Our Alternative Diamonds: Antique Cut Diamonds

The world of cut diamond options is vast. From the countless styles of modern cuts that show off the stone’s brilliance and fire through technically precise cutting technology, to the revival of 'old cut' stones that twinkle and sparkle through their individually hand cut facets, each showing off the skilful craftsmanship of their master cutter. We personally love antique cut diamonds and use them whenever we can throughout our collections: Old European cuts, and Dutch rose cut diamonds are examples of antique diamonds that we simply cannot resist!

Rose Cut:

Rose Cut Diamonds are aptly named, as their shape resembles the shape of a rose bud. This makes them a very pretty and delicate diamond for jewellery.

This cut of diamond lost popularity a little when brilliant cut diamonds with more facets (and therefore more sparkle) were introduced. However, we still prefer them due to their ethereal lustre, luminosity and uniqueness, not to mention their history.

Antique Cut:

There’s been an increased interest in old cut stones recently, such as the ‘Old Mine cut’ and the ‘Old European cut’ (you can find out specifics on both of those here). Not only are these stones friendly to the earth (no destructive mining), they are also ethical (no exploitation of miners) and they are becoming increasingly rare both due to increased demand, and to cutters and lapidaries re-cutting these old cuts into more modern options (thus loosing a considerable amount of the carat mass).

Old cut diamonds are also becoming more and more popular because of their more delicate and understated sparkle compared to the big, bright brilliance of modern cuts. Fashions are always changing, and the ‘blingy’ look is less popular these days, making way for a resurgence in interest in the ‘old cuts’. Added to this, they each carry a unique history - the perfect choice for those who appreciate craft and heritage.

View our full collection of Antique Cut Diamond jewels