Jewels by Erica Grace

 Imagine the stories these diamonds could tell... 

Some time ago, we developed an interest in antique jewelry, specifically antique diamonds.  Through this hobby, we've come to find that there are many others who share this same love of history and desire to preserve treasured family heirlooms.

Compare an antique cut diamond to a modern stone and you will see why we are so passionate about preserving these old cuts.  Big chunky facets, soft round or cushion shapes, bright colored flashes of fire.  No two are alike.

Rose Cut

Rose cut diamonds were cut as early as the 1500's and were popular until the early 1900's.  The shape of a rose cut diamond resembles the bud of a rose.  The bottom is flat and the crown is domed shaped, with the facets meeting at a point in the middle.  Rose Cuts are characterized by 3, 6, 12, 18 or 24 facets.

Old Mine Cut

Old Mine Cuts (OMCs) were cut from the mid to late 1800's up until the turn of the century.  They have a soft roundish shape with a high crown, small table and a large culet. 

Antique Cushion Cut

Antique Cushion Cuts (ACCs) were popular during the same time period as OMCs - mid to late 1800's through the turn of the century.  Often referred to as "pillow cuts," they exhibit a rectangular or square shape with softly rounded corners.  They exhibit small tables, large culets and high crowns.  It is a completely different cut than the modern cushion being cut today, which is faceted more like a modern round brilliant in a rectangular shape.  

Asscher Cut

Asscher Cuts were created during the late 1800's by Joseph Asscher and is the first square cut developed.  With its appearance of graduating boxes, it remains one of the most desirable diamond cuts today. 

Old European Cut

Old European Cuts (OECs) are considered the forerunner of today's modern round brilliant.  This unique, round-shaped cut exhibits large facets which can give the stone a flowery or checkerboard like appearance.  The culets can vary from small to medium in size and OECs typically have a small table and heavy crown. 

Next to sound judgement, diamonds and pearls are the rarest things in the world.