An old mine cut is an antique cushion-shaped diamond of the 1700s and 1800s. It has the Peruzzi's 58 facets, cut more evenly by hand.
In more detail
The name comes from the old mines of India and Brazil; Brazil's deposits were found in the 1720s. Old mine stones have a soft, chunky look, with big flashes and dark areas between them. The cushion cut developed from it.
Related terms
- Peruzzi cut: The Peruzzi, or triple cut, is a cushion brilliant of the late 1600s with 58 facets. Its 32-facet crown has 8 bezels, 8 stars and 16 upper halves.
- Old European cut: An old European cut is an antique round diamond with 58 facets, from the 1870s to about 1930. The bruting machine made its round outline possible.
- Cushion cut: A cushion cut is a square outline with rounded corners and a brilliant facet plan. It developed from the old mine cut.
- Bruting: Bruting is shaping the outline of a diamond, usually round, by grinding it against another diamond.