The Bow Tie Effect in Lab Grown Diamonds: All You Must Know

You must’ve heard of various diamond terminology, such as diamond cut, diamond abrasion, diamond facet, etc. But have you ever heard of the bow tie effect in diamonds?

If you’re a diamond enthusiast, maybe you have heard of it, but you definitely don’t know all about it. Whether you’re interested in lab grown diamonds or mined gems, you’ll definitely want to know what’s a bow tie effect and how does it impact a diamond’s value.

We’ll tell you all about it in this blog.

What is the bow tie effect in lab grown diamonds?

The bow tie effect is an optical phenomenon that occurs in diamonds. It is called so because it looks like a bow tie. A bow tie occurs in lab grown diamonds because of the cut of the diamond. It is not internal, rather, it is formed due to the dispersion of light. It is mainly caused because of obstruction of light. The bow tie effect is a shadow formed as light gets obstructed.

Which diamond cuts have a prominent bow tie?

All diamond cuts and shapes are not equally affected by bow tie. For instance, elongated diamond shapes are more prone to develop bow tie effects. Oval, pear cut diamond, cushion cut, radiant cut, heart cut and marquise diamond have prominent bow tie effects. Whether they are mined, or lab grown diamonds, bow tie is inevitable.

But is bow tie a bad thing?

If you’re looking for lab created diamonds of a specific shape and notice bow tie effect in them, you need not worry too much. At times, bow tie helps in attracting more color and scintillation. This can lend a sparkle to the diamond. Moreover, a subtle bow tie will not cause any harm to the overall performance of the diamond.

Many customers prefer lab grown diamonds with bow ties as it gives a different look to the diamonds. Bow ties have gained a bad reputation because many jewelers and experts suggest customers should avoid them. Moreover, a bow tie can also help hide certain inclusions and flaws in lab manufactured diamonds at times, making it an advantage rather than a flaw.

How to choose lab made diamonds to avoid bow tie effect?

• When choosing diamonds, customers usually check the lab created diamond report. However, the presence of bow tie effect is not mentioned in the report and hence, it is best to examine the cultured diamonds yourself to identify bow ties.

• If you’re buying lab grown diamonds online, you could request for a video of the diamond to identify bow ties.

• You could consult a diamond expert to discuss diamond inclusions and bow tie effects.

• Lab made diamonds with inclusions that get hidden with bow ties are a good option to buy cheaper diamonds.

Summing up

Even though people avoid bow tie diamonds, it’s not that bad to have diamonds that form bow tie effect. All you need to do is pay attention to some factors and details when buying lab created bow tie diamonds.