Proportion – Understanding Brilliance, Dispersion & Scintillation

Well-proportioned diamonds exhibit three essential properties: brilliance, dispersion, and scintillation. Understanding these properties is crucial to appreciating a diamond's overall beauty and value.

Brilliance: When light strikes a diamond's surface, it can either reflect off the table (the largest, flat facet on the top of the diamond) or enter the diamond. The light that is reflected off the table is known as brilliance. This is the flash of white light one sees when looking at a diamond, contributing to its overall sparkle and allure.

Dispersion (Fire): As light travels through a diamond, some of the light rays are bent and separated into flashes of color. This separation of white light into its spectral colors is known as dispersion. The colorful flashes that result from dispersion are referred to as fire. Fire adds a dazzling array of colors to a diamond’s sparkle, enhancing its visual appeal.

Scintillation: Scintillation refers to the flashes of color and light that are visible when an observer moves the diamond back and forth. This property is the result of both brilliance and dispersion working together. Scintillation creates a dynamic and captivating visual effect, making the diamond appear lively and full of movement.

Putting It All Together

To truly appreciate the interplay of these properties, it's essential to understand how the proportions of a diamond affect its brilliance, dispersion, and scintillation. Use this interactive tool to see how depth and table percentages can impact the brilliance in a round diamond. Please note that this example is for a round diamond only — fancy shapes have their own set of unique properties that influence their brilliance, fire, and scintillation differently.

By understanding these concepts, you can make an informed decision and select a diamond that embodies the perfect balance of brilliance, fire, and scintillation, ensuring it captivates and dazzles from every angle.