Using Clarity Photographs to Judge Diamond Color
This is an expansion on a blog post titled Two Carat Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Ring wherein the question posed was how perceptible the difference in color would be between this 2.015 carat, F-color, VS-1 clarity, Brian Gavin Signature Cushion cut diamond and this 2.184 carat, G-color, VS-1 clarity, Brian Gavin Signature Cushion cut diamond. Our client had mentioned in his initial inquiry that “The two diamonds look pretty much the same in terms of color in the video provided on the diamond details pages, what do you think?” and I wanted to address that question in detail because it is a comment that we tend to hear a lot from people who are trying to decide between several Brian Gavin Signature diamonds.
Visible Differences in BGD Video & Clarity Photographs:
This composition is comprised of two frames taken from the high resolution video files for the two diamonds referenced above, which are provided on the diamond details page to provide you with a way to get an idea as to the location and visibility of the inclusions contained within the diamond. The clarity photographs and video of the diamond, can also be helpful when trying to judge the degree of static contrast created by the shadow of our head, or in this case the camera lens, reflecting off of the eight pavilion main facets located on the underside of the diamond, which appears here as the arrows pattern.
These images are not intended to be used to judge the color or sparkle factor of the diamonds, because differences in the volume of light present in the room, as well as differences in lighting temperature throughout the day, visibly affect these factors and present a variable which can not accurately be accounted for. Thus while it might be tempting to try and use these images to decide between Brian Gavin Signature Diamonds, it is not an accurate method for accessing differences in color or sparkle factor.
How to Choose Between Brian Gavin Signature Diamonds:
One of the most common questions which we receive from clients is a request to help them choose between several Brian Gavin Signature diamonds that they are trying to decide between. Obviously everybody wants to purchase the best, brightest, diamond with the most sparkle possible for their money, and we can certainly appreciate that.
However the reality is that the proportions and level of optical symmetry that Brian Gavin Signature diamonds are cut to, are all within the same extremely tight range, and thus there tends not to be a discernible difference between diamonds of the same carat weight, beyond perhaps a miniscule difference in the perceptible outside diameter of the diamonds.
Thus the best way to decide which Brian Gavin Signature diamond to purchase is to take factors such as color, fluorescence, and clarity characteristics into account, because those are factors which are not dictated by the overall cut quality and optical symmetry of the diamonds which are produced for the Brian Gavin Signature and Brian Gavin Blue collections.
