How to Interpret Diamond Imaging – ASET, IDEAL, Hearts & Arrows?

Diamond imaging methods visually assess how light performs within a diamond. Diamond imaging technologies include ASET, IDEAL Scope, and Hearts & Arrows patterns, among others.

Diamond imaging methods help verify diamonds’ optical performance, assessing how light performs in a diamond, where it enters, leaks, and how it reflects. By having an understanding of lab diamond cut and imaging methods, you can identify top-quality lab grown diamonds, and their various factors.

What is ASET imaging?

Angular Spectrum Evaluation Tool (ASET) diamond imaging involves colored filters to track how light enters a diamond from different angles. The technology was developed by the American Gem Society (AGC). It shows which facets lend brilliance and which leak light. The method involves a hemispherical reflector with colored zones around the diamond, and photographing it through the table.

Color meaning:

• Red: Light entering from 45-75° angles (bright, intense, brilliant)

• Green: Light from 0-45° angles (moderate brightness)

• Blue: Shows light reflecting from beneath the diamond (contrast areas creating visual appeal)

• White/leakage: Areas where light is escaping

• Black: Obstruction from the viewer’s head and lighting environment

How to read an ASET Scope image?

• Examine the color distribution across the lab grown diamond table and crown.

• Look for symmetry in the color pattern. An even ASET image means precise cutting.

• Random patches of leakage means there are alignment problems.

• White leakage in the center of the table means the diamond is losing brightness potential.

• Hold the ASET scope diamond image at an arm’s length to assess the overall red to green color ratio.

• Look for white leakage areas under the table and around the girdle.

• Check if the blue areas form a balanced pattern.

What is IDEAL Scope imaging?

IDEAL Scope diamond imaging is a method that shows how light return performs. It uses a red filter and displays light leakage as white areas. IDEAL Scope functions on a binary principle. Red indicates light returning, and white indicates light escaping, and black shows contrast areas where light is blocked. The tool includes a small scope to view the lab diamond cut and performance.

How to interpret IDEAL Scope results

• Bright red: Excellent light return means proper angles and alignment for brilliance

• Pale red: Moderate light return, not optimal performance

• White areas: Direct light leakage

• Black patterns: Contrast and obstruction areas that should form symmetrical patterns

• Even color saturation: Consistent facet alignment and precision cutting

What are Hearts & Arrows diamonds?

Hearts & Arrows lab grown diamonds are precision-cut round brilliant. They display eight perfect hearts when viewed through the pavilion, and eight perfect arrows when viewed through the crown. Hearts & Arrows occurs only when all facets are cut to identical proportions. This pattern is a proof of symmetry, indicating the diamond’s light performance.

How to evaluate Hearts & Arrows patterns

Hearts pattern

• All eight hearts are complete with clearly defined clefts at the top

• Hearts are identical in size and shape

• Hearts are evenly spaced in a perfect pattern

• The V-shaped clefts point directly toward the center

• Small triangular facets between hearts are symmetrical and uniform

Arrows pattern

• Eight arrows have perfectly straight shafts of equal width

• Arrow heads are symmetrical and uniform

• Arrows point precisely toward the center

• Spaces between arrows are equal and form consistent patterns

• No minor facets are visible within the arrow shafts

• The overall pattern creates a balanced appearance

Related Article – Hearts and arrows cut diamond pattern : What, Why, How, and More

ASET vs IDEAL vs Hearts & Arrows

Here is a comparison table of the different diamond imaging methods.

Why diamond imaging is critical for lab grown diamonds

• Lab diamonds vary in cut quality based on price point. Diamond imaging reveals the performance truth beyond certificate grades.

• Some lab grown diamond manufacturers focus on carat weight over optical performance, but poor proportions. Diamond imaging can expose this.

• An ‘Excellent’ lab diamond cut grade diamond can display performance variation. Diamond imaging technologies can differentiate this.

• As lab grown diamonds are 30 to 50% cheaper than mined diamonds, one can demand imaging-verified performance.

• Diamond imaging confirms that your specific lab grown diamond matches your desired quality, instead of relying on assumptions.

Wrapping up

Diamond imaging is essential and helps buy lab grown diamonds with confidence. If you’re looking for the best lab grown diamonds with certificates and diamond imaging results, explore Grown Diamond Corporation.