The Unique Sparkle of Old Cut Diamonds
Diamond ares known for their high luster, but old cut diamonds like Old Mine cut, Old European cut and Rose cut diamonds have a unique sparkle under incandescent lighting. Incandescent lighting is typically warm indoor lighting.
History of Old Cuts
Old diamond cuts were made before modern electric lighting and tailored for candlelight and sunlight. They have unique faceted arrangements carefully crafted by hand to maximize light in the dim conditions of the past.
Science of Sparkle
The sparkle of a gem comes from light reflection, refraction and dispersion. Old cuts were designed to catch light in a way that modern cuts do not. Modern cuts are often crafted with the help of computer and sometimes laser and offer precision faceting and alignment but the character of the diamond often gets lost in the perfect patterns.
Warm Modern Lighting
Warm indoor light mimic candelight and enhance the fire and scintillation of old cuts. Bright white or cool fluorescent lights can blow out the faceted and make them look less vibrant as they don’t mimic the light spectrum of fire. Not to mention not many people look great with cool fluorescent bulbs either. So choose your home lighting carefully.
Why Some say They Shine Better
Reflection and refraction: Old cuts often used larger faceted to catch and reflect candelight and dim lighting.
Fire: The cutter arranged the facetes so that the warm light accentuates the colorful flashes within these diamonds.
Scintillation: The dance of light on these cuts is more pronounced due to the large unique arrangment of facets high crown and often deeper pavillion.
The Modern Market
Collectors and jewelers note a significant difference in the sparkle of old cuts, creating a niche market for these as the newer lab grown diamonds are often cut in modern faceting arrangements.
Tips for your old cuts
Experiment with light sources to see how the diamond reflects
Preserve your antique jewelery to maintain their historical and aesthetic value.
Understanding this magic of light and history helps us appreciate the unqiue charm of these antique diamonds.
