Antique Diamond Jewellery

Antique cut diamonds are generally considered to be those cut before the 1920s, when the modern cut, based on the mathematical models of Tolkowsky began to be used. There are several main differences between old and modern styles of cutting.

With an old circular brilliant cut diamonds there are exactly the same number of facets as the modern cut diamond; sometimes there is actually one more facet called a culet, which is a flat facet at the bottom to prevent the diamond from chipping. Many old diamonds, and indeed many modern cut diamonds, have a culet facet.

Many old or antique diamonds are assymetric; there is no one set of proportions that are truly "ideal". You cannot get perfection in both brilliance and fire in any style of cutting. As you increase one, the other decreases; it is a question of striking a pleasing balance. There is always some light leakage from an antique cut diamond, however many people find the high levels of fire from an old stone to be attractive.

In general terms, a modern cut will have more brilliance, but an antique diamond will have more scintillation. It is a matter of taste as to which is preferable.

Technology has allowed for the routine and labour-intensive parts of diamond cutting to be automated, but a skilled craftsman is still required to ensure that the diamond is as beautiful as possible. Much top quality diamond rough is still fashioned by hand.

The video below shows an antique cut pear shape diamond circa 1890, in a 1920s American platinum mount. Notice how the light moves across the diamond; antique sparkle is a bit "softer" than the sparkle from a modern stone, there is also a lot more fire in the diamond.

Don't forget to rate this page if you like it!! :)