Let’s dive a little deeper into diamond cuts you will ACTUALLY come across as you shop! You will likely not see a Point or Table Cut, as most substantial stones from the 16th century have been recut. Any preserved pieces from this time period are quite rare and expensive.
Old Mine Cut - our first Brilliant Cut. They were made with a variety of facet patterns but always with a small table, high crown, and larger culet. These stones are off round - some more than others - with the shape often resembling a pillow cushion.
Old European Cut - The precursor to today’s modern brilliant. Old European cuts have a round girdle, making them appear round from the top view. Like the old mine cut, the old European has a high crown, small table, and open culet. Old Euro facets are much thicker than the facets of their contemporary counterparts, giving them an overall chunkier appearance.
Rose Cut - A flat bottom with a domed, faceted top, this cut is like an “upside down” stone. This cut has no culet and you can see straight through it. If you find an Antique one, grab it! They are hard to find. Rose cuts are still being mined and cut out of India in present day.
Asscher Cut - The cut of the Art Deco era. A classic Asscher cut is a square step cut with cut corners. They have high crowns and small tables, and they carry their weight in their bottoms. Asschers from the 20’s and 30’s are increasingly hard to find.
Emerald Cut - Emerald cut diamonds have a dramatic hall of mirrors effect. Descended from the step cut, emerald cuts were standardized in the 1940s. An old emerald cut will have a larger crown and smaller table.
Transitional Cut - not quite old, not quite new. This round diamond is just as the name implies - a transition between the old Euro and the Round Brilliant. They still possess some of the charm of the old Euro, such as a higher crown, but with more precise cutting and therefore more brilliance.