Do diamonds sparkle in rainbow colours?

When shopping for jewelry, you might wonder if diamonds sparkle in rainbow colors. You may wonder if the stones you like are real at all. It can be hard to tell because there are so many options.

Before making this purchase please find answers to your jewelry questions below. Find out what makes a diamond sparkle. Learn more about the difference between synthetic and simulated diamonds.

Are diamonds sparkling in the rainbow?

Real diamonds don’t sparkle in rainbow colors inside the stone. Instead, the inside of real diamonds sparkles in shades of white and gray. The play of light in a diamond is brilliance. One factor that determines the brilliance of a diamond is the cut.

Real diamonds sparkle in rainbow colors when their light is deflected onto other surfaces. In other words, colors shoot out of the diamond when the direct light hits the stone. This flash of color in a diamond is called “fire”.

Of course, brilliant multicolor sparks will appeal to most jewelry lovers. Many of them focus on the stone’s appearance rather than its value. This works fine as long as you know you don’t own a real diamond. Unfortunately, some people are unaware that their diamond is not real.

Light influences the sparkle of a stone, regardless of whether it is manufactured or real. However, synthetic stones can only imitate the brilliance of a real diamond. Diamonds reflect light in a unique way.

It is also important to note that sometimes images can capture colors as they exit the diamond, giving the impression that there is a rainbow.

Refractive index

The amount of fire and brilliance in diamonds depends on where they are in the index of refraction. The index of refraction measures the degree to which light bends when it passes from one medium through another. Simply put, a stone with a higher rate of reflection will scatter less light on the surface. Natural diamonds have a high rate of infraction.

Nevertheless, depending on its natural properties, a pure diamond shines like fireworks. A light hitting a diamond bounces around inside the stone and then comes out again. Hence the light is much more alive when it reaches the eye. Other factors, such as the cut, also influence the brilliance of the diamond.

At the same time, synthetic diamonds have a low refractive index. With artificial diamonds, the light is deflected differently. In contrast to natural diamonds, sparkling rainbow colors show up in synthetic stones.

Simulant and synthetic diamonds aren’t the only stones with low reflective indices. Sapphires and emeralds are among the gemstones at the lower end of the index. While beautiful, opals are the least refractive gemstone.

Diamond cuts

Cuts determine the amount of rainbow sparkles the stone will have. When you hear the “cut” it refers to how the facets of the diamond interact with light. Bad facet cuts will ruin a good diamond. A well-cut diamond is bright and full of fire. Hence, it is important to buy diamonds from reliable sources.

Several factors determine the quality of the gemstone.

Primarily, gemstones are measured with a cut scale. Diamonds, which are at the top of the scale, are the most expensive. However, the price reflects the exceptional quality of the stone.

An ideal cut is the highest on the scale. Diamonds with this cut are brilliant and most sparkle in rainbow colors. However, the diamond cut next on the scale is very close to second. The next cut is called Excellent. The craftsmanship of this diamond is almost as excellent as an ideal cut stone.

In addition, very good cuts are an excellent choice and popular because they come at a lower price. Good cuts are comparable to very good cuts in terms of quality and price.

Fair cuts, on the other hand, are viewed as average on the average.

The bad stone cuts are the cheapest option and the last on the cutting scale. This cut has a low level of brilliance and light.

The location of the cut is another factor in how much light is scattered. However, it should not be confused with the ratings of the Cut Scale. An ideal cut will scatter most of the light, while a deep cut will also deflect a lot of light. In contrast, shallow cuts mainly scatter light along the sides of the diamond.

After all, the shape of a stone also affects the amount of fire it brings. Round brilliant is the facet pattern that returns most of the light. It has 58 facets. Because of this, it is the most popular shape for engagement rings.

Lab grown diamonds

Natural diamonds are extracted from the earth’s crust. In contrast, humans make lab-grown diamonds under controlled conditions, and the technology duplicates the conditions in which natural diamonds grow. They also consist of carbon atoms arranged in the diamond crystal structure.

