CTZn wrote:
I'm impressed again by your modeling skills. The diamonds have not changed much in brightness since the first render, but the 3 gems did. What was it ?
The lack of change in the diamonds is more to do with lighting than anything else. The change in the 3 feature gems is due to them now effectively having open backs so much more light is able to get in from behind.
CTZn wrote:
Also in the ref render the light is really bouncing out of the diamonds; I suppose that the cut you use for them would "reflect" the light out in a similar angle than it entered, if the angle is not too large I suppose. This should help you in placing the light (more spotty ?), like if the ring was a mirror catching it. I hope this was intelligible

I assume you mean ref photo? In which case the photographer commented on the fact that that photo was over exposed and so the diamond detail was washed out. Keep in mind that in the ref all diamonds are forward facing.
Note in my last test that those diamonds facing the camera are just as bright (without the over exposure) as the ref photo. It is only those at angle to the camera that appear less bright but from those you get better colour effects.
CTZn wrote:edit: oh and what about camera diffraction then ?
I am using appeture diffraction in these renders but without an additional obstacle map (only the generated blades). I have never been able to use an additional map without the whole image becoming slightly blurry.