Old Mine Brilliant Cut Diamonds
Old mine brilliant cut diamonds are sometimes referred to as ‘old miners’ or OMBs and are either square or rectangular diamonds with obviously rounded corners and sides. This softened profile is called a cushion shape as the convex edges and curved corners are said to resemble an actual cushion.
A 3.02ct old mine cut diamond ring with split shoulders.
The style developed during the 18th century after the discovery of diamonds in Brazil in about 1725. This facilitated experiments in cutting due to the increase in available stones. Eager as ever to retain as much weight as possible, cutters still followed the overall shape of the rough crystals but now corners became more rounded and the number of facets was increased. The profile proportions of the stones also echoed the rough with the crowns being relatively high and the top table facet generally fairly small. Another typical feature of these stones is the point at the bottom of the stone, known as the culet, which was usually polished flat.
A 3.05ct old mine cut diamond ring with antique style setting.
The discovery of diamonds in South Africa during the late 1860’s coincided with revolutionised mechanical cutting methods. This saw the fashion for new circular cut diamonds begin to replace these cushion shaped stones which then became known as ‘old mine’ diamonds. Today the name ‘old mine brilliant’ still describes a cushion shaped diamond with a small table facet, high crown and polished culet. These features enable old mine cuts to display a huge amount of fire (the coloured flashes of light you see in a diamond) and life.
As with all stones cut before the modern era of exacting lasers and computers, these diamonds were cut by hand and eye and each one is completely unique. Tiny differences in facet shape, size, proportion or arrangement give these wonderful gems an individual personality that we personally find lacking in so many of their modern counterparts. It takes a true master craftsman with years of experience and training to be able to study a rough diamond crystal and find the optimum way to cut and polish it in order to reveal its maximum beauty and charm. It is these stones that we seek to add to our carefully curated collection and which we use in our hand-crafted engagement rings. By marrying the skills of those long-ago diamond cutters with today’s best goldsmiths we combine the work of generations of craftsmen at the top of their fields to create a ring that will last for generations more.
A 0.90ct old mine cushion cut diamond pendant with halo surround