Old Mine Brilliant Cut Diamonds were cut by hand, giving them a beautiful, warm look that many people love about antique diamonds.
According to the GIA, the term Old Mine Cut came into common use around the late 1800s, when diamond production in Africa began to eclipse the production from the old mines in Brazil & India.
The Old Mine Cut was the most common diamond cut in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, & it's the cut that you'll find most often in Georgian & Victorian Era jewellery.
Characteristics:
Old Mine Brilliant Cuts often have imperfect symmetry and asymmetrical features. These unique and interesting quirks are common in antique diamonds which have been measured by eye and cut by hand.
Fifty-eight facets and a large culet.
Compared to most modern diamonds, Old Mine Cuts have a high crown and a deep pavilion.
Like other antique diamond cuts, Old Mine Cuts have a relatively small table.
What To Look For:
Since the facets are larger, expect to see a difference in fire. You should notice larger and more striking patches of colour.
When compared to modern cut diamonds, you should expect to see a different contrast pattern. This, is the pattern of white and dark areas caused by reflections within the diamond.
