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Solitaire 18 Karat White Gold Yellow Oval Diamonds Engagement Cocktail Ring
Located in Milano, IT
Solitaire ring with ct 3.75 cushion old mine yellow diamond It is set with a triple ellice with
Category

2010s Italian Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold

18k White Gold Old Cut GIA Moval Diamond 1.97cts G VVS2 Halo Engagement Ring
By RAREVER
Located in London, GB
fancy shape diamond cut with optical symmetry providing a unique aesthetic. Old mine cut oval diamond
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Romantic Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Diamond White Gold Ring
Located in Rome, IT
Shaped as a band, set oval old mine cut diamond, M color, SI clarity, weighing 1.50 ct. Surrounded
Category

20th Century Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond

Retro 2.87 Carat Fancy Yellow and White Old Cut Cluster Ring, circa 1955
Located in Essex, GB
A vintage diamond cluster ring that displays unbelievable sparkle. The oval shape old mine cut
Category

Mid-20th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Edwardian Rare 1.05 Cushion Diamond Plus 2.30 Carat Diamond Bar Brooch
Located in Napoli, IT
, tested Hallmarks: none/worn Gems: 1 oval cushion old mine cut diamond of approx 1.05 Ct (5.67 x 5.12 mm
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Midcentury 2.10 Carat Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
Hallmarks: none/worn Gems: 1 oval old mine cut diamond of approx .90 Ct (H/VVS)16 tapered baguette cut
Category

Vintage 1950s Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco Diamond Platinum Rose Gold Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
old mine cut Diamond of 2.06 Ct rated J/K VVS splashing in the middle with enormous power and radiant
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian 3.20 Carat Cushion Diamond Dormeuse Earrings
Located in Napoli, IT
/worn Gems: 2 oval cushion old mine cut diamonds of 8.36 x 6.91 mm. and 8.03 x7.15 mm. Measures: 25 x 12
Category

Antique 1850s Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Turn Of The Century Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Mine cut diamonds surrounding an oval sapphire. Can be sized to fit.
Materials

Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Rare Antique 5.15 Carat Diamond Solitaire Plus Platinum Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
Details Below Metal: platinum Hallmarks: assay and maker Gems: 1 oval Old Mine cushion cut diamond of
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Antique Belle Époque natural saltwater pearl and 7 ct diamond necklace
Located in Magdeburg, DE
thirty-two natural saltwater pearls, Pinctada species (GIA 6495858355) - One oval old mine cut diamond
Category

Antique Late 19th Century German Belle Époque Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Platinum

Victorian 1.20 Diamond 1.20 Natural Sapphire Clover Brooch Pendant Necklace
Located in Napoli, IT
: none/worn Gems: 1 oval cushion old mine cut diamonds of approx .30 Ct (4.24 x 4.0 mm. - G/VS) - 1 old
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver

Art Deco style 1.0 Carat Solitaire Diamond Plus Onyx Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
Centred by 1 oval cushion old mine cut Diamond of extreme beauty and rarity, set in much result within the
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, Platinum

Antique Emerald Ring
Located in Boca Raton, FL
This beautiful antique ring contains: 0.80 Carat Oval Old Mine Cut centered Diamond Calibrated
Category

Vintage 1950s Fashion Rings

3.35 Carat H VS2 Old Mine Oval Diamond Solitaire Ring by Hancocks
By Hancocks
Located in London, GB
A stunning oval diamond ring by Hancocks centred with an elongated old-cut oval brilliant diamond
Category

2010s British Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Old Mine Cut Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Oval Solitaire Vintage Signet Ring
Located in Boca Raton, FL
features an old mine cut diamond weighing approximately .21 carats and graded G color and SI clarity. The
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Antique 14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Oval Old Mine Diamond Ring #17165
Located in Washington Depot, CT
old mine cut diamonds* set in classic 14K yellow gold. Top of ring measures 13 mm x 8 mm. Shank
Category

20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Natural Blue Oval Sapphire Old Mine Cut Diamond Estate Ring AGL Cert. No Heat
Located in Boca Raton, FL
the AGL. The sapphire is surrounded by 8 Old Mine Cut Diamonds weighing approximately 1.00 carat total
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, White Gold

Art Deco Old Oval Cut Diamond Ring
Located in London, GB
piece showcases an impressive 1.40 carat bright white oval old cut diamond at the centre of the face
Category

Vintage 1920s Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Victorian 18 Karat 4.26 Carat Antique Old Mine Oval Cut French Diamond Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Meeting Minimum Standards (1893-1990) Composition: 18K Yellow Gold Primary Stone: Antique Old Mine Oval
Category

