Journal

The Journal

Field notes from inside the antique and estate jewelry trade — what to look for, what to walk away from.

Loose old mine and old European cut diamonds on green velvet with brass calipers, a loupe and diamond cut diagrams.
October 2026

Diamond Shapes Guide: Oval, Cushion, Emerald, Pear and Marquise — and Their Antique Ancestors

Diamond shapes compared: oval, cushion, emerald, Asscher, pear and marquise, with face-up size, bow-tie, length-to-width ratios, durability, colour visibility and price per...

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A hand wearing an antique old European cut diamond ring on green velvet, with two antique halo rings and a diamond necklace nearby.
September 2026

Why Antique Diamonds Sparkle Differently: Fire, Brilliance and the Light They Were Cut For

Antique and modern diamonds do not just look different — they are solving different optical problems, for different light. Understanding fire, brilliance...

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Old European and old mine cut diamonds beside a modern brilliant, showing antique cut differences.
August 2026

Old European vs. Old Mine Cut Diamonds: How Antique Cuts Compare to the Modern Brilliant

Old European, old mine, and modern brilliant cuts are three different ways of seeing light. Here's how to tell them apart —...

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