Understanding Sarine Light — Why AI Light Performance Grading Matters

Two diamonds — both 1 carat, the same colour and clarity, both graded Excellent Cut — why can their performance under light differ so dramatically? The answer lies in "light performance", a dimension that was once impossible to quantify and is now answered by AI.

The Blind Spot in Traditional 4C Grading

The GIA 4C system has been in use for eighty years and remains the industry's gold standard. However, the Cut grade within the 4Cs only assesses three measures — proportion, symmetry and polish — and does not directly quantify a diamond's actual handling of light. In other words, two diamonds both graded Excellent Cut can still show a noticeable visual difference to the naked eye.

What Is Sarine Light

Sarine Technologies is an Israeli diamond technology company. Its Sarine Light system uses AI algorithms to quantify a diamond's optical performance across four dimensions:

Brilliance — The total amount of white light reflected back to the observer's eye.

Sparkle — The frequency and intensity of light flashes produced as the diamond moves.

Fire — The diamond's ability to disperse white light into a rainbow spectrum inside the stone.

Light Symmetry — The symmetry and evenness of the diamond's reflection pattern.

Each dimension is graded as Standard, High, Ultra or Exceptional, and combined into an overall Sarine Light grade.

Why GIA + Sarine Dual Certification

GIA confirms a diamond's "identity" — its physical properties, origin, and whether it has been treated; Sarine Light confirms its "performance" — how it handles light in actual wear. Together, they form a complete diamond record.

All Sarine Light certified diamonds at CathyPaul come from the top 1-5% of the world's diamond supply, and undergo a second round of screening through our own optical grading system.

How to Read a Sarine Light Report

Every CathyPaul Sarine Light diamond comes with a visualised report, including:

• Quantified scores across the four light performance indicators
• A dynamic 360-degree image of the diamond
• A simulation of the fire and sparkle distribution
• Relative performance compared against benchmark diamonds

You can scan the QR code on the certificate to view the diamond's full optical record on your phone at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Sarine Light replace GIA? No, the two are complementary. GIA is the identity document; Sarine is the performance report.

Is a higher Sarine grade always more expensive? Generally yes, but as with the 4Cs, final pricing is a combined consideration. A diamond with a high Sarine score but a smaller carat weight may be cheaper than one with a mid Sarine score but a larger carat weight.