We got this ring in about 15 months ago.
I was asked to do a couple of quick shots, for promotional porpoises. While I thought about focus-stacking this ring, I ended up taking just a couple of regular pictures.
What focus-stacking (FS) would have done for this ring would be to show as many of the facets as possible, as well as could be shown. When cut correctly, diamonds are particularly good at reflecting and refracting light. The art (and it is an art) of the diamond cutter is, to find the best possible way to cut and polish a diamond, so as to enhance the stones ability to reflect and refract light. A diamond cutter removes parts of the diamond by grinding down certain places. When the process is completed, the parts of the stone that have been removed allow for light to pass through the stone in treating ways; these places are called, facets. Most facets are smooth planes, some facets are channels, grooved into the stone. These facets can be seen int the picture above as places of light and dark.
Our eyes cannot see all of the facets without help, the same thing happens in photographing diamonds, the camera cannot see all of the diamonds facets at the same time.
Hence, the FS.
Because I was shooting so close to the stone (macro), the depth of field was very shallow, hence, the camera cannot get the entirety of the diamond in focus. If I were going to FS this ring, I could focus on the far end of the diamond, the middle of the diamond, as well as the face of the diamond. This would allow me to get a sharp point of focus for the whole diamond. I could then use digital trickery to put all of these shots together, into one single picture, and you would be able to see the complete set of facets. Most likely, I would have also moved the light around, to take away the glare on certain areas of the diamond, namely, the 1 and 2 O’Clock positions on the face of the stone.
If I were going to go all in with this ring, it might have taken me all day to get eh shot. I would have needed to clean the ring. I would start with cleaning the diamond and polish/buff the gold. As it was, these were quick, promotional pictures, so I didn’t go to that much trouble.
Here, are the shots I took. The shot with the magnifying glass was a bit of fun, but it was also used. All in all, it took me about 15 minutes.
I’m sorry, what is my contribution here?
.. have ‘got the story Darin - all i need is your best guess re ‘era or ballpark ‘believeable age.. even if just 2 years ago or 50. It’s part of a crime story.. the ring surfaced from off the Black Market a year ago or so & was bought at Auction by Private Numbered Entity - insured for absurd MILLIONS - & promptly stolen - this mysterious photo is by far the most credible of all theories .. to be continued..
Will drop the image into an Adobe Express canvas via a screengrab & draft / write the text.. be a hoot
- fyi - my initial thought & not abandoned in the least - is of such a ring - lost in a flurry of dramatic action during a boating accident & only noticed later - OhMeeOhMyoh ! the ring.. is missing from .. her finger ! Do your dare post such a photo near a beached frequented by the rich & famous !