When shopping for a diamond or an engagement ring, one of the first (and most commonly asked) questions is: How much does a diamond cost?

The next question is: What can I sacrifice to save money and get the best value?

Buying a diamond can be tricky, but one of the areas where we suggest some flexibility is in the Fluorescence grade. This may be shocking considering the confusion that generally surrounds this topic, but read on and we’ll explain why!

To begin, fluorescence is not one of the 4 C’s (Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut) but it is an important characteristic of the diamond. The carat weight of the diamond plays the biggest role in the price fluctuation of diamonds, while the color and clarity generally impact the diamond cost equally. The cut grade can also affect the price of the diamond, but this is one area where we do not sacrifice and always offer top of the line – the diamond must be properly cut to give off all that brilliance and sparkle!

Some of the diamonds we carry in our inventory have fluorescence, and we encourage you to consider these diamonds since the price would be significantly decreased because of it. This can allow you to save some money, or maybe even purchase a larger or higher quality stone than you anticipated!

Fluorescence in a diamond is graded by its degree of appearance: None, Faint, Medium, Strong, and Very Strong. While diamonds can fluoresce different colors, blue is by far the most common color of diamond fluorescence. Fluorescence can only be seen under UV lighting (blacklight), so you would not be able to tell the difference between a diamond with None or Strong Blue in natural light.

Check out our recent IG post to see for yourself!

This does not hold true for every diamond with fluorescence; there are diamonds that exist that are affected by the fluorescence without UV light. We are very specific about the diamonds that we select for our inventory, so if the diamonds show any visibly unattractive symptoms of fluorescence (commonly in the form of a hazy or milky appearance that dulls the sparkle), we wouldn’t sell it!

While fluorescence cannot be detected without UV light, it can actually be beneficial to the appearance of lower color diamonds. The internal blue tinge can counteract the warmer tones in near-colorless and faint diamonds, making it appear more white! So if you’re looking at an I or J color diamond and are concerned about any warmth in the stone, fluorescence would lend a helping hand to allow the diamond to appear as a higher color grade!

In a recent article from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) they support all of the facts above and further clarify any myths surrounding this topic – if you’d like to learn more, click here!

All of that being said, leave the searching and researching to us, we’ll help you find the absolutely best options within your budget. We’re on your side to source the best diamonds and provide you with options that give you the best value – which may or may not include a touch of fluorescence!