Other names for lab grown stones include synthetic, engineered, and cultured diamonds. They have the same chemical and optical properties as mined diamonds. That’s why lab-grown diamonds sparkle in rainbow colors just like earth-grown stones.

Engineering diamonds are considered “real”. However, the price is around 30% lower than natural diamonds. In addition, synthetic diamonds are an environmentally friendly alternative to mined diamonds. For these reasons, millions of people buy jewelry made from synthetic stones.

Important NOTE: We strongly caution buyers against purchasing lab-grown diamonds. Read our full review on Why Lab Grown Diamonds are a Massive Scam!

Simulated diamonds

Diamond simulants are big business worldwide. High-quality synthetic diamonds look real at first glance, but cost only a fraction of the price of a natural stone. In particular, some synthetic diamonds sparkle with rainbow lightning bolts too flashy to withstand.

These simulated diamonds are white stones that fall into two broad categories.

First are the simulated diamonds that are made with clear natural gemstones. These include white zircon, white sapphire, and white topaz. Other natural diamond simulants are moissanite and glass. All of these stones come from the earth. However, their chemical, physical and optical properties are different from diamonds.

Synthetic stones fall into the second category of diamond simulants. Cubic zirconia and yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) are the most common. Cubic zirconia is an inexpensive mineral made from zirconia. Although the stones look like diamonds, they do not have the same carbon structure.

The mineral YAG was first grown in the 1950s and was the diamond simulant of choice until zirconia hit the market. Contemporary variants of YAG are available in clear and other colors that look like semi-precious stones.

Important NOTE: As with laboratory grown diamonds, we caution buyers against buying synthetic or simulated diamonds. Read our full review on Why Counterfeit Diamonds are a Massive Scam!

How do you check if a diamond is real?

The type of diamonds you buy is a personal choice. Some people buy cheap stones to wear on vacation so that the real ones are not lost. At the same time, earth-conscious buyers prefer vintage or used stones. You can also choose manufactured diamonds to help protect the environment. Additionally, simulated diamonds are the cheaper option for budget-conscious buyers.

But what if you’re not sure if a stone you already own is natural?

Some factors indicate whether your diamond is real. For example, if your diamonds are sparkling in extremely bright rainbow colors, they may not be real. Cubic zirconia is an example of a synthetic diamond that looks too good to be true.

Another way to test a mined diamond is to breathe on the stone. See if the diamond is fogging up. Then you can see how long it takes for it to evaporate. A real diamond only fogges up a little. The condensation will disappear quickly.

In addition, a real diamond will not scratch because it is the hardest stone. You can check your stone by gently scraping it off with a knife. Remember to only do this if you want to take the risk, but know that if the stone scratches you will have a synthetic diamond.

Another test that you can do at home is to see if the stone is floating. Exposing the diamonds to extreme temperatures is another test. Some people take an intense route and try to smash their diamonds.

Finally, you can buy a diamond selection tool. The device determines whether a stone is synthetic or real.

However, the most accurate and safest way to check your diamond is to take it to a trusted jeweler. A professional jeweler will use the correct tools and equipment and you will benefit from their experience and training. Most importantly, you will receive the correct information about your diamond.

Click here to read our full guide on how to tell if a diamond is real or fake.

Buyers beware

Perhaps you have a unique piece of jewelry in mind in a store. You might even have asked to try it on. However, you may be wondering if the diamond in the back of your mind is real. You’re not alone. This scene plays out repeatedly every day. It’s hard to tell whether a stone is real or synthetic, with many choices available.

However, you can be proactive to make sure you are buying the diamond that you are expecting. If the diamond seems too good to be true for the price, it probably is. Always buy jewelry from a well-known and respected retailer. And don’t hesitate to request a gem report from a lab if one isn’t available. If they don’t comply, consider finding another jeweler.

Finally, remember that the type of diamond you choose is your personal choice. Wearing jewelry should be fun. Just make sure you get what you pay for and have fun.

Talk to a diamond expert

Do you have further questions about diamonds? Or are you in the market to buy a diamond? Do not hesitate to contact our diamond experts. You will reply as soon as possible.