Antique 1890s Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Oval Old Mine Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
old mine cut diamonds* set in classic 14K yellow gold. Top of ring measures 13 mm x 8 mm. Shank
Category

20th Century Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold

Yellow Gold Victorian Old Mine Cut Oval Ring Set with Rose Cut Diamonds
Located in Cape May, NJ
: Approximately .25 carats Color / Clarity: J / VS2 Shape: Antique Oval Cut Accent Stone: Rose Cut Diamonds
Category

Antique 1890s Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 4.16 Carats Oval Cut No Heat Ceylon Sapphire Old Mine Diamond Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
halo surround. Consisting of old mine cut diamonds weighing approximately 1.44 carats total. H/I color
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Antique Sapphire And Old Mine Diamond Gold Silver Drop Earrings
Located in Firenze, IT
These stunning earrings showcase 2 old mine cut diamonds and 2 oval ceylon sapphire with a total
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian 14K Gold Plat Oval Grey Opal 0.70ct Old Mine Diamond Halo Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
of old mine round cut diamonds that set this piece on fire. The diamonds bring a fascinating amount
Category

Antique 1890s Early Victorian Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Green Emerald and Old Mine Diamond Pendant Necklace
Located in NEW ORLEANS, LA
weigh approximately 2.14 carats. The green emeralds are accentuated by old mine cut diamonds. The
Category

20th Century Unknown Romantic Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Old Mine Cut Diamond Snake Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
crafted 18k yellow gold. The head of the snake has an old mine cut oval diamond on it that is flat and
Category

Antique 18th Century Unknown Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Platinum Art Deco Oval .40ct F Si1 Old Mine Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Addison, TX
Presenting a Elegant Platinum Art Deco Oval .40CT F SI1 Old Mine Cut Diamond Ring Size 5 The
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Platinum

Antique English 18k Yellow Gold Oval Opal Old Mine Cut Diamond Band Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
Play of Orange, Yellow & Green - 5.9x4.1mm to 7.7x5.4mm (approx.) (6) Natural Genuine Diamonds - Old
Category

20th Century Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Platinum GIA Oval Old Mine Cut Diamond Engagement Ring 1.20ct
Located in Narberth, PA
shoulder and a gorgeous oval old mine cut diamond in the center. The center diamond, which is prong set
Category

Vintage 1930s Engagement Rings

Materials

Platinum

British 0.87 Carat Old Mine Diamond 14 Karat Gold Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Engagement ring designed as a classic solitaire centering an oval old mine cut diamond Weighing
Category

Late 20th Century British Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Victorian 1.43 Carats Old European Old Mine Diamond Turquoise 18 Karat Yellow G
Located in Philadelphia, PA
bright robin's egg blue with subtle veining. Featuring a prong set old European and mine cut diamond halo
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Victorian Era Sapphire Old Mine Cut Diamond Ring 14K Rose Gold
Located in Montgomery, AL
Gemstones; Estimated Combined Gemstone Weight: 0.35 Carat 3 - 2.8mm Old Mine Cut Diamonds; Estimated
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Victorian GIA 4.42ctw Natural Alexandrite Old Mine Diamonds Antique Cluster Ring
Located in New York, NY
Natural Alexandrite & twinkling Old Mine cut diamonds. A perfect alternative to a traditional Engagement
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Alexandrite, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

3.25 Carat Total AGL Certified Colombian Emerald Antique Ring Old Mine Diamonds
Located in Houston, TX
carat oval emerald and 1 carat mixed cut emerald halo along with approximately 1.25 carat total old mine
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Early Victorian 18k/Sterling Silver Oval Mine Cut Diamond Engagement Ring 0.95ct
Located in Narberth, PA
! This beautiful piece is made of bright 18kt yellow gold and holds a single oval old mine cut diamond at
Category

Antique 1850s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Edwardian 12K Gold Platinum Ruby and Old Mine Diamond Three Stone Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
three beautiful old cut oval rubies in the center that are surrounded by chunky old mine cut diamonds
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Victorian 1.50 Carats Old Mine Cut Diamond Opal 14 Karat Gold Antique Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
spectral play-of-color. Prong set with a recessed halo surround of prong set old mine cut diamonds
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique French Opal Old Mine Cut Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Link Bracelet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Antique French Opal Old Mine Cut Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Link Bracelet. Featuring one
Category

