Skip to main content

Mine Cut Diamond Brooch

to
37
199
114
175
155
122
98
31
29
29
28
27
23
22
9
8
8
8
7
6
6
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
4
1
1
1
Sort By
Antique Edwardian 14K Gold Silver Old Cut Diamond Openwork Stomacher Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
show through the negative space. Old mine cut and old European cut diamonds are held within millegrain
Category

Early 20th Century Russian Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Circa 1900s 14k Gold Natural Old Cut Diamond Flowers Style Brooch
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 6.1 grams. Totally is diamond 1 ct. The diamond is has H-I
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Antique Original Circa 1900s 14k Gold Natural Old Cut Diamond Decorated Brooch
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 17.5 grams. Totally is diamond about 2.50 ct. Totally is
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Antique Original Circa 1900s 14k Gold Natural Old Cut Diamond Decorated Brooch
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 17.5 grams. Totally is diamond about 2.50 ct. Totally is
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Antique Circa 1900s 18k Gold Natural Old Cut Diamond And Emerald Brooch
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 9.3 grams Totally is diamond 0.79 ct. The diamond is has
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique 19th Century Old Cut Diamond Floral Foliate Spray Brooch Silver Gold
Located in Lisbon, PT
Mine-cut, Old European brilliant-cut and rose-cut diamonds, all stones in open-back silver-on-gold
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian French 18K Yellow Gold Silver 1.4ctw Old Cut Diamond Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique diamond, silver, and yellow gold brooch, comprising seventy-eight old cut diamonds, and
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Edwardian 15K Gold Platinum 0.57tgw Ruby and Old Cut Diamond Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
, and two old mine cut diamonds, set in platinum, to a 15 karat yellow gold bar brooch, with 15 karat
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Victorian 15K Gold Silver 3.2ctw Old Cut Diamond Star Brooch Pendant
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian diamond, yellow gold and silver brooch and pendant, comprising thirty-one old mine cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Late 1800s 6.72 Carat Total Mixed Old Euro Cut Diamond Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
A splendid late 19th-century Victorian 6.72ct total diamond brooch, a historical gem that
Category

Antique 1890s European Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Antique Art Deco 14K White Gold Filigreed Old Cut Diamond Sapphire Brooch
Located in Houston, TX
consistent with age. Prong Set in 14 Karat White Gold with: One (1) old mine cut natural diamond
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Circa 1910s Art Nouvea 18k Gold Natural Old Cut Diamond Decorated Brooch
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 15.8 grams. Totally is diamond about 6 ct. The diamond is
Category

Vintage 1910s European Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique 18k Gold Silver Hand Enamel Portrait Old Cut Diamond Frame Pin Brooch
Located in Montclair, NJ
cushion old mine cut diamonds that nicely stand out with their larger size. These fine stones brilliantly
Category

Antique 1870s Early Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel

Old Cut and Black Diamonds, Sapphires, White Mother of Pearl Owl Brooch/Pendant
Located in Hong Kong, HK
center antique cut diamond alone is estimated to be about 040cts. We incorporated the antique brooch into
Category

2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Sapphire, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Black Diamond, Diamond, ...

Mens Diamond Tie Tack Pin 14K White Gold Mined .36ct Round Brilliant Cut
Located in Dearborn, MI
Mens Diamond Tie Tack Pin 14K White Gold Mined .36ct Round Brilliant Cut Features a Genuine
Category

2010s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Antique Victorian 18K Gold Pale Blue Enamel 1.09ct Old Cut Diamond Knot Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique diamond, pale blue enamel, and yellow gold brooch, comprising three old mine cut
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Antique 18k Gold 3.24ctw Old Cut Diamond Emerald Ribbon Dual Dress Clip Brooch
Located in Montclair, NJ
prong set with 8 old mine cut diamonds totaling approximately 1.01 carats in weight and pavé set with 9
Category

Vintage 1940s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Old Mine Old European Cut Diamond Filigree Bar Pin 18 Karat White Gold
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This vintage brooch sparkles with old mine and old European cut diamonds, carrying the unmistakable
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Faberge Antique Guilloche Enamel Diamond Gold Brooch
By Fabergé
Located in New York, NY
Original antique Faberge 14k gold brooch, decorated with applied guilloche enamel and old mine cut
Category

Antique 19th Century Russian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Enamel

Antique Diamond Pendant Brooch of 14k Gold
Located in Lewisburg, PA
Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond Pendant Brooch in 14k Gold, circa 1880–1900 A refined example of
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Victorian Filigree Milgrain Diamond Brooch in 14k Yellow Gold
Located in Bloomington, MN
crafted in 14k yellow gold and features a prong-set mine-cut diamond at its center. The brooch displays
Category

