Brilliance, Fire & Scintillation: The Three Types of Sparkle
“Sparkle” is actually three things. Here's what each one means.
When a stone catches the light, what you're seeing is a mix of three distinct optical effects. Understanding them helps you know what you're really looking at — and why some stones dazzle more than others.
Brilliance: white light
Brilliance is the bright white light a stone reflects back to your eye. It's the steady, dazzling shine — and a great cut maximizes it by returning the most light.
Fire: rainbow flashes
Fire is the colorful, rainbow-like flashes a stone throws as it splits light into spectral colors. Moissanite is famous for having more fire than diamond — see Fire & Brilliance.
Scintillation: sparkle in motion
Scintillation is the play of light and dark — the twinkling — you see as the stone or light moves. It's what makes a stone feel alive on the hand.
Why cut rules them all
All three depend on a precise cut. A well-cut stone maximizes every type of sparkle — which is why cut is the most important of the 4 Cs. See Understanding the 4 Cs, and browse engagement rings.
FAQs
What's the difference between brilliance and fire?
Brilliance is the white light a stone returns; fire is the rainbow-colored flashes. Moissanite is known for especially strong fire.
What is scintillation?
The twinkling play of light and dark you see as the stone moves — the sparkle that makes a stone feel alive.
See Every Kind of Sparkle
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