Experts: "Old" diamonds or "New" diamonds

[tiger007g]

How can you tell if a stone is truly an antique cut stone or if it is a newly-cut stone in an old style? Is there something to look for that would give it away?

 

[JohnQuixote]

Well they are all pretty darn old

It would take a trained eye. There would likely be 'tells' in the girdle condition, polish/symmetry.

 

[denverappraiser]

There is no difinitive test. It''s all about hunting for clues.

The best is the provenance of the piece. This means that you have evidence of the ownership history. A cibachrome photo of great grandma wearing it for example. There are other clues available in the metalwork that would suggest a custom made setting to exactly fit a peculiar shape in a particular style and using particular techniques. Older stones regularly have bad polish but, as I''m sure you know, a modern cutter could do a bad polish if they wanted to and a properly skilled modern goldsmith can produce a darned belivable ''antique'' if they work at it and are properly motivated. Look for a preponderance of evidence. When professionals do this it''s called an educated opinion. For everyone else it''s a wild guess.

Look for the laser girdle etching that says ''To Julia - Love Ulysses. 08-22-1848''.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[PhillipSchmidt]

On that note Neil, how much do you think I will get for the coin I dug up with 200BC written on it?

 

[valeria101]

Date: 5/20/2005 9:14:03 PM
Author: Platinumsmith
On that note Neil, how much do you think I will get for the coin I dug up with 200BC written on it?

Well, you will get into the news !

Oldest known engraving on a diamond comes from barely 1000ad... and the stuff must have taken ages to get so perfect until then.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Neil and Phillip need to have a cable-access comedy show.

 

[bluedawg]

Funny thread, guys!