Real diamonds reflect light primarily through their expertly cut angles, which bounce light back towards the observer.
Understanding Diamond Brilliance
The stunning sparkle or "brilliance" of a diamond is a result of how light interacts with its internal structure and facets. It's not just about the material itself, but how it's shaped.
The Role of Cut and Angles
A critical factor in a diamond's reflection is its cut. The specific angles and proportions of the facets are designed to maximize light return. According to the reference, a well-cut diamond has more brilliance because the angles of the stone reflect light back to the viewer, preventing it from being lost.
- Preventing Light Leakage: Instead of light escaping through the bottom (pavilion) or sides of the stone, the angles are calculated to redirect it internally.
- Directing Light Out: This internal reflection aims to return the light back through the top surface of the diamond, known as the table.
Internal Light Interaction
When light enters a diamond, it undergoes both refraction and reflection:
- Refraction: Light bends as it enters the diamond due to the change in medium.
- Internal Reflection: As mentioned in the reference, the light that enters the stone is refracted by the diamond's internal angles. These internal angles then act like mirrors, causing the light to reflect internally.
- Light Return: The goal of a proper cut is that the light, after multiple internal reflections, is ideally directed back out through the table, returning to the viewer's eye. This is what creates the intense sparkle and brilliance.
Essentially, a well-cut diamond acts like a complex system of mirrors and lenses, designed to capture and return as much light as possible to create that dazzling effect.
