What are the flashes of color seen in a polished diamond referred to as?

The flashes of color seen in a polished diamond are referred to as "fire." This term describes the dispersion of light into various colors as it passes through the diamond. The ability of a diamond to separate white light into its component colors contributes to its overall appearance, enhancing its beauty and creating a striking visual effect.

Brilliance, on the other hand, describes the overall brightness and amount of white light reflected from the diamond rather than the color dispersion. Sparkle refers to the light return from a diamond, which encompasses both brilliance and fire but does not specifically define the colorful aspects. Flare is less commonly used in gemology and may imply a broader or different light phenomenon unrelated to the specific dispersion of color associated with fire. The distinct terminology helps in identifying these different aspects of a diamond’s optical performance.