A big congratulations to our favorite English teacher and gym teacher on their engagement! If you’ve been following Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s love story, there’s no doubt that you’ve already heard the good news—and seen the magnificent rock on her finger. Learn more about old mine diamonds and get in on what’s sure to be a fresh era in engagement ring trends.
What is an Old Mine Diamond?
An old mine diamond refers to a hand-cut stone shaped into a rounded square shape with 58 facets. When compared to modern-day round brilliant cut diamonds and cushion cut diamonds, the small table, larger culet, and high crown set old mine diamonds apart. Created with techniques that predate the preferred technology used by gemologists today, old mine stones lack a standardized look, ensuring no two are exactly alike.
Why is it Called an Old Mine Cut?
The term old mine has evolved over the years, leading to a little confusion about its origins. It first came about during the 1800s when Africa became the leading source for diamond production, surpassing the “old mines” in Brazil and India.
From then on, any brilliant cut diamond that originated in either of those countries was referred to as an old mine cut. Nowadays, calling something an old mine diamond can simply refer to the hand-cut style popular in that era, even if it was fashioned in more recent times.
In What Era did Old Mine Diamonds Gain Popularity?
When this brilliant cut diamond first premiered in the 1700s and 1800s, it was an instant hit. Praised for their artisanal feel and ability to sparkle in candlelight, these diamonds were worn by members of elite families during the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras to showcase their wealth and help them stand out in society. This diamond cut remained a preferred choice for engagement jewelry until the early 20th century, when technological advancements allowed gemologists to cut with greater precision and maximize brilliance, resulting in the round brilliant cut diamond we know and love today.
What Makes Old Mine Diamonds So Special?
Old mine diamonds represent a bygone era of handcrafted quality and artistry. The authentic brilliant cut diamonds mined and chiseled hundreds of years ago are considered highly desirable and rare. If you’re searching for an engagement ring as one-of-a-kind as your blushing bride, it’s worth investing in unique style.
Typically, when you’re considering which diamond ring to buy, experts encourage you to look for perfect symmetry—but that isn’t the case with old mine designs. These brilliant diamonds were skillfully hand-cut, resulting in uneven proportions and less-than-perfect symmetry. While this may turn some off to the idea, others will pay a pretty penny for this style and vintage charm.
Old mine diamonds also offer a more romantic and softer glow than more contemporary brilliant cut diamonds. The large, chunky facets were originally meant to reflect candlelight, not the electric light we’re used to. This results in the stones giving off a warmer glow rather than the modern brilliance we’re used to seeing in wedding jewelry.
How to Identify an Old Mine Cut
If you inherit a family heirloom and find yourself wondering if the diamond in the design is an old mine cut, you’re in luck! As one of the most distinctive cuts on the market, old mine diamonds are easy to identify at home—as long as you know what to look for. If you’re still not sure, take it to your local jewelry store for an official ruling.
Features to Look Out For in an Old Mine Diamond:
- An eye-visible culet
- Uneven shape
- Smaller table
- High crown
- Frosted girdle
What is the Difference Between an Old Mine and an Old European Cut?
If you’re looking into antique diamond engagement rings or vintage-inspired designs, you’ll want to understand the difference between old mine and old European cuts before you begin to browse. Though they are often confused for one another, the two gem cuts could not be more different.
Old mine diamonds are hand-cut to optimize the individual stone’s shape and beauty, and can be found in a variety of shapes, featuring a tiny table, shorter lower half facets, and larger patterns of light and dark. Old European cut diamonds are exclusively round and, though also measured and cut by hand, are finished with diamond saws and jewelry lathes in order to maximize the carat weight and feature longer lower half facets, a larger table, and smaller light and dark patterns.
Are Old Mine Cut Diamonds Durable?
As long as an old mine diamond comes from a reputable source, is free of structural damage, and is set in a protective setting, it is a perfect choice for everyday jewelry pieces. Resilient, stylish, and high ranking on the Mohs hardness scale, an old mine diamond is a durable option for your engagement ring!
Pro tip: If you have an antique old mine gemstone you’d like featured in your wedding ring stack, professionals can work with you to create a design from scratch! Inquire about Custom Design Services at your local jeweler to learn more.
3 Different Settings That Work with Old Mine Diamond Engagement Rings
Choosing the right diamond for your engagement ring is one thing—selecting a protective yet stylish setting is another. For the record, Taylor Swift’s brilliant cut diamond appears to be set in a hand-engraved yellow gold bezel and prong setting, ensuring a timeless look and a secure fit. Though halo cushion diamond rings never fail to impress, other settings we recommend include:
- Flat edge bezel: a continuous metal border encloses the stone’s edges, providing a flat outer rim and snag-free profile
- Prong: secures the brilliant cut diamond with three, four, or six prongs for a minimalist and sparkle-enhancing effect.
- Floating split shank: reminiscent of the eras when the old mine cut was in fashion, the band splits into two separate strands that curve around the center stone and give it a floating effect above the ring itself.
Celebrate the Swift and Kelce engagement and dream of your own dazzling old mine diamond ring down the line. Though there are a million and one things to consider as you shop for the brilliant cut diamond engagement ring of your dreams, when you find the one that makes it feel like those chemicals hit you like white wine, remember: it’s a love story—Baby, just say yes!
