Description
This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!
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In ancient times, diamonds were valued primarily for their incomparable hardness. As symbols of invincible strength, their beauty was secondary at best. In fact, early diamonds do not appear at all attractive to the modern eye. Medieval cutting techniques also did not allow for spectacular light reflections, and the widespread table cuts only brought out the brightness and color of the stones.
All this changed in the graduated 17th century. The nobility of the Baroque period developed a taste for glittering gemstones. Rose-cut diamonds, whose multiple facets beautifully reflected candlelight, were especially popular. In the middle of the century, a first, early brilliant cut developed, called the Mazarin cut after the influential Cardinal Jules Mazarin, characterized by a crown with 17 facets.
By the end of the century, these diamonds were then replaced by a new shape, named the Peruzzi cut after its inventor. Vincenzo Peruzzi was a gem cutter from Venice who increased the crown of the diamonds by additional facets to a total of 33, thus increasing the fire of the stones enormously. However, these early diamonds were not standardized in terms of the number and shape of the facets. Each stone was cut in such a way that as much substance as possible could be preserved.
New diamond deposits in Brazil in the second half of the 18th century then led to a cut shape that became known as the Old Mine Cut. These diamonds are already very similar to today's full cut brilliant cut diamonds, but it would take several more generations of continuous development of the cutting technique before the Old Mine Cut became first the Old Cut (or Old European Cut), and finally in the 1940s the modern full cut.
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Our Promise
We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.
You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.
Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.
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