Engagement Rings

Old Mine Cut Engagement Rings

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East-west oriented old mine diamond solitaire ring with a hidden halo set in polished 18K yellow gold compass prongs.

Dynasty East-West Old Mine Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring with Twisted Compass Prong Setting and Hidden Halo

From $4,535 CAD

14k Yellow Gold14k White Gold14k Rose Gold18k Yellow Gold18k White GoldPlatinum+ 3 more

Canadian-made solitaire engagement ring featuring an old mine cut diamond with a hidden halo set in 18K yellow gold.

Dynasty Old Mine Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring with Flat Band and Hidden Halo

From $6,440 CAD

14k Yellow Gold14k White Gold14k Rose Gold18k Yellow Gold18k White GoldPlatinum+ 3 more

Canadian-made engagement ring with an east-west old mine diamond, half bezel setting, and a textured gold band.

Dynasty East West Old Mine Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring with Half Bezel and Hidden Halo

From $4,970 CAD

14k Yellow Gold14k White Gold14k Rose Gold18k Yellow Gold18k White GoldPlatinum+ 3 more

Old mine diamond solitaire engagement ring with a hidden halo and pavé band set in polished 18K yellow gold.

Dynasty Old Mine Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring with Hidden Halo and Pavé Band

From $5,345 CAD

14k Yellow Gold14k White Gold14k Rose Gold18k Yellow Gold18k White GoldPlatinum+ 3 more

Three-stone engagement ring featuring an old mine cut diamond with side stones in 18K yellow gold with a hidden halo.

Dynasty Three-Stone Old Mine Diamond Engagement Ring with Hidden Halo

From $12,585 CAD

14k Yellow Gold14k White Gold14k Rose Gold18k Yellow Gold18k White GoldPlatinum+ 3 more

Old Mine Cut Engagement Rings

An old mine cut engagement ring belongs to a category apart. Shaped by hand between the Georgian and Victorian eras, long before mechanical precision entered the craft, each old mine cut diamond carries a distinct anatomy: a high crown, a small table facet, a deep pavilion, and an open polished culet at the base. The outline is softly squared, with rounded corners that anticipate the modern cushion cut without replicating it. No two stones are identical. The slight irregularities in shape, depth, and proportion are not imperfections. They are the record of a hand that worked by eye, and the reason collectors seek this cut above all others.

What is an old mine cut diamond?

An old mine cut diamond is a hand-cut stone shaped primarily during the Georgian and Victorian eras, before modern mechanical cutting existed. It is defined by a high crown, small table facet, deep pavilion, open polished culet, and a softly squared outline with rounded corners. Because each stone was cut by hand and eye, no two are exactly alike. The resulting light return is warm and lower in intensity than modern brilliant cuts, producing a glow rather than a sharp optical performance.

What is the difference between an old mine cut and a cushion cut diamond?

The cushion cut is the modern evolution of the old mine cut. Both share a softly squared, pillow-like outline, but the differences lie in proportion and precision. Old mine cut diamonds have higher crowns, smaller tables, visible culets, and irregular outlines, the result of hand cutting. Cushion cuts are more precisely faceted, brighter in their return, and more consistent in shape. For clients who want old mine proportions in a new stone crafted to current ethical standards, a cushion cut is the considered contemporary equivalent, or lab grown interpretations of the old mine cut.

How are old mine cut diamonds certified and graded?

Old mine cut diamonds can be graded and certified by GIA or IGI, though reports for antique cuts typically cover colour, clarity, and carat weight rather than a cut grade, which applies to modern round brilliant standards. Ecksand works exclusively with GIA and IGI certified diamonds where certification applies. Small accent stones are assessed by Ecksand's gemmologists and may fall outside formal grading thresholds, consistent with the Maison's standards of transparency. Ecksand's gemmologists assess every stone before it enters the Maison's atelier, ensuring quality and transparency consistent with the Maison's values.

What metal works best with an old mine cut engagement ring?

Old mine cut diamonds were historically set in yellow gold, and the warm, lower-intensity light return of the cut reads particularly well against yellow and rose gold tones. Ecksand's solid gold of recycled origin offers the same warmth without compromise on provenance, available in yellow, white, and rose gold. Sustainable platinum is a considered choice for clients who prefer a neutral setting and want the strength of platinum's prong retention for a stone cut to historic proportions, worn daily.

Old Mine Cut Engagement Rings

The old mine cut diamond ring occupies a particular position in the current conversation around engagement jewellery. Its warm, lower-intensity light return differs markedly from the sharp brilliance of modern cutting. Where a contemporary round brilliant scatters light in measured uniform bursts, an old mine cut stone glows. It holds depth. It performs differently under candlelight than under direct sun, and many find that play of character more captivating than precision alone. Authentic old mine cut diamonds originate from the Georgian and Victorian eras, and the supply is finite. Ecksand's gemmologists, under the direction of Creative Director Erica Bianchini, assess each stone for character, proportion, and quality before it enters the Maison's atelier. Where an authentic stone is available and suited to the client's needs, it can be set in a new mounting crafted from solid gold of recycled origin in the Montreal atelier, bearing the Canadian National Mark.

For clients drawn to old mine cut proportions but seeking a new ring built to current ethical standards, the cushion cut is the considered contemporary equivalent. A direct descendant of the old mine cut, the cushion cut shares its softly rounded outline and pillow-like silhouette while offering more consistent faceting and a brighter return. Ecksand's cushion cut engagement rings are crafted from solid gold of recycled origin, set with GIA or IGI certified diamonds, and finished by the Maison's artisans in Montreal. Ecksand’s Diamond Ring builder allows clients to select stone, setting, and metal, arriving at a ring conceived around their specific wishes rather than an inherited catalogue. For those whose vision requires something beyond the catalogue, the custom design service is available through an appointment at the Montreal Maison, the Yorkville Boutique, or by virtual consultation.