Celine Old Mine Old European Cut Diamonds

What is difference between an Old European/Old Mine and a Brilliant Cut?
Most of you are probably familiar with the brilliant cut diamond; it’s intense sparkle, circular shape and strict dimensions for every one of its 58 facets. It’s believed that 9 out of 10 of diamonds in the world today are cut as Brilliants. But it’s less known that the standard brilliant cut comes from a rich historical legacy of diamond cutting that stretches back as far as the 17th century. Yet, the predecessors of the Brilliant Cut deserve recognition in their own right. Classical and captivating, the Old Mine Cut (and its younger adaptation, the Old European Cut) adds a note of elegance to contemporary diamond jewelry designs that is at once timeless yet original. If the beauty of a diamond lies in the artistry of its facet arrangement and how it captures light, the Old Mine Cut is one of the most captivating cuts to be found.
The Brilliant Cut on the left is 1.02 carats whilst the Old Mine Cut on the right is 0.75 carats, yet they appear similar in size. The limited depth in combination with greater facets on the Old Mine Cut helps to give the cut stone a larger appearance.

What is the Old Mine Cut?
The Old Mine Cut most distinctive feature is its uncommon square shape - which differentiates it from the rounder designs of the Rose and Brilliant Cuts. This shape comes from its history as one of the oldest cutting styles in the world and reflects the types of cutting technology that was available in the 18th and 19th centuries. Because diamonds had to be cut manually by carefully and laboriously grinding two diamonds together, diamantaires often looked to the naturally octahedral shape of rough diamonds to determine the exact design of their cut. Hence, the Old Mine Cut allows each diamond to be cut based on its natural shape, in turn enabling the optimal facet arrangement. It’s a cut that prioritizes the unique and natural beauty of the diamond, rather than impelling the diamond to conform to rigid dimensions.