What Makes Diamond Shine And Sparkle? - Jagran Josh

Quick Links

• School & Boards
• College Admission
• Govt Jobs Alert & Prep
• Current Affairs
• GK & Aptitude

• Home
• general knowledge
• Science

Comments

All Comments (0)

Join the conversation

Sign in to comment for free! Login Now

• Well written content 👍
• Worth the read
• Captivating and insightful
• Brilliantly explained 😎

What makes diamond shine and sparkle?By Shikha Goyal Last Updated: Oct 10, 2017, 12:00 IST

Diamond is the star of jewellery. Being hardest substance it shines and sparkle. It has three dimensional arrangement of carbon atoms linked together by strong covalent bonds. In this article we will discuss why diamond shine and sparkle. Which property makes it shiny etc.

Diamond is an allotrope of carbon, transparent and is one of the hardest materials known. It is crystalline in nature and has three dimensional arrangement of carbon atoms linked together by strong covalent bonds. But what makes these small rocks shine. This article deals with how diamonds shine. What makes them sparkle?

With the help of three phenomena’s diamonds get their brilliance namely total internal reflection, refraction and dispersion. But the question arises what they are, how they work and makes diamond shiny.Reflection is when light hits the surface and return back gives an instant shine. Only a portion of the light hitting a diamond is reflected; the rest travels through it. As, we know that any transparent material has a refractive index and have a critical angle where light totally reflects internally on the surface. Because of this diamonds are cut accordingly with exact angles. After cutting diamond with the techniques it reflects light so that it appears to be shining.

What is Reflection of LightThe movement of the light through a diamond, sometimes scattered and fractured, creating diamonds to sparkle. This is nothing but because of refraction. It can be explained as follows: We know diamonds are tiny, complicated prisms in which light enters through the top and cut at an angle from inside and from the top through the surface. This creates a rainbow effect or dispersion and also makes shiny. Depending where the light hits the planes of the diamond, refraction and dispersion occur, creating natural light and some dark areas.

Source: www. qph.ec.quoracdn.net.comDo you know these dark areas add brilliance to the diamond or create magic? As, dark magnifies the intensity of light in the similar way as the flame of the candle appears brighter in a dark room than in the lighted room. Another important feature is the cut of the diamond. If the shape is too deep or too shallow, much of the light will get lost, never bounce back as it suppose to be. The angle for the refraction would let the light slip out of the diamond. So, we can say up to an extent shape of the diamond also determines shine. These cuts only enhance the brilliance of the diamond.

Refraction of LightWith the cuts in the diamond it is also important to maintain the symmetry, so that the optimum amount of shine remains in it. The shape of the diamond should remain even from all the ends and with all the facets. If the symmetry is not proper than the amount of light will not refract properly.On the other handclarity of the diamond also matters which affects the shining property of the diamond. Blemishes on the surface of the diamond limit the amount of light that can enter the diamond. Inclusions prevent the light from moving freely within the gem. If the imperfections will be less than diamond will be more brilliant or vice versa. Last but not the least is if the diamond is cut and shaped properly, then we should check that it should be properly polished also. Polishing has a lasting effect on the brilliance of diamond. If any residue or some exterior imperfections left are removed due to polishing and makes diamond perfectly shining and sparkling.So now we understood what makes diamond shiny and sparkling. It is the most beautiful gem in the jewellery. Intense light, cutting, polishing make it more brilliant.

Refraction of light through a glass prism

Shikha GoyalShikha Goyal is a journalist and a content writer with 9+ years of experience. She is a Science Graduate with Post Graduate degrees in Mathematics and Mass Communication & Journalism. She has previously taught in an IAS coaching institute and was also an editor in the publishing industry. At jagranjosh.com, she creates digital content on General Knowledge. She can be reached at [email protected]... Read MoreFirst Published: Oct 9, 2017, 14:03 IST

Latest Stories

• 

  Highest T20 Score: List of Top 10 Highest Scores in T20 Cricket

  Current GK

• 

  WI vs IND: What are the Chances of India Reaching Semi Finals of T20 World Cup 2026?

  Current GK

• 

  ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: Check Which Teams are Qualified for the Semi-Final, Schedule, and Super-8 Points Table

  Current GK

Get here current GK and GK quiz questions in English and Hindi for India, World, Sports and Competitive exam preparation. Download the Jagran Josh Current Affairs App.

Trending

• SHE Mart Mission
• ICC Under 19 World Cup Winners List
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
• Maharashtra Deputy CM List
• Bharat Taxi App
• WPL Winners List
• UP SIR Voter List 2026
• UGC Bill 2026
• Most Centuries in Cricket
• Most Runs in Test
• Physics

Popular Searches

• JEE Main Result 2026
• JEE Main Final Answer Key 2026
• Under 19 World Cup 2026 Winner
• UPSC CSE Apply Online Last Date
• Section Controller Answer Key 2026
• SSC GD Constable Exam Postponed
• UP DELED Result 2026
• SBI Clerk Result 2026
• JEE Mains 2026 Result
• Important Days in February 2026

Latest Education News

• Highest T20 Score: List of Top 10 Highest Scores in T20 Cricket

  just now

• Wordle Hint Today #1716: Check Answer for March 1, 2026

  just now

• WI vs IND: What are the Chances of India Reaching Semi Finals of T20 World Cup 2026?

  19 mins ago

• CA Result 2026 Today LIVE: ICAI CA Final Results Expected Today at 6 PM at icai.nic.in, Latest Update on Release Time and Links

  22 mins ago

• ICSE Class 10 Maths Last Minute Revision Tips & Resources For 2026 Board Exam

  29 mins ago

• MP SET Answer Key 2026 Soon: Check Steps to Download Paper 1 & 2 Answer Key PDF

  28 mins ago

• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: Check Which Teams are Qualified for the Semi-Final, Schedule, and Super-8 Points Table

  28 mins ago

• Snow in New Jersey Today: Is Winter Returning to the Garden State?

  28 mins ago

• MP SET Exam Analysis 2026: Check Paper 1 & Paper 2 Difficulty Level, Good Attempts & More

  27 mins ago

• WBSSC Group C Exam Analysis 2026: Check Difficulty Level, Good Attempts & More

  29 mins ago

• WBSSC Group C Question Paper 2026 OUT: Download PDF

  28 mins ago

• CBSE Board Exam 2026 Postponed: CBSE Postpones March 2 Class 10, 12 Exams Amidst Iran Israel Conflict

  28 mins ago

• Daylight Saving Time 2026: Why This Year’s Earliest Possible Spring Forward is Fueling a Radical 30-Minute Compromise

  29 mins ago

• NEET 2026 Registration Last Date: NEET UG Online Application Window Closes Soon, Check Important Dates and How to Apply

  27 mins ago

• Apply for IIIT Bangalore B.Tech & Integrated M.Tech 2026: Pre-Registration Deadline June 8

  30 mins ago

• Apply for IIIT Bangalore B.Tech & Integrated M.Tech 2026: Pre-Registration Deadline June 8

  27 mins ago

• CBSE Board Exam 2026: Fake Circular Issued Regarding Exam Cancellation in Middle Eastern Regions

  27 mins ago

• कितना बड़ा है ईरान और क्या था इसका पुराना नाम, जानने के लिए यहां पढ़ें

  27 mins ago

• IND vs WI: Head-to-Head Records, Stats and India's Chances of Reaching the Semi-Finals

  29 mins ago

• US-Iran War: Trump Launches ‘Operation Epic Fury’ as Massive Strikes on Tehran

  27 mins ago