Did you say fluorescence ?

Fluorescence is a natural phenomenon found in some diamonds : under ultraviolet light, they may emit a blue glow (and, more rarely, yellow or green), which remains invisible under normal lighting conditions. Contrary to popular belief, fluorescence does not diminish the brilliance or beauty of the stone. In more than 90% of cases, it has no impact whatsoever on the diamond’s appearance. Its poor reputation comes from an old misunderstanding that created an unjustified mistrust still present today, largely because fluorescence was wrongly associated with the “haze” phenomenon — a milky, slightly blurry appearance that is actually quite rare and has no direct connection to fluorescence itself, even though it can sometimes be observed in certain strongly fluorescent diamonds.

In the past, the traditional expression “blue-white” was used to describe a diamond whose fluorescence could give a subtle bluish hue under specific lighting conditions. These diamonds were even sought after in slightly tinted color ranges, as the fluorescence could make the stone appear whiter in daylight. Over time, however, the market unfairly labeled this effect as a defect, even though it is merely optical and not a sign of inferior quality or structural issues. In reality, the vast majority of fluorescent diamonds are perfectly clear, bright, and beautiful. This is why fluorescence can often offer excellent value for money : for the same visual quality, such diamonds are still priced more attractively today due to a prejudice inherited from the past. Far from being a flaw, fluorescence is simply a natural characteristic of the diamond usually invisible and sometimes even advantageous for those who know how to appreciate it.