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Vintage Art Deco Ring Diamonds and Sapphires 18 Karat White Gold, 1920s
Located in Antwerp, BE
. Period: ca. 1920 Material: 18K white gold (touchstone tested) Diamond(s): 18 old mine brilliant cut
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Belle Époque Opal and Diamonds Ring Can Be Changed into a Pendant
Located in Antwerp, BE
makes it into a pendant. Diamond(s): 12 old mine brilliant cut diamonds with an estimated weight of
Category

Antique Early 1900s Belgian Belle Époque Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Adorable Georgian Diamond Emerald Daisy Ring 18 Karat
Located in Napoli, IT
approx .15 Ct (3.79 x 2.74 mm.) - 6 old mine cut diamonds totalling approx .50 Ct UK size: L 1/2 US size
Category

Antique 1780s Georgian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

14kt Victorian .15 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Towson, MD
14kt yellow gold late Victorian ring with a 6-prong Belcher type setting for a .15 carat Old Mine
Category

Antique 1880s American Victorian Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier Art Deco Enamel Diamond Gold Rose in Hand Brooch
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
features a black enamel hand holding a gold flower with a .15 carat old mine-cut diamond center and rose
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Edwardian 2.03 Carat Old Mine Antique Cushion Cut Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Addison, TX
Details: Shape: Old Mine Cushion Cut Carat Weight: 2.03 CT Color: L-M Clarity: VS2 Side Diamond Details
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Georgian Old Mine Cut Diamond Convertible Ear Pendants
Located in New York, NY
#1182908772. The two top old mine cut diamonds weigh 2.45 carats, H color, VS2, GIA report #2181912421 and
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Georgian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond Enamel Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Victorian "1886" old mine cut diamond and enamel engagement gold ring. Featuring an old mine-cut
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold

Antique Old Mine Cut 3.30 Carats Diamonds 18 Karat Yellow Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Antique Old Mine Cut 3.30 Carats Diamonds 18 Karat Yellow Gold Cluster Ring. Featuring 15 old
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Old Mine Cut Diamond Ring, circa 1920s
Located in Addison, TX
This dainty adorable 10 karat white gold Art Deco style ring features an Old Mine Cut Diamond set
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold, 10k Gold

Antique 14 Karat White Gold Old Mine Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Coral Gables, FL
14 Karat White Gold Antique Pin to Ring Conversion Featuring 44 Old Mine Cut Diamonds Of VS & SI
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Victorian Amethyst Old Mine Cut Diamond Gold Silver Pendant
Located in Los Angeles, CA
: twenty-eight old mine-cut diamonds totaling approximately 0.90 carat, approximately I – K color and SI
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Old Mine Cut Diamond Ruby Crescent Moon Necklace
Located in Los Angeles, CA
& white Old Mine Cut diamonds weighing approximately 3.00 carats in total and 21 Natural Unheated Rubies
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Fringe Necklace with 50 Carat of Old Mine Cut Diamonds, Hancocks
By Hancocks
Located in London, GB
A stunning Victorian old cut diamond fringe necklace c.1890s, formed of a fine gold chain set with
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian More Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

1.2 Carat Victorian Old Mine Cushion Cut and Turquoise Ring, circa 1880s
Located in Addison, TX
Victorian era diamond engagement ring features an amazing 1.2 carat chunky old mine cushion cut diamond set
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Edwardian 15 Karat Gold Emerald and Old Mine Cut Diamond Navette Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Edwardian 15K Gold Emerald Old Mine Cut Diamond Navette Ring c.1900 Era: Edwardian of
Category

Early 20th Century British Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian Platinum 2.88 Ct Old Mine Cut Vintage Diamond Filigree Engagement Ring
Located in Addison, TX
carat (2.88 Ct) warm old mine cut diamond is a subtle halo or diamonds that catch the light at every
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

"R" Initial Ring Old Mine Cut Diamond Platinum Antique Victorian Edwardian
Located in New York, NY
set with sparkling white Old Mine Cut Diamonds which are set in Platinum in an open work initial
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold

18K Old Mine Cut 1.30 CTTW Antique Diamond Three Stone Engagement Ring
Located in Addison, TX
Carat Weight: 0.45Ct Color: H Clarity: SI1 Accent Diamonds: Shape: Old Mine Cut Carat: 0.40 Cttw
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1820 European 18k gold, turquoise, old mine cut diamond natural pearl bracelet
Located in London, GB
pearls and approximately 4-5 carats of old mine cut diamonds. It is a remarkably beautiful piece and is a
Category

Antique 1820s European Neoclassical Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Antique 14k White Gold GIA 1.35ct Old Mine Cut Diamond Solitaire Chain Necklace
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (1) Natural Genuine Diamond - Elongated Old Circular Brilliant Cut - Prong Set - H
Category

Antique 19th Century Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

French Midcentury 2.25 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond 1.79 Carat Sapphire Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
three chunky old brilliant cut diamonds accented by three deep blue natural sapphires. A small single
Category

