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 prized above all for their unparalleled hardness. As symbols of invincible strength, their beauty was, at best, a secondary consideration. In fact, early diamonds do not appear attractive at all to the modern eye. Medieval cutting techniques also did not allow for spectacular light reflections, and the widespread table cuts merely highlighted the stones’ brightness and colour.
All of that changed during the 17th century. The nobility of the Baroque era developed a preference for sparkling gemstones. Rose cut diamonds were particularly popular, as their numerous facets beautifully reflected candlelight. In the middle of the century, an early form of the brilliant cut emerged, named the Mazarin cut after the influential Cardinal Jules Mazarin and characterized by a crown with 17 facets.
Toward the end of the century, these diamonds were replaced by a new cut named the Peruzzi cut after its inventor. Vincenzo Peruzzi was a gem cutter from Venice who increased the number of facets in the diamond’s crown to a total of 33, thereby greatly enhancing the stones’ fire. However, these early brilliant-cut diamonds were not standardized in terms of the number and shape of their facets. Each stone was cut in such a way as to preserve as much of the stone’s mass as possible.
New diamond deposits in Brazil in the second half of the 18th century then led to a cut that became known as the “Old Mine Cut.” These diamonds already closely resemble today’s round brilliant cuts, but it would take several generations of steady improvements in cutting techniques before the “Old Mine Cut” evolved first into the “Old European Cut” and finally, in the 1940s, into the modern round brilliant cut.
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Size & Details
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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