Lighting 4 Diamonds

Bright ideas for gems and jewelry.

Useful links:
http://thejewelrylightingexperts.com
http://www.jckonline.com/blogs/retail-details/2012/07/26/that-certain-sparkle-lighting-expert-reveals-common-mistakes-jewelers-make-when-illuminating-the

Green Lights

Find the correct CFL (compact fluorescent light bulbs) for specific applications and save the environment. Go to http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls for further information.

Useful link:
www.energystar.gov

HyperShot

(via Wired) HyperShot is a unique application developed by computer graphics genius Henrik Wann Jensen + it uses a proprietary photon-mapping technique to simulate complex lighting situations ranging from reflected sunlight to spots beamed through colored gels to create ultrarealistic images, like the diamonds @ http://www.wired.com/software/coolapps/multimedia/2008/04/st_render?slide=2&slideView=2

Amazing!

Useful link:
http://graphics.ucsd.edu/~henrik

Ambilight

(via Wikipedia) Ambilight, which is short for Ambient Lighting Technology, is a feature invented by Philips Electronics, generating light effects around the TV that correspond to the video content. The effect, the company claims, is a larger virtual screen and a more immersive viewing experience. In addition, Philips claims that it reduces viewer eye strain.

Useful link:
www.research.philips.com

I wonder if Ambilight technology could be modified for colored stones and jewelry for an immersive viewing experience.

Twin Light

Alfa Mirage's Twin Light (Xenon + LED light) is an interesting light source that enables users to view alexandrite (natural alexandrite= red violet under Xenon light/blue violet under LED light) easily + it's user-friendly (gemological light source + as a penlight for viewing jewelry) and portable.

Useful link:
www.alfamirage.com

Clear And Present

An interesting article on lighting(for colored stone dealers + diamond dealers + jewelers + consumers). Only a few know the differences between sunlight, daylight and skylight and its effect on human when viewing a colored object, in this case, gemstones, diamonds and jewelry.

Himanshu Burte writes:

Daylight is the most comfortable kind of light for the eyes, reduces fatigue on the job, keeps us connected to the cylce of day and season, and sustains our morale.

Daylight is among the best things in life that come free. And when correctly integrated with adjustable artificial lighting, it can actually be an important factor, particularly in the stressful modern workplace. Its links with general well-being are well documented: It is the most comfortable kind of light for the eyes, reduces fatigue on the job, keeps us connected to the cycle of the day and season, and sustains our morale. And yet, rare is the office in which the “skydome” is the predominant source of light. Why?

Some reasons have to do with the difficulties of harnessing daylight itself. Others are rooted in broader factors such as city planning, cost of real estate and building plans. The difficulty is that light always comes with heat and glare, whether it is from the sun or a lighting system. Thus, improperly managed direct sunlight in a glazed building, say, can make air conditioning very costly. Properly managed, however, daylight generates less heat for the same amount and better quality of light than most electrical lighting systems, and can actually reduce the air-conditioning load. Architectural and interior design are also implicated. For instance, where an office has closed cabins hogging the limited windows length, daylighting for the open office core is quickly sacrificed. Since few decision makers know about the positive relationship between daylight and productivity, the sacrifice is easily made.

Good daylighting design begins with simple principles. In India, almost always, light from the north sky is relatively glare-free and consistent across the day. Of course, other daylighting strategies have to be region-specific. In hot, dry parts, such as in North India, it is best to bring the sun in indirectly and sideways. Here, small openings to the exterior, especially to the west and east from where the sun enters at a low angle and penetrates deep, are appropriate. Bounce sunlight off vertical or horizontal baffles or light wells—such as tiny courtyards of desert houses—before it enters indoors, so that it has already lost some heat and glare. In the humid coastal areas where temperatures don’t reach New Delhi’s levels, however, windows may have to be larger to let in breeze to blow away sweat from the skin. Here, in fact, it may be useful to have one set of openings for breeze and local light and another higher up for general lighting. This only illustrates the most important fact: If it is to work, daylight must be integrated intelligently with many other systems that make up a building.

More info @ http://www.livemint.com/2007/07/05002443/Clear-and-present.html

Light Generates Electricity

(via National Geographic Magazine) Light generates electricity with the aid of crystals, a boon to camera fans and space scientists. When sunlight strikes the crystalline selenium in a light meter or the silicon solar cells on a satellite, electrons in the crystals become activated, providing the current that powers the meter and satellite.

Incandescent Lights

Jennifer Kho and Adena DeMonte writes:

Could California Ban the Bulb?
A proposal to nix incandescent lights could illuminate a new market for energy-efficient lighting technologies.

If California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine has his way, incandescent bulbs—the most common light bulbs in the world—could be outlawed in the state.

He has proposed a ban on the sale of conventional light bulbs, called the How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb Act, by 2012.

If the act is approved, it could electrify the lighting industry, driving new technology and challenging large light-bulb manufacturers like General Electric, Osram Sylvania, and Philips. Along with Wal-Mart’s push to sell 100 million compact fluorescent bulbs by 2008, the proposal could signify the start of a huge trend that could change light as we know it.

More info @ http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=21087&hed=Could+California+Ban+the+Bulb%3f

How To Observe Fluorescence Under Ultraviolet Light

- Make observations in a darkened environment. Allow a few moments for your eyes to adjust to the darkness in order to be able to detect weak fluorescence.

- Place the stone (s) on a non-reflective background directly under the light source. In order to be sure that the color noted is actually a fluorescent effect, and not a reflection of the Ultraviolet light source from the facets of the stone, always position the stone in several directions.

- Look for a dull powdery color on the surface of the stone (ignore color due to the surface reflection of visible light and from light leaking into the test unit). Record, in both long and short wave ultraviolet light, the reaction of the stone as Inert, Weak, or Strong fluorescence and note the color.

Note: If the stone fluoresces strongly, look for phosphorescence (after-glow).

- Observe the crown, pavilion and girdle of the stone, as it may be a doublet or a triplet.

Fiber Optic Technology

David R. Goff writes:

A Brief History of Fiber Optic Technology

Fiber optic technology experienced a phenomenal rate of progress in the second half of the twentieth century. Early success came during the 1950’s with the development of the fiberscope. This image-transmitting device, which used the first practical all-glass fiber, was concurrently devised by Brian O’Brien at the American Optical Company and Narinder Kapany (who first coined the term “fiber optics” in 1956) and colleagues at the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London. Early all-glass fibers experienced excessive optical loss, the loss of the light signal as it traveled the fiber, limiting transmission distances.

More info @ http://www.fiber-optics.info/fiber-history.htm

Colored Stone and Light Source

Which light source is used to distinguish color? Which light source is used to judge transparency?

To distinguish color use reflected light.

To distinguish transparency use transmitted light.