Mid-20th Century French Cluster Rings

Victorian Mined Diamond Ring Old Mine .15ct Antique 18K Original 1896 Birmingham
Located in Dearborn, MI
Genuine Original Victorian Antique 1896 Old Mine Cut Diamond Ring Band 18K Yellow Gold Featuring
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

EGL Certified Old Mine Cut Diamond Rose Gold Dangle Earrings
Located in Stamford, CT
old mine cut diamond K-L SI2 approximately 1.44 carats. EGL Certificate US 313785501J 1 old mine cut
Category

Antique 1880s Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold

Art Deco Three-Stone Old Mine Diamond Ring
Located in NEW ORLEANS, LA
two old mine cut diamonds that weigh approximately 0.50 carats. The color of the diamonds is G-H with
Category

20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Victorian .64 Ct Old Mine Cushion Cut Diamond Buttercup Solitaire Rose Gold Ring
Located in Addison, TX
the shank Finger to Top of Ring: 5.7 mm Center Diamond Details: Shape: Old Mine Cut Carat Weight
Category

Early 20th Century Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

2.25ctw Blue Sapphire and Old Mine Cut Diamond Pave Gold Platinum Navette Ring
Located in Addison, TX
sapphire in surrounded by 1.25 carats of impeccable old miner cut diamonds. This ring can easily be sized
Category

Early 20th Century Late Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Platinum

2.25ctw Blue Sapphire and Old Mine Cut Diamond Pave Gold Platinum Navette Ring
Located in Addison, TX
sapphire in surrounded by 1.25 carats of impeccable old miner cut diamonds. This ring can easily be sized
Category

Early 20th Century Late Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Platinum

Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold 1.51 Old Mine Cut Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Addison, TX
of Ring: mm Center Diamond Details: Shape: Old Mine Cut Carat Weight: 1.51 carats Color: L Clarity
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

18K Two Tone Floral Carved Vintage Old Mine Cut Diamond Three Stone Unisex Ring
Located in Addison, TX
) Carat Weight: Aprox 0.25 Color: M-N Clarity: SI2 Accent Diamonds: Shape: Old Mine Cut Quantity: 2 Carat
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

LB Exclusive Antique 14 Karat Rose Gold, 1.70 Carat Diamond Old Mine Cut Ring
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
This LB Exclusive ring is crafted from 14K rose gold and set with old mine cut diamonds that total
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Rose Gold

Art Deco 18K White Gold 1/2 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Antique Art Deco 18K White Gold 1/2 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond Engagement Ring. The ring is in
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco Style .44 Carat Old Miner Cut Diamond Ring French Cut Sapphires
Located in Addison, TX
head tapering to 1.2mm at shank Finger to Top of Ring: 7.4mm Diamond Details: Cut: Old Miner Carat
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Art Deco Old Mine Diamond Onyx Target Engagement Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
: 1915-1935 Metal: 18K Yellow Gold & Platinum Diamond: Carat Weight: 0.14 Cut: Old Mine Color: F-H
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, Platinum

15 Carat Georgian Diamond Pendant Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
that pin and it would be included. All of the diamonds are Old Miner Cut. They were probably cut in
Category

Antique 1850s Georgian Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Rhodium, Silver

Vintage 14 Karat Yellow Gold Old Mine Diamond and Pearl Brooch
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This vintage brooch is set in 14 karat yellow gold and includes 15 Old Mine cut diamonds with a
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Era Old Mine Cut Diamond Silver Topped Rose Gold Bracelet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
" Old Mine Cut diamonds (mounted in silver with a gold back) weighing 3.25 carats in total. Attached to
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Chain Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold

Antique Filigree Platinum Round Old Mine and Rose Cut Diamond Brooch
Located in Addison, TX
carat of old cut diamonds and icy platinum, this piece is sure to grab attention! This brooch would make
Category

Antique Early 1900s Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Art Deco 1.07 Carat Old Miner Antique Cushion Cut Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Addison, TX
This is a beautiful example of an antique cushion old mine cut diamond engagement ring! The
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Art Nouveau 14K White Gold Old Mine Cut Diamond Sapphire Bracelet
Located in Cape May, NJ
Antique 14K white gold art nouveau pierced filigree bracelet set with .20 carats of old mine cut, H
Category

Vintage 1910s Art Nouveau Tennis Bracelets

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold

.15 Carat Diamond Pearl Two Tone Gold Question Mark Pendant Necklace
Located in Stamford, CT
old mine cut diamonds, H VS-SI approx. .15cts 1 3 mm pearl, excellent lustre and color 14k yellow
Category

