond will be. These areas of black
or dark grey I'd like to refer to as hot spots.
Here is a triple ideal cut diamond (a diamond with ideal proportions, polish
& symmetry) that not only has large hot spots (in the sense of it's
arrows) but also has many other tinier hot spots that exist between the
arrows which boost it's scintillation.
These aspects make the diamond excel in both colored light return &
scintillation. Here are BrillianceScope results that reflect the
results of the image above. Take note of the intense beams of light
reflecting off the inner arrows in light positions 2, 3, 4 & 5 and the
many secondary reflections happening throughout the diamond. Take note
of light view 1 and the intense beams of light reflecting between the
arrows. These extra intense reflections (or hot spots) increase the
diamonds scintillation.
Here is another Triple Ideal Cut diamond.
The primary aspects that differentiate between the 2 is one diamond has more
tiny hot spots (the first diamond) whereas this second diamond LACKS hot
spots between the arrows. The distinct arrows in this diamond ensure a
fiery diamond and the stone does excel in colored light return but it's lack
of black (or lack of hot spots) cause the diamonds scintillation to
decrease. Overall light reflection (or overall brilliancy, if you will)
within the diamond is excellent. but the first diamond with it's superior
amount of hot spots will be more scintillating than the
second. I would
also like to point out 2 other facts. The above comparison when made
with the human eye is not one between a beautiful diamond and an ugly
diamond. BOTH ARE GORGEOUS and represent a small fraction of quality
cut diamonds on the market today but one diamond has features that the other
does not have. The second point I'd like to bring out is that the
facets which affect these features include facets which are rarely
discussed. Those being the length of both the star facets and also the
lower girdle facets. (More on this later.) Here are the
BrillianceScope results on the stone above.
Here's another diamond that also demonstrates the same thing
principal. I could give you hundreds more examples but 2 will have to
suffice for now. Note how this stone has very distinct arrows,
beautiful internal symmetry and deep rich reds throughout the stone from
under the table to the outer crown facets. Once again a distinguishing
feature in this diamond is it's lack of hot spots between the arrows.
There is a rich amount of red under the table and through the stone ensuring
some excellent white light return (brilliancy) and bold distinct arrows
(excellent fire or colored light return). The lack of hot spots
between the arrows and the complete elimination of them at the lower ends of
the arrows affect the diamonds scintillation. Once again... this is
NOT an ugly diamond by any means and also represents a small percentage of
cut quality diamonds on the market but there are diamonds that are more
scintillating.
Here are the results of another diamond which has less pronounced hot spots
between the arrows.
-
Red = Light entering the diamond from every other angle and
is being reflected out of the diamond at angles close to perpendicular to
the table and every other angle. Diamonds reflecting red are like
mirrors that are being positioned towards you but not directly at you.
As you observe LightScope images, the darker the red, the more the mirrors
are being aimed in your direction ... the more intense the light return
is. This light return however is not as intense as those facets that
are like mirrors that are pointed directly at you as is the case with the
black. Red being reflected in the diamond is primarily responsible for
*white light* return. The lack of it usually causes a diamond to be
less *brilliant*.
Red and the intensity of it directly affects (moreso than other factors) the
white light return.
Here is an example of a triple ideal cut Hearts & Arrows diamond where
there is blatant leakage under the table. There is white where
there should ideally be red.
Here is another super ideal that does not have leakage under the table but
the red under the table is more pink as opposed to darker red. Pink or
light red is indicative of light return being mixed with leakage.
Deeper reds are more desirable but since this diamond has other outstanding
characteristics it qualifies as a justified investment and is a very
beautiful stone.
Here is another good example except in this diamond the pink is even
lighter. Almost to the point of blatant leakage. The lack of
intense red under the table plus the lack of hot spots at the inner
arrows cause a drastic hit in white light return. Enough to make it
fall down to medium. What does this show you? That just because you
might be getting a Hearts & Arrows cut diamond does not mean the best
light performance in direct light situations. The internal symmetry
however is among the best.
-
White = Pavilion facets that are functioning in the role of
"windows" and aren't reflecting light at all. Therefore we
can look through the *windows* and observe the color beneath the diamond.
This diamond has a considerable amount of leakage to it. Not much in
the way of mirrors pointed towards our eyes or hot spots for that matter.
Regrettably this diamond represents the majority of diamonds flooding the market
today. What would you say if this was a D color VVS2 clarity? Believe it
or not a J SI2 in some of the finer examples above will be more beautiful than
this one.
The BrillianceScope accurately portrays once again how this relates to white
and colored light return & scintillation.
In summary: If the pavilion facets are functioning as mirrors ... red and
black entering should be red and black exiting. If the facets are
functioning as windows ... light passes through windows and we'd be able to see
the color white behind the facets that are functioning as such. So ... red
& black shows us light return ... white reveals areas of the diamond that
are leaking. Now that we got that down let's analyze some examples.
Before
we get into the typical merchandise you'll find and see on our website I'd like
to familiarize you with what is commonly sold on the market place. I go
through great pains to pick and choose what it put on our "For Sale"
page and most people take for granted that the kind of merchandise I carry and
offer for sale is common and typical of what they'll find in most jewelry
stores. THIS IS FALSE. What I carry represents less than 1% of the goods
offered on the market and each diamond is personally hand picked and inspected
by me before it makes it to this website. It must be UDIS (Ultimate
Diamond Information Site) worthy to make it here. :) These first few
examples are what is representative of the majority of goods on the market.
Example
One: 2.01ct H SI1 AGS proportion grade of 4.
Here is an example of a typical diamond being sold in your local jewelry
store, mall or Internet vendor as something the salesman may tell you is an
*excellent* diamond! Nothing could be further from the truth. Note
carefully ...
-
How we can observe various shades of red (from red to pink) and
-
The facets that are reflecting the shadow of the eye of the observer which
is positioned perpendicular to the top of the diamond.
-
The facets that are blatantly functioning as windows instead of
mirrors. This diamond has terrible leakage.
SHEKAKA! hehe... or is that guano? (anyone remember Pet Detective 2?)
Here
is this particular diamond under the BrillianceScope. Note where the most
intense beams of light are coming from. That's right ... the facets that
are pointing the mirrors directly at ya (indicated by the black in the
LightScope). The lack of black and blatant areas of leakage and faint
return cause this diamond to score pretty badly. Heh... a perfect
candidate for a recut!!!
Example Two: 1.18ct K VS2 AGS
proportion grade of 1
This diamond is an AGS cut grade of 1. Note the mirrors being pointed
at directly at you (black)... those that are positioned towards you (various
shades of red) and then those facets that are letting light pass through
completely (white). There are enough mirrors being aimed at us to get
decent colored light return and scintillation and there is a presence of strong
shades of red around the perimeter of the diamond making for a *good*
stone. Blatant leakage (white) and faint return (pink) under the table
causes a hit in white light return.
Example three: 1.21ct D SI2 AGS proportion grade of 2
Another *good* stone (certainly not the best) having enough black and red
coming back at us to be a "good" looking diamond.
Note the individual BrillianceScope images (1 through 5) with the most intense
beams of light being reflected off the mirrors
that are positioned directly at us (black).
Example three: 1.21ct I SI2 AGS proportion grade of 3
This page involves a learning of devices used to examine
internal light reflection. For more on the Ideal Scope check out
www.ideal-scope.com
