Why Does Real Diamond Jewelry Have That Special Sparkle?

Nothing sparkles like a diamond!

Anyone who wears any type of diamond jewelry, or has seen someone wearing it, must have noticed that extra special sparkle that only diamonds have. They have a unique shining quality that captures the light and reflects it back to us in a dazzling brilliance.

It is strange to think that they were created so deep down in the earth (opens in a new tab) in the absence of any source of light. Unpolished rough diamonds are not that impressive to look at. Even though all diamonds are actually quite cool because they are the hardest material on the planet.

So why do the diamonds in diamond jewelry have that unmistakable brilliant sparkle?

There are actually several reasons:

Diamonds Have A Very High Refractive Index

One of the reasons why diamonds sparkle so beautifully is because it has a very high refractive index. The refractive index is a dimensionless number that tells us how much the light is bent when it passes through one medium to another.

Diamonds have one of the largest refractive indexes of 2.42. Compare that to the refractive indexes of window glass (1.52) and water (1.33). Diamond cutters use the fact that the light is bent so much when it enters a diamond to ‘bounce’ it from one facet to another.

The famous diamond cutter and scientist Marcel Tolkowsky (opens in a new tab) came to the conclusion that 58 facets are the ideal number to make a diamond shine in the way that it is supposed to!

Diamond Jewelry Buying Tip: You should NOT be able to see the ring’s mounting through the diamond because the light is bounced around so much.

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The Cut Of The Diamond

The term the cut of the diamond is often used interchangeably with the term diamond shape. We will get to diamond shape in a minute though.

A diamond’s cut actually refers to how well the diamond cutter did his or her job. It refers to the number, proportions and symmetry of the cut facets. The better the cut of the diamond, the more it reflects the light.

The highest grade for a diamond cut is ‘excellent’ and the lowest grade is ‘poor’. A diamond with a poor grade will lose light from the sides or the bottom of the diamond instead of reflecting it to the viewer through the top, or the table of the diamond.

Diamond Jewelry Buying Tip : Be careful not to compromise on the cut of your diamond for a higher carat weight. Diamonds are supposed to shine as brightly as they can!

The Shape Of The Diamond

If you are thinking by now that more facets equals to more sparkle, you are absolutely correct. (Though it still has to be well cut.)

It is no wonder that the round (opens in a new tab) brilliant cut introduced by Tolkowsky more than a hundred years ago is still the most favorite shape for diamond engagement rings. Other diamond shapes with a lot of sparkle, and facets, are the oval (opens in a new tab), Marquise (opens in a new tab) and pear (opens in a new tab) shapes.

Next in line for sparkle are the heart (opens in a new tab) and Princess shapes, (opens in a new tab) followed by the cushion (opens in a new tab), Emerald (opens in a new tab), Asscher and radiant (opens in a new tab) diamond shapes. Note that the second mentioned group of diamond shapes all have less facets and larger tables.

The Baguette (opens in a new tab) shaped diamond is the least sparkly diamond shape.

Diamond Jewelry Buying Tip : Though some diamonds shapes sparkle a bit more than others, only buy the diamond shape that YOU love the most.

The Number And Size Of The Inclusions

We have learned by now that the brilliance of a diamond is strongly connected to the way that it interacts with light. Inclusions are small natural imperfections inside diamonds and usually look like tiny black spots.

The larger the size and number of the inclusions, the less sparkle the diamond will have.

Diamond Jewelry Buying Tip : Keep in mind that inclusions give your diamond a unique character, they are only found in natural earth mined diamonds AND they bring down the price of the diamond jewelry significantly!

Diamond Jewelry Setting

The way that the diamond is mounted in the jewelry piece also influences its sparkle. A diamond engagement ring with a prong setting literally lifts the diamond above the ring itself, exposing it to as much light as possible.

Jewelry pieces with a cluster of smaller diamonds as well as a diamond ring with a halo also have extra sparkle. The larger the number of diamonds, the bigger the shine.

Diamond Jewelry Buying Tip : Upgrade a diamond with a smaller carat weight (and less sparkle) to a sparkling super diamond ring by surrounding it with a halo of small inexpensive diamonds.

The diamond’s sparkle is one of its best qualities and definitely the first thing that everyone notices. Take your time looking at the various cuts, shapes and settings that are available and then buy a piece of diamond jewelry that will let you bask in its shine!

Feel free to contact us at [email protected] or 1-800-557-7095 for any questions. Sparkling or not..:)