Searching For Antique Diamonds

Antique diamonds frequently carry with them a romantic history filled with originality

, brilliance, life, and character. Diamond fashion has changed over the eras. Antique diamonds document the evolution of craftsmanship, knowledge, and societal changes in taste and popularity. Methods of cutting and polishing precious stones have advanced from doing everything by hand to the use of the most advanced technology to discover the perfect facets and shapes within the stone. Hand cutting and polishing techniques were utilized well into the early 19th century.

Diamonds that are considered antique have been hand cut and polished. Because all the cutting and polishing work was done by hand, each diamond has unique properties. The era the diamond was cut and polished in will generally dictate the shape. The earliest diamond shapes were the cabochon diamond, the pointed diamond, the table cut diamond, and the rose cut diamond. These shapes eventually gave way to the brilliant cut stone. The brilliant cut has since been changed and adapted as technology has advanced. Today's diamonds have many modern shapes and cuts.

The pointed diamond was popular in the 15th and 16th centuries; an better known as the Renaissance. The table cut diamond arose in the 16th century, but gained its highest popularity in the 17th and 18th centuries. The rose cut diamond become popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Brilliant cut diamonds arose in the 17th century, but became most popular in the 18th century. The brilliant cut continued to gain in popularity over the years and until it became replaced by the modern brilliant cut in the 20th century.

Pointed diamonds are usually eight sided with four facets. Table diamonds have a flat top and four sides. Rose cuts can either be single with one layer of facets, or double with two or three layers of horizontal facets (3-24 facets). Another antique cut variation includes mine cut diamonds, which are roughly square with gently rounded corners. The brilliant cut, or old European cut, should be round with approximately 58 facets.

Because antique diamonds were hand cut and polished, they stone are not perfect. When seeking an antique stone, look for irregularities. If a stone is perfectly round, it is probably a modern stone that resembles an antique stone. Power driven machines for rounding diamonds were patented close to 1900. Because of the hand crafting techniques, antique diamonds may have less brilliance and fire than modern stones which have been cut utilizing computerized technology to create maximum brilliance.

As the old becomes new again, antique diamonds are increasingly being sought by buyers and collectors. Buyers and collectors drawn to the originality, history, and memories of older stones should seek the older cuts with handmade imperfections.

by: Peter Wendt

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