Well awktshualy…the definition says reflect, and while diamonds reflect internally, they refract light externally, so, the diamond is not bright because it reflects (those reflections are on the inside) they shine because they refract
But isn’t their shine mostly due to the internal reflection rather than external refraction? That’s why the gems are cut angularly, to help with the internal reflection.
Well awktshualy…the definition says reflect, and while diamonds reflect internally, they refract light externally, so, the diamond is not bright because it reflects (those reflections are on the inside) they shine because they refract
But isn’t their shine mostly due to the internal reflection rather than external refraction? That’s why the gems are cut angularly, to help with the internal reflection.
You can only observe the external properties since you are on the outside
By that logic, glass mirrors also work by refraction, because it refracts out of the glass before it reaches your eye.