Object Description
A stunning old cut diamond ring by Hancocks, set to the centre with a beautifully bright and lively old mine brilliant cut diamond weighing 8.46cts and of K colour and VS2 clarity in double corner claws to a simple double bar gallery between shoulders set with three bullet cut diamonds to each side in rub over settings forming a stylised honeycomb pattern, all in a finely hand-crafted platinum mount with 18ct yellow gold D-shape band.
Maker
Hancocks
Period
Contemporary
Origin
London
Gemstones
8.46ct K VS2 old mine brilliant cut diamond with GIA certificate.
6 x bullet cut diamonds weighing 0.27cts in total
Setting
Platinum and 18ct gold with maker’s mark and London assay marks
Weight
6 grams
Dimensions
UK finger size M, US size 6
Condition
New
Directors Notes
Old mine brilliants or old miners are either square or rectangular cushion shaped diamonds with clearly rounded corners and sides. The style developed after the discovery of diamonds in Brazil in about 1725 which facilitated experiments in cutting due to the large increase in available stones. Eager as ever to retain as much weight as possible, cutters still followed the shape of the rough crystals but now corners became more rounded and the number of facets increased. The discovery of diamonds in South Africa during the late 1860’s coincided with revolutionised mechanical cutting methods. This saw the fashion for new round cut diamonds replace these cushion shaped stones which then became known as ‘old mine’ diamonds. Today the name old mine brilliant still describes a cushion shaped diamond with a small table facet, high crown and polished culet. These features allow old mine cuts to have a huge amount of fire and life, even in dimly-lit environments.