Antique 19th Century Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

14 Karat White Gold and Diamond Cameo Brooch/Pendant
Located in Washington Depot, CT
set in beautifully detailed 14K white gold filigree. Accented with one round old mine cut diamonds
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Antique Pearl Diamond Ruby Emerald Gold Silver Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
emerald, ruby eyes and approx. 2.20ctw in old mine cut diamonds. The brooch measures 2" x 1.5". Not
Category

Antique 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Silver

Chaumet Retro Brooch 18k Gold Diamond Pin Estate Jewelry
By Chaumet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
the center. The latter is embellished with Old European and Old Mine cut diamonds. This high
Category

Vintage 1940s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Georgian Era Silver Brooch Pearl Diamond 9k Gold Antique Jewelry
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
gold pin. Designed as a flower, the brooch has two old mine cut diamond “buds” and a pearl blooming
Category

Antique Early 1800s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian 14k Yellow Gold Seed Pearl and Old Cut Diamond Heart Pendant
Located in New York, NY
pearls arranged in a dense, shimmering mosaic. At the center, a cluster of bright old cut diamonds forms
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 1880s Diamond Trimplant Russian Gold Brooch
Located in Cairo, EG
Antique imperial russian era old mine cut diamond 14k gold brooch in trimplant designe brooch with
Category

Antique 1880s Brooches

Late 19th Century Old Cut Diamond and Natural Saltwater Pearl Morning Glory Leaf
Located in Hummelstown, PA
, white body color, pinctada species Diamonds: estimated 2.25 - 2.5 total carats Weight: 13.2 grams
Category

Antique 1880s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver

Antique Sapphire and 1.74ct Diamond White Gold Brooch Circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
seventy-two pavé set diamonds, in a combination of Dutch and mine cut. The antique sapphire and diamond
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Art Nouveau Russian 14K Gold and Sterling Silver Wyvern Brooch
Located in Houston, TX
spinel for an eye and 32 old mine-cut diamonds totaling 2.25 carats. The brooch has a hook on the back to
Category

Antique 1890s European Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Spinel, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Tiffany Co. 18k Yellow Gold and Platinum 8.00ctw Natural Diamond Bow Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Boca Raton, FL
center of this brooch pin is a Natural Old Mine Cut Diamond, weighing approximately 1.68 carats. Diamond
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Victorian Handpainted Miniature Portrait With Yellow Gold and Diamond Frame
Located in New York, NY
Antique Portrait Miniature Brooch with Ornate Gold Filigree and Old Mine Cut Diamond Accents. This
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 10k Gold, 15k Gold

1900s GIA Mughal Carved EMERALD Old Mine Rose Cut Diamond Pt 14K Pendant Brooch
Located in New York, NY
is profusely set with numerous antique old mine-cut and rose-cut diamonds in a classical Edwardian
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Victorian Old Cut Diamond Convertible Star Brooch / Pendant
Located in London, GB
A beautiful antique Late Victorian old cut diamond star brooch/pendant, set in silver and gold
Category

Antique 1890s Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique French Old Mine Cut Diamond Gold Pendant
Located in Cairo, EG
Antique French 1910s old mine cut diamond pendant and brooch in artnoveau leaf design decorated
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

Materials

18k Gold

Antique Victorian 15K Gold Silver 10.8ctw Old Cut Diamond Pendant Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian diamond, silver, and yellow gold brooch and pendant, comprising one large old mine cut
Category

Antique 1870s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian 18K Gold Silver 3.33ctw Old Cut Diamond Bangle Brooches
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
comprising one large rose cut diamond, and forty old mine cut and rose cut diamonds, set in silver, with an
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Bangles

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Late Victorian Old Cut Diamond Drop Earrings Brooch Set in Silver on 18K Gold
Located in London, GB
5 old mine cut diamonds in an elegant vertical design. A single diamond crowns each earring, flowing
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Late Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Old Mine Cut Diamond Antique Reproduction Brooch Pin
Located in DALLAS, TX
18k white gold antique reproduction filigree brooch pin with 2.50 x 2.40 mm, .06 carat old mine cut
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Old-Mine Cut Diamond Gold Platinum Scroll Clip Brooch
Located in Paris, FR
set with old-mine cut diamonds and ended by a cushion shape diamond approximately weighing 1.80ct
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian 1.50ct Old Mine Cut Diamond Star Brooch and Pendant, circa 1880
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
19th century comprising of approx 1.50ct of Old Mine cut diamonds. This quaint brooch, measuring 32mm
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian 2.20 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond Crescent Moon Brooch 18 Karat
Located in Napoli, IT
in sizes old mine cushion Cut Diamonds and rose cut as finials It holds approx 2.20 Ct of TCW
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Vintage Turn of the Century Diamond and Emerald Brooch with Rose Cut Old Mine
Located in Little Neck, NY
Fabulous Vintage Turn of the century 14k yellow gold and silver pin with 38 Rose Cut & Old Mine cut
Category

