Old Cut Diamonds

When you’re shopping for diamond jewellery; whether for an engagement ring, an anniversary present, or a simple yet elegant piece to express your love, it is common to come across the term ‘Old Cut Diamond’.

Now, if you’re not part of the jewellery world and you’re not used to the various words we use to describe different types of jewellery, stones, and cuts, then you won’t be familiar with this term or what it means. That’s why we’re covering the topic of Old Cut Diamonds in today’s blog post.

In this article, we will be discussing Old Cut Diamonds, what they are and why they’re valuable. We hope we can teach you a little bit more about these beautiful stones and their history.

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What is an Old Cut Diamond?

First thing’s first; what is an Old Cut Diamond? It’s very common to come across this term when shopping for diamond jewellery. The term refers to diamonds that were cut before diamond cutting technology became the advanced and highly accurate technology it is today.

To be considered an old cut diamond a diamond must have been cut before the 1890s. You will typically find Old Cut diamonds in the vintage jewellery section of jewellery stores or even (if you’re lucky) in some high-end secondhand shops.

Common Characteristics of Old Cut Diamonds

Old Cut Diamonds were typically handcrafted, compared to the machine-cut diamonds you buy today. This means that Old Cut Diamonds hold many common characteristics, including:

Cut by Hand: old cut diamonds were cut by hand. This means no two diamonds were ever cut exactly the same, adding a sense of authenticity and charm to each finished stone.

Imperfections: because old cut diamonds were cut by hand they were imperfect. It is almost impossible to hand-cut a diamond to be fully symmetrical. Each hand-cut diamond will have its own unique imperfections but these just add to their charm.

Thickness: old cut diamonds look bigger and thicker than modern diamonds. This is perhaps due to having been cut by hand, making it difficult to create the intricate cuts that modern technology can now achieve.

Sparkle: old cut diamonds are not typically as sparkly as modern diamonds because they are not as symmetrical. This means they don’t typically catch light in quite the same way. However, old cut diamonds are known to be particularly eye-catching in low lighting.

Old Cut Diamond Shapes

There are two main types of old cut diamond shapes:

Old Mine Cut: old mine cut diamonds were cut by hand before the 1890s and are well-known for having a cushion-shaped outline.

Old European Cut: the old European cut diamonds have a rounder shape than Old Mine Cut diamonds and were especially popular in the late 19th, early 20th centuries.

Hand Crafting Diamonds

Before technology advanced to what it is today, diamonds were handcrafted by expert craftsmen who were responsible for the creation of unique diamond pieces. They would cut, polish, and finish the diamonds as they saw fit and it took a great deal of skill being able to cut with such fine detail.

While many people love the perfect finish of a modern cut diamond, there is something about the hand-finished look of an Old Cut Diamond that makes it so appealing.

No two Old Cut Diamonds are the same and many people buying Old Cut Diamonds like to think of the craftsman who spent hours working at a bench cutting and finishing the diamond. That’s something machine-cut diamonds can never quite conjure up. It’s kind of like handwritten letters as opposed to emails; there’s something that just feels more personal about it.

Image Source: Cape Town Diamond Musem

The Different Types of Old Cut Diamonds

There are many different styles of old cut diamonds. Let’s take a look at each of them below.

Old Mine Cut

Old Mine Cut diamonds tend to endure rougher craftsmanship and are therefore quite non-symmetrical. However, this asymmetry adds to their unique, beautiful feel.

Many old cut diamonds would have been cut by candlelight, adding significant character to each piece. They display the originality and character of the craftsman and are typically much larger and irregular in shape compared to other diamond cuts.

Old European Cut

Old European Cut diamonds are round in shape, featuring 58 large facets (find out more about diamond facets) and a higher crown. They tend to have a different weight distribution when compared to modern diamond shapes and most Old European Cut diamonds were cut by hand between 1890 and 1930.

Carre Cut Diamond

A Carre cut diamond was originally developed to maximise the use of the diamond’s rough stone appearance. Typically shaped like a square, the Carre cut diamond has 90 degree corners and step-cuts that highlight the individual flaws within the stone. Highlighting these flaws emphasises the sparkle and beauty of each unique diamond, creating an aesthetic elegance that is particularly unique.

Old Victorian Cut Diamond

Victorian Cut diamonds have a very classical shape. They’re arguably the cut of diamond that people are most familiar with. Featuring a multifaceted top crown and 73 facets, Old Cut Victorian diamonds appear brilliantly reflective and were extremely popular (still are!)

Are Old Cut Diamonds Considered More Valuable?

Many people shopping for diamonds will come across the term Old Cut Diamonds and wonder which is the better investment; old cut or modern. However, the monetary value of the diamond isn’t usually how it’s cut, it’s the combination of quality, colour, carat, and weight.

Of course, value isn’t just monetary and there are many people who consider Old Cut Diamonds more valuable than modern diamonds because of the hours of hands-on craftsmanship that went into perfecting them. Ultimately, the true value of a diamond is in the eye of the beholder and the sentimental value it holds to them.

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Where to Buy Old Cut Diamonds

Old Cut diamonds are often found in the antique section of jewellery stores. You can shop for antique jewellery on our website to discover beautiful pieces handcrafted many years ago.

Final Words

As you can see, handcrafted Old Cut diamonds are incredibly impressive. They are unique and beautiful and often hold a lot of sentimental value to the wearer. We hope this article has told you a little more about these beautiful pieces and that the information we’ve shared helps you choose the right diamond for someone special. Come into our store to see our collection of diamond jewellery, or make an enquiry online and our friendly team would be very happy to assist you.