Antique 1880s French Victorian Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Nouveau Turquoise Old Mine Cut Diamond 18 Karat Gold Jones Woodland Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
undulating cartouche form head. With a cluster surround of old mine cut diamonds. Weighing approximately 0.26
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian 14K Gold Platinum Ruby and Old Mine Diamond Three Stone Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
three beautiful old cut oval rubies in the center that are surrounded by chunky old mine cut diamonds
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Victorian 14k Gold Cabochon Garnet Old Mine Diamond 3 Stone Flush Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
center. The natural garnet has a rich red color and is flanked by old mine cushion cut diamonds in which
Category

Antique 1890s Late Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Diamond Ruby Dragonfly Brooch En Tremblant Pin 6 Carats Old Mine Cut
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
shimmering, diamond embedded wings. Boasting 6 carats of old mine cut diamonds and adorned with 3 carats of
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Chaumet Paris Mid-Century 6.35 CTW No Heat Sapphire Old Mine Cut Diamond Ring
By Chaumet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
navette shaped surround. With bead set old mine cut diamonds throughout. Weighing approximately 1.90
Category

Vintage 1950s Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

GIA Ruby No Heat Platinum Diamond Necklace 18K Antique Pendant Old Mine 5.04 CTS
Located in Sylvania, GA
NECKLACE & BOX! Finest Untreated Ruby Crowned With 3.82 Carats of Sparkling Old Mine Diamonds. Authentic
Category

Antique 19th Century Pendant Necklaces

Materials

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

Art Deco Old Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
centre of the face we a single claw set oval faceted old mine cut diamond. This chunky stone is
Category

Early 20th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Art Deco 2 Carat Opal Old Mine Diamond Ring 18K Antique Wedding Engagement Ring
Located in New York, NY
approximately two carats. The exquisite opal is surrounded by a halo of 16 gorgeous sparkling white Old Mine
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Antique 0.61 Carat Old Cut Diamond Signet Ring
Located in London, GB
square shaped yellow gold head which plays host to an expertly star burst set oval faceted old mine cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Signet Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 0.61 Carat Old Cut Diamond Signet Ring
Located in London, GB
square shaped yellow gold head which plays host to an expertly star burst set oval faceted old mine cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Signet Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold

CHAISE Oval pendant-brooch in gold, silver, diamonds and natural pearls
Located in PARIS, FR
centerpiece is set with a 6.5 mm calibrated mobile button pearl and falling old mine cut and rose-cut diamonds
Category

Antique 1870s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Silver

Late Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold, Diamond, Onyx and Emerald Oval Ladies Ring
Located in Birmingham, AL
strip of six small diamonds. Then there is a rim of twelve matched Old Mine Cut Diamonds!!!! The mine
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Late Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 14k Gold

Antique Edwardian 1ct Diamond Ring 18k Gold Platinum Sz 5 Oval Cocktail Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
platinum. Old mine & rose cut diamonds total an estimated at 1 carat (estimated at K-L color and SI2-I2
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Yellow Gold, Diamond and Sapphire Ballerina Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
This whimsical ballerina brooch contains an old mine cut diamond face with oval cabochon sapphire
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond Gold Pendant Necklace
Located in Napoli, NA
features a principal Oval Old mine cut Diamond, weighing approx. 0,30 carat and other similarly-cut round
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

19th Century Diamonds, Silver and Gold Flower Set
Located in Napoli, NA
sparkling oval old mine cut diamond weighing approximately 1.5 ct. 12 kt gold and silver setting, late 19th
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Victorian Diamond and Silver Upon Gold Bracelet, 10.50ct, Circa 1870
Located in London, GB
A Victorian diamond bracelet, comprised of six oval old mine-cut diamond set panels, with a centre
Category

Antique 1870s British Victorian Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Edwardian Ruby Diamond Set Cluster Ring - Hallmarked Chester 1904
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
Edwardian ruby and diamond scalloped cluster ring in yellow gold. Featuring stunning old mine cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

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Old Mine Oval Diamond For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact old mine oval diamond you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and Platinum, this item was constructed with great care. Find an antique version now, or shop for 16 vintage or 3 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. You’re likely to find the perfect old mine oval diamond among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 19th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. As it relates to this specific piece, our collection includes designs that are universally popular, but 3.5 Carat and 4 Carat carat weights, specifically, are sought with frequency. Finding an appealing old mine oval diamond — no matter the origin — is easy, but Hancocks 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 oval cut cut and old european cut cut versions available here, too. Most of our old mine oval diamond for sale are for women, but there are 2 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is an Old Mine Oval Diamond?

Prices for an old mine oval diamond can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $995 and can go as high as $65,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $4,900.

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 Old Mine Oval 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.