If you’re shopping for diamonds, you’ve come across a lot of different diamond cuts. But what is a mine cut diamond? If you’re not following the crowd of modern brilliant cut diamonds, then you need to learn about this unique antique diamond cut.
What You Will Learn
What is an old mine cut diamond?
If you’ve ever shopped for vintage jewelery, you’ve seen old European cut diamonds, but what are mine cut diamonds? Old mine or old miner cut diamonds refer to a vintage cutting technique performed by hand. You’ll find old mine cut diamonds in lots of antique rings from the Edwardian and Victorian eras. The popularity of the old European cut diamond overlaps with these eras a bit. But the European cut diamond is a definitely round, circular stone.
On the other hand, mine cut diamonds have a squarish shape with rounded corners. Like round diamonds, miners cut diamonds have facets to reflect light and sparkle.
The most famous old miners cut diamond
Have you heard of the Hope Diamond? Easily the most recognizable diamond in the world, the giant blue stone was discovered in a mine in India in the 1600s. Over the years people bought, sold, stole, and recut the Hope Diamond several times. Today this old miner cut diamond shows off a rounded-square, cushion-like cut, like you’ll see in vintage rings. You can view it on display at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.
What does mine cut diamond mean?
Sometimes called “miner cut diamonds,” these stones came from the old mines of Brazil and India. They were cut by hand and designed to sparkle under candlelight.
Without the precision of today’s technology, these diamonds are naturally less precise and less perfect. Their sparkle won’t be quite as brilliant as today’s modern diamonds that are lazer-cut to sparkle under electric lights. But this is exactly what fans of the old miners cut diamond like about them.
What types of diamond cuts are best for my engagement ring?
Which celebrities wear antique diamonds?
There are plenty of famous hands that show off the beauty of antique diamond cuts like the old mine cut.
- Christina Applegate wears an antique old mine cut ring
- Katy Perry’s engagement ring dates back to the 1800s
- Ellie Goulding wears an engagement ring that’s around 100 years old
- Catherine Zeta-Jones wears an antique diamond ring from the 1920s
- Alexis Bledel wears a vintage-inspired antique diamond cut ring in platinum
Are old mine cut diamonds more valuable?
The miners cut diamond worth and value simply depends. Generally, you’ll find the highest price tags on the modern round brilliant cuts of today. When it comes to vintage rings, their age and how well they’ve maintained their quality will factor into their value. Start trying on rings in person with a reputable antique jeweler dealer. They can help you decide what styles, eras, and materials fit your budget when it comes to antique rings.
Love miner cut diamonds but prefer a more modern ring setting? There are lots of jewelry that don’t just make modern cut diamonds. Some jewelers love the vintage look of the stone, so they hand cut these diamonds themselves and place them into their own one-of-a-kind settings. You might even find something extra unique, like an elongated old mine cut diamond.
Here are a few jewelers to check out for modern old-mine cut rings:
- Lauren Wolf Jewelry
- Johnny Ninos Studio
- Rebecca Overmann
- Erika Winters
Why choose an old mine cut diamond cut engagement ring?
The bottom line? You should choose the diamond cut and ring that feels right for you and your love story. If you want something vintage and unique, then an old mine cut diamond might be perfect for you. Today’s modern diamond cuts are beautiful and near perfect, but that doesn’t mean they’re better for you. The hand cut nature of a mine cut diamond makes each stone one-of-a-kind, and that’s pretty special.
What kind of insurance do I need for an antique diamond?
Like with all fine jewelry, you need to protect your antique ring from loss, theft, damage, and mysterious disappearance.
Comprehensive jewelry insurance from BriteCo offers you affordable protection for up to 125% of your ring’s appraised value.
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