Early 20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald

Georgian English 15K Silver Topped Mine Cut Diamond Pearl Pin
Located in Fuquay Varina, NC
with old mine cut diamonds and can be a rare piece of history all your own. Hallmarks: 15c Center
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Unknown Georgian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Platinum Natural Old Cut Diamond Art Deco Brooch
Located in Oxted, Surrey
Naturally Mined Old Cut Diamond Art Deco Brooch set in Platinum. All original hand made milgrain
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum

Victorian 2.25 Carat Old Cut Diamond Pin Brooch
Located in Essex, GB
A top quality antique pin brooch. The graduating line of twenty-three cushion shaped old mine cut
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Silver

Victorian Antique Old Cut Diamond Pendant Brooch Circa 1880
Located in London, GB
A beautiful Victorian antique 7carats diamond brooch from circa the 1880s. The central old mine
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

Precious Victorian 4.40 Carat Old Mine Diamond 3.0 Carat Ruby Crescent Brooch
Located in Napoli, IT
gold displaying an array pod graduated old mine cut Diamonds alternated by natural, no heat, stunning
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Gorgeous Gold 0.75 Carat Old Miner s Cut Diamond Brooch
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Gorgeous Gold Brooch Features Three Bezel-Set Old Miner's Cut Diamonds Total Diamond Weight = 0.75
Category

Early 20th Century North American Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Old Cut Diamond and Natural Pearl Swan Brooch
Located in Stratford upon Avon, GB
Victorian 18ct Yellow Gold & Silver Old cut Diamond and Large Natural Pearl Swan Pin Brooch
Category

Late 20th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Art Deco Platinum plaque Brooch with old-cut and huit-huit cut diamonds
Located in Milano, IT
central round old-cut diamond is approximately 0.95 ct. Each of the round lateral old-cut diamonds is
Category

Vintage 1920s Italian Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Victorian 3.00 Ct Untreated Ruby .80 Carat Old Mine Diamond Crescent Moon brooch
Located in Napoli, IT
totalling at least 3.00 full carat Interspaced by old mine cut Diamonds totalling .80 Ct – rated G/H VVS to
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Old Cut Diamond Gold and Silver Crescent Moon Antique Brooch
Located in Hong Kong, HK
The Crescent Moon Shape Diamond Brooch Which has Around 10 Carats Of Old Cut Diamonds Beautifully
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Natural Pearl and 0.25 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond Stick Pin with Serial Number
Located in Warrington, PA
Natural Pearl and 0.25 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond Stick Pin. The Pin is made in 18 Karat yellow
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl

Vintage 20th Butterfly Old Mine cut Diamond 2.02 Ctw Cultured Pearl Platinum 18K
Located in Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana
. In the center set in illusion a beautiful Old Mine cut Diamond measures 8.30x 7.50x 5.60 millimeters
Category

20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

Art Deco 2.37 Carat Old Cut Diamond and Onyx Brooch, circa 1940
Located in Essex, GB
with a graduating line of thirteen old mine cut diamond in a white gold, milgrained setting. A engraved
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond

Victorian Sapphire Diamond and Ruby Spider Brooch Cushion Cut Sapphire
Located in Stratford upon Avon, GB
with rubies set as eyes. Enchanting cushion cut sapphire old cut diamond and ruby spider brooch. This
Category

Late 20th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

  • 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Mine Cut Diamond Brooch", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Mine Cut Diamond Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the mine cut diamond brooch you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Frequently made of Gold, Platinum and 14k Gold, this item was constructed with great care. Find an antique version now, or shop for 96 vintage or 1 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Making the right choice when shopping for a mine cut diamond brooch may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 19th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. As it relates to this specific piece, our collection includes designs that are universally popular, but .5 Carat and 1 Carat carat weights, specifically, are sought with frequency. Creating a mine cut diamond brooch has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Cartier and Chaumet are consistently popular. See these pages for an old mine cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also antique cushion cut cut and old european cut cut versions available here, too. Finding a mine cut diamond brooch for sale for women should be easy, but there are 42 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as men, too.

How Much is a Mine Cut Diamond Brooch?

On average, a mine cut diamond brooch at 1stDibs sells for $5,188, while they’re typically $325 on the low end and $38,268 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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.  

Finding the Right Brooches for You

Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.

While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like GucciVersaceDior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step. 

Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.

At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.

Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.

Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.

Questions About Mine Cut Diamond Brooch
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    A mine cut diamond is an antique diamond cut known for its bulky and often uneven shape, cutlet, and tiny table. This type of diamond cut was quite popular in the mid-1800s to the early-1900s
    Mine cut diamonds are typically called OLD MINE CUTS, This type of cutting started in the early 1700s. The shapes are typically cushion shape and the cutting was done all by hand. Though they do not have the sparkle of modern cut diamonds, when they sparkle in sunlight or candle light, they have this beautiful alluring shimmer.
  • 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.