Early 20th Century Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

1920s Platinum 15 Carat Diamond and 1 Carat Sapphire Bracelet
Located in Hicksville, NY
sparkle from afar! Diamond Details: Cut: Combination of Old Mine and Single Cut Carat: 15 Carats total
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Retro Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Art Deco Platinum Geometric Open Work Dome Style Old Cut Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Addison, TX
. Around the center diamond is a mixture of old mine and European cut diamonds. The open work of this
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Art Deco Platinum Old Cut Diamond Carved Pierced Bracelet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
in length. 15 mm. at its widest point and graduating down to 5 mm. 69 Old Mine Cut Diamond=5.62
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Georgian Garnet and Diamond 15 Carat Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
shimmering old mine cut diamonds totalling 42pts. The stones are set in platinum and the rest of the ring is
Category

Vintage 1970s British Georgian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, Gold

Victorian Patterned 0.33 Carat Diamond Gypsy Ring
Located in London, GB
hand-crafted pattern which leads up to the claw set old mine cut diamond. We love the slight tarnish on
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold

Late Victorian 1.1 ctw Old European Cut Diamond Fancy Prong Set 5-Stone Platinum
Located in Addison, TX
Here we have a sparkling diamond "5 stone" ring from the turn on the century! The five old cut
Category

Early 20th Century Late Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Art Deco 14K Rose Gold Vintage Circular Pendant with Old Cut Diamonds and Rubies
Located in Addison, TX
: 20.65mm Width: 13.94mm Thickness: 5.40mm Center Diamond Details: Shape: Old Mine Cut Carat Weight
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco More Jewelry

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold

Victorian 1.65 Carat Diamond Horseshoe Gold Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
This unique Victorian cluster ring is set with one Sparkling bigger Old Mine cut Diamond in the
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Art Deco 14 Karat Gold Filigree Link Bracelet with Emeralds and Old Cut Diamonds
Located in Addison, TX
This outstanding Diamond and Emerald Link Bracelet features: 0.242 carat total Old Mine Cut
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, White Gold

Estate 1.50 Carat Diamond Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
1950', featuring in the center two large and sparkling Old mine-cut Diamonds weighing 1 carat together
Category

Mid-20th Century Retro Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

Antique English 15 Carat Gold and Diamond Etruscan Revival Bangle
Located in New Orleans, LA
A lovely 19th century Etruscan Revival bangle set with old mine cut diamonds, this piece can be
Category

Antique 19th Century English Etruscan Revival Bangles

Peter Suchy 3.65 Carat Aqua Diamond White Gold Dangle Earrings
By Peter Suchy
Located in Stamford, CT
dangles with 2 old mine cut bezel set diamond tops. 14k white gold. Designed and crafted in the Peter
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dangle Earrings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

Retro 2.80 Carat Diamond Cocktail Gold Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
the center there are five vertical rows of large sparkling and white old mine cut diamonds, total
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold

Antique 2.20 Carat Diamond Rhodonite Bi-Color Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
Rhodonite, 6 carat (22 x 15 mm) surrounded by a halo of twenty-two Old Mine Cut Diamond weighing 2,20 carat
Category

Early 20th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Edwardian 0.90 Carat Diamond Platinum-Topped 14 Karat Gold Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Elongated north/south motif centering 5 old mine cut diamonds Within an old mine cut diamond
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum

Art Deco 0.64 Carat Diamond Cross Pendant, circa 1920s
Located in London, GB
show off the 15 diamond, grain set, and each weighing 0.04 carat. The shining diamonds are eight cuts
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

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15 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact 15 carat old mine cut diamond you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Frequently made of gold, yellow gold and 14k gold, this item was constructed with great care. Find an antique version now, or shop for 254 vintage or 2 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. If you’re looking for a 15 carat old mine cut diamond from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 18th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. Finding an appealing 15 carat old mine cut diamond — no matter the origin — is easy, but Estate Jewelry, Tiffany Co. and Andrew Clunn each produced a popular version that is worth a look. See these pages for an old mine cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also old european cut cut and round cut cut versions available here, too. If you’re browsing our inventory for a 15 carat old mine cut diamond, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a 15 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond?

The price for a 15 carat old mine cut diamond starts at $400 and tops out at $495,000 with these rings, on average, selling for $4,871.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself. 

Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.

Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.

For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.

Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.

In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so. 

Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.

Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle. 

BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.

A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in

Since Van Cleef Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.

Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.

Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design

Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.

From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!

There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.

Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.

In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).

When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.  

Questions About 15 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Mine cut diamonds are up to 300 years ago. Mine cut diamonds were popular around the 18th century during Victorian times and are still in high demand today. You’ll find a wide selection of mine cut diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Because the old mine cut is no longer used on diamonds, diamonds with this cut are rare and so you can often get quite a lot of money for them. Nevertheless, it is still dependent on the quality of the individual diamonds and on the color, clarity, cut and carat number.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Old mine cut diamonds are usually worth less than old european cut diamonds. Because they are generally 10-15% less expensive, they are often larger than other cut diamonds for engagement rings.
  • Like any other diamond, an old mine cut diamond's worth depends on a variety of factors. These factors include the 4C's (color, clarity, cut, carat), the overall beauty and "make" of the stone, the demand, supply, etc. On average however, old mine cuts are typically priced slightly lower (around 5-10%) than modern cut diamonds.