Measurable Diamond Beauty

We use a variety of technologies to show you a diamonds proportion measurements, optical performance, and measurement of light refraction.

Measuring Your Diamonds Proportions With The Megascope and Sarin Machines

The MegaScope and Sarin Proportion Diamond Analyzers are computerized instruments that accurately and reliably measure the cut quality of loose diamonds. Basic measurement accuracy is: 0.02 m. The properties analyzed in loose diamonds are Weight, Diameter, Crown Angle and Height, Pavilion Angle and Depth, Culet Size, Culet Off Center, Table Size, Table Off Center, Total Depth, and Girdle Thickness.

Today it is not necessary to separately measure diamond proportions as both the GIA (Gemologocal Institute of America) and the AGS (American Gem Society) provide this information on their lab grading reports.

GIA Lab Report. Proportion data indicated by red arrow.

AGS Lab Report. Proportion data indicated by Red Arrows.

More information about the Megascope^TM can be found at www.ogisystems.com.

More information about the Sarin TM at www.sarin.com

The BrillianceScope^TM

The BrillianceScope is an imaging spectrophotometer that measures how well a diamond refracts and focuses light. The loose diamonds are measured in a controlled lighting environment consisting of multiple lighting angles. The BrillianceScope positions a circular ring of concentrated light around the 5 most critical parts over the diamonds crown, starting from the outer circumference and then working its way in to the diamonds table at the center. As the light moves from position to position, it scans in and analyzes the loose diamonds' white light and colored light output, and scintillation; categorizing it on a scale that runs from "low" to "very high". This helps to determine the measurement qualifications for certified diamonds. Click here for more information on BrillianceScope

White Light

(Commonly referred as Brilliance) The BrillianceScope measures the percentage of the diamond returning bright white light to the observer.

Color Light

The BrillianceScope, commonly referred to as fire, measures the percentage of the diamond returning bright colored light to the observer.

Excellent Light Performance Diamond on the BrillianceScope.

Scintillation

A term used to describe changing colors, radiance, and sparkle of the diamond's rays as it is moved or turned; or when the light source changes.

Examine the five images and carefully note the intensity, concentration, and bursts of white and colored light being returned to your eye. This harmonious and concentrated display of white light, colored light, and scintillation indicates a diamond with excellent light refraction.

Will All Hearts & Arrows Diamonds Display Maximum Light Output?

The answer is not necessarily.

The fact that loose diamonds have been cut to ideal proportions does not guarantee that it will refract and reflect maximum amount of light to your eye.

You must be aware that not every AGS-0 or GIA EX/EX certified diamonds will be a stone that can reflect maximum brilliance back to your eye. Additionally, the notion that any diamond that exhibits perfect hearts and arrow patterning will also display maximum light output is completely false.

Click here to view an example of an AGS-0 diamond that displays very poor brilliance, fire, and scintillation.

As a matter of fact, quite the opposite is true. A hearts & arrow diamonds pattern is not necessarily indicative of maximum light output. Actually you do not even need to cut a perfect hearts and arrow diamond to achieve excellence for brilliance, fire and scintillation.

Click here to view an example of a non-H&A diamond that displays excellent brilliance, fire, and scintillation.

What this demonstrates is that to rely solely on loose diamonds' external numbers is only beneficial up to a point. External numbers alone cannot accurately predict a loose diamond's light performance. Light output is determined by three factors: 1. Facet angle 2. Facet size and 3. Alignment and Positioning of all 58 facets that comprise the Round Brilliant Shape Diamond. If the facet alignment is just a tad off, the stone may still have great external "numbers," such as an AGS-0 Cut Diamond, but its light performance will not be maximized.

Obviously, in a perfect situation, a consumer looking to buy loose diamonds or a diamond engagement ring should look for a round diamond that achieves excellence in all areas. That is to say, the diamond should be cut to the utmost level of precision, like a GIA EX/EX or AGS-0 diamond. They should also exhibit perfect hearts and arrow patterning, and reflect maximum light back to your eye.

Loose diamonds that encompass all of these diamond facets are guaranteed to be the most beautiful, highest quality diamonds in the world.

Click Here for more information about the BrillanceScope^TM.

The Idealscope is a device that is designed to measure internal light reflection. The basic principle is to surround the diamond with 2 solid colors of black and red and a white light source under the stone. Observation of the diamond through a stationary magnifying lens shows the distribution and intensity of the reflected colors.

Intense and uniform distribution of the internally reflected black and red colors to your eye indicates a visually "hot" stone on Brilliance, Fire and Scintillation. ImageScope performance correlates very directly with performance on the BrillianceScope.

Here is an example of a beautiful high octane light performance diamond.

The ASET Scope.

The ASET scope was recently introduced by the American Gem Society (AGS) and contains high-grade optics with which to analyze a diamonds light performance.

A diamond is placed on a tray inside the ASET and viewed through the ASET eyepiece. When you view the diamond you see a color coded image. Colors seen are Red, Green, Blue and White and indicates the angles at which the diamond gathers and then refracts light to your eye.

Green = 0º (horizon) to 45º

Red = 45º to 75º

Blue = 75º to 90º

Black or White = indicates light leaking out of the diamond.

Red indicates that light is coming from angles where there is likely to be bright, direct sources of illumination in most viewing environments. This color is dominant in the ASET image of well-cut diamonds.

The color Blue refers to light that is normally blocked by the viewer’s head and body which usually happens when you look straight down at the diamond. An ASET image with a moderate amount of Blue indicates that the diamond has good contrast brilliance.

Green is produced by low-angle light, which usually is reflected from walls or other objects in the surrounding area (rather than coming from direct sources). A diamond with a high cut quality may show small amounts of this color around the bezel area of the ASET image.

Black or White appears in areas that do not return light under real-life viewing conditions. If a diamond is well cut, the ASET image will show only very small areas of black or white around the outer edge (and perhaps none).

For Fancy shape diamonds, the ASET gives you more information than the Idealscope because it takes the light return and further parses and displays it into intense light (Red) coming from the 45-75 degree viewing range and into reflected/indirect light coming from a 45 degree angle (Green).

Excellent Light Performance - Princess Cut. Note the edge to edge light performance with no leakage (white).

Excellent ASET for a round brilliant diamond. Edge to edge light performance.

Cushion with moderate light leakage as indicated by white areas.