What is an Old Mine cut diamond?

An Old Mine cut diamond is one of the earliest diamond cuts in fine jewelry - hand cut before industrial machinery existed with a distinctive cushion shaped outline, high crown, small table, and large visible culet. Each stone was shaped entirely by hand giving it a subtle asymmetry and warm depth of sparkle that modern precision cut diamonds simply cannot replicate. Old Mine cuts were the dominant diamond cut from the Victorian era through the early Art Deco period.

Where does the name Old Mine cut come from?

The name refers to the old diamond mines of Brazil and India that were the primary sources of diamonds when this cut was most popular - before the discovery of major diamond deposits in South Africa in the late 19th century transformed the industry. As African mines opened and cutting techniques were refined the Old Mine cut gradually gave way to the Old European cut and eventually the modern round brilliant.

What vintage eras feature Old Mine cut diamonds?

Old Mine cut diamonds are most strongly associated with the Victorian era from 1837 to 1901 and appear frequently in early Art Deco designs from the 1920s. Victorian pieces feature yellow gold settings with intricate floral and foliate detail that perfectly complement the warm character of the stone. Early Art Deco rings showcase Old Mine cuts in geometric platinum settings where their warmth creates a striking contrast against the cool precision of the metal.

Old Mine Cut Diamond Rings | Antique Victorian Art Deco- Page 6| Vintage Diamond Ring

Old Mine cut diamond rings showcase one of the most distinctive and admired cuts in antique jewelry — hand cut before modern machinery, with soft cushion-like outlines, high crowns, small tables, visible culets, and a depth of sparkle rarely found in modern diamonds. Dominant from the Georgian and Victorian eras through the early Edwardian period, many of the antique and vintage Old Mine cut diamond rings in this collection are set in original Victorian and Art Deco mountings, each a genuine antique rather than a reproduction. Each authentic original is selected for its character, condition, and the quality of its original hand-cut stone — one of a kind originals no longer made today.