What is an Antique Cut Diamond? Old Mine, Old European & Rose Cut - Seven Swans – Seven Swans Fine Jewellery

What is an Antique Cut Diamond? Old Mine, Old European & Rose Cut Explained

Why antique cuts are having a moment

If you've been browsing engagement rings lately, you may have noticed a growing love for rings that feel less "mall jewellery" and more "discovered in a grandmother's jewellery box." That's the magic of antique diamond cuts — and at Seven Swans Fine Jewellery, they're our absolute speciality.

But what exactly is an antique cut diamond? And how do you choose between them? Let's break it down.

A brief history of diamond cutting

Before the invention of modern cutting technology in the early 20th century, diamonds were cut entirely by hand using rudimentary tools. Cutters prioritised preserving the rough stone's weight over maximising light return — which is why antique cuts have larger facets, higher crowns, and smaller tables than modern stones.

The result is a diamond that glows rather than sparkles — warm, romantic, and full of depth.

The main antique cuts

Old Mine Cut

The Old Mine Cut is the great-great-grandparent of the modern round brilliant. It has a cushion-like outline, a high crown, a small table, and a large culet (the flat facet at the bottom of the stone). Old Mine Cuts were the dominant diamond shape from the 1700s through to the early 1900s.

They produce a soft, warm, candlelit glow — quite different from the sharp, white sparkle of a modern brilliant. They're perfect for anyone who loves vintage, antique, or romantic aesthetics.

Old European Cut

The Old European Cut is the direct predecessor to the modern round brilliant, developed in the late 1800s. It's round in outline with a smaller table, larger facets, and a higher crown than modern cuts. It produces a beautiful, romantic sparkle — softer and more diffuse than a modern brilliant.

Old European Cuts are ideal for those who love a classic round diamond but want something with more soul and character.

Rose Cut

The Rose Cut is one of the oldest diamond cuts, dating back to the 1500s. It has a flat base with a domed top covered in triangular facets — like the petals of a rose. Rose cuts have no culet and sit very low on the finger, making them incredibly comfortable to wear.

They have a subtle, ethereal shimmer rather than a bright sparkle, and they suit minimalist, nature-inspired, and antique settings beautifully.

Moval

The Moval is a rare antique hybrid shape — somewhere between an oval and a marquise. It has a distinctive elongated form with softly pointed ends and large, open facets. Movals are full of personality and incredibly flattering on the hand.

At Seven Swans, we source Movals from specialist lapidarists who cut them from lab-grown rough using traditional techniques — making them both rare and ethically produced.

Baguette

The Baguette is a step-cut rectangular stone with clean, geometric lines. It's bold, architectural, and incredibly chic. Baguettes work beautifully as solitaires for those who love a modern-meets-antique aesthetic.

Lab-grown antique cuts: the best of both worlds

At Seven Swans, all of our antique-cut stones are lab-grown. This means you get the soul and character of an antique cut with the ethical credentials and affordability of a lab diamond.

We work with specialist lapidarists who cut modern lab-grown rough using traditional antique techniques — so every stone is unique, just as antique stones were.