Diamonds are precious and beautiful gems that have different cutting methods, each with its own characteristics and style. Today, we are going to introduce an ancient and fascinating diamond cutting method, which is the old mine cut (Old Mine Cut). The old mine cut is a diamond cutting method that prevailed from the 18th to the 19th century, and is also the most common diamond cut in Georgian (1714-1837) and Victorian (1837-1901) jewelry. It usually has 58 facets, most of which are square, with a small table, a large culet, and a high crown. They are hand-cut, so each one is unique, with a classic charm and a soft glow. The name of the old mine cut diamond comes from the fact that they were originally produced from the "old mines" of Brazil and India. Before the 18th century, these two countries were the only diamond producing areas in the world. At that time, diamond cutters did not have modern technology and equipment, and could only rely on their eyes and hands to shape diamonds. They usually cut according to the octahedral shape of the diamond crystal, trying to retain the weight and characteristics of the rough stone. They used two diamonds to rub against each other to polish out the desired shape, and then used a diamond polishing machine to polish out the facets. In the late 19th century, as a large number of African diamonds flooded into the market, Brazil and India's mines became "old mines", so this cutting method was also called old mine cut. At the same time, with the advancement of technology and the change of aesthetics, old European cut (Old European Cut) began to replace old mine cut as the mainstream. Old European cut is similar to old mine cut, but closer to round, and has a larger table and a smaller culet. By the early 20th century, round brilliant cut (Round Brilliant Cut) replaced old European cut as the most popular diamond cutting method. Round brilliant cut has 57 or 58 symmetrical facets that can maximize the fire and sparkle of diamonds.

The characteristics of the old mine cut diamond are:

The shape of the diamond is usually round or slightly cushion-shaped, sometimes also square or oval.
The crown of the diamond is high, the pavilion is shallow, and the pavilion angle is small, about 40°.
The diamond has fewer facets, usually 33 on the crown and 25 on the pavilion, for a total of 58 facets.
The facets of the diamond are large, showing obvious geometric patterns, such as octagonal stars, crosses, etc.
The table of the diamond is small, accounting for about 40% of the diameter.
The pavilion angle and crown angle of the diamond are not symmetrical, resulting in a certain tilt of the diamond.

The advantages of the old mine cut diamond are:

The old mine cut diamond can retain the maximum weight of the diamond rough, because it does not trim too much of the edges and corners of the diamond.
The old mine cut diamond can show the gentle and soft luster of the diamond, because it does not pursue too much of the fire and brilliance of the diamond.
The old mine cut diamond can reflect the historical and cultural value of the diamond, because it is a traditional and classic cutting method, with a long history.

What is the charm of old mine cut diamonds? Why are they enduring and loved by some jewelry designers and collectors?

First of all, old mine cut diamonds have a strong historical atmosphere and story-telling. They witnessed an era of change, carrying the emotions and memories of a generation. They once decorated royal nobles and social celebrities, and also accompanied ordinary people's lives and love. They are a precious cultural heritage that deserves our cherish and inheritance.

Secondly, old mine cut diamonds have a unique aesthetic and personality. They do not pursue perfect symmetry and proportion like modern diamonds, but retain the naturalness and personality of rough stones. Their facets are irregular, sometimes even with rough traces, but these add to their charm and aura. Their light is not as sharp and dazzling as modern diamonds, but soft and warm, more suitable for viewing under soft lighting.

Finally, old mine cut diamonds have a good value for money and collection value. Because old mine cut diamonds are hand-cut, their weight loss is small, so diamonds of the same weight will look bigger. Moreover, because old mine cut diamonds are rare, they also have a high collection value. If you want to own a diamond that has both historical sense and personality sense, old mine cut diamond is a good choice.

Old mine cut diamonds are an ancient and fascinating diamond cutting method that has its own characteristics and style that can bring people a different beauty and experience than modern diamonds. If you are interested in old mine cut diamonds, you can look for them in some antique jewelry stores or auction houses, or find their shadows in some modern jewelry brands. I believe you will be attracted by the charm of old mine cut diamonds.