The term for the flashes of color observable in a polished diamond is called?

The term for the flashes of color observable in a polished diamond is called?

• A. Finish
• B. Flash effect
• C. Fire
• D. Fluorescence

Answer: (C)

Fire is the term used for the colorful, rainbow-like flashes you see in a polished diamond. This effect happens because the diamond disperses incoming light into its component colors as it travels through and exits the stone. Different wavelengths bend by different amounts, so you observe tiny spectral colors flashing in the facets as the stone or the light source moves. Finish refers to surface polish and shine, not color flashes. Fluorescence is light emission under UV light, which is a separate phenomenon. While some might casually say “flash”, the established term for this color display is fire.

Fire is the term used for the colorful, rainbow-like flashes you see in a polished diamond. This effect happens because the diamond disperses incoming light into its component colors as it travels through and exits the stone. Different wavelengths bend by different amounts, so you observe tiny spectral colors flashing in the facets as the stone or the light source moves. Finish refers to surface polish and shine, not color flashes. Fluorescence is light emission under UV light, which is a separate phenomenon. While some might casually say “flash”, the established term for this color display is fire.