HCA and Early Round Brilliants

[Karl_K]

I just wanted to say thank you Luminous1 for sharing this diamond with us, it is absolutely stunning!!!!

 

[LightBright]

It may be and most likely is a some what modern descriptive term rather than a name used back in the day.
I picked it up on some website years ago and Al Gilbertson mentions them in his book but does not call them 40/40 cuts that I recall.
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...irst-100-years-al-gilbertson-free-pdf.228643/

I think you are correct, there are many "common names" in diamonds and jewelry.

Oh how I love Al Gilbertson’s book. In it, you will find a key to the “early modern brilliant” cut styles of the various European and American diamond cutting centers with their respective angles and a picture. I’ll try to link to that page once I find it. FASCINATING book.

 

[Sagebrush]

John Pollard,

Very interesting historical riff, thanks

Richard

 

[ringo865]

Here you go.... I'm holding my finger over a small led light- hence the orange color.

Oh wow. Nice high crown. I bet colored light just shoots off that stone!!! Yummy

 

[John P]

John Pollard, Very interesting historical riff, thanks

Thank YOU maestro. Tip of the hat.

@LightBright , @Karl_K , @rockysalamander and others - while we're on the topic of fascinating books, @Sagebrush , Richard Wise, is the author of The French Blue. I'd recommend it for any lover of diamonds and gems. Epic tale, fun to read, great historical information.

https://www.amazon.com/French-Blue-Richard-W-Wise/dp/0972822364

 

[Karl_K]

Thank YOU maestro. Tip of the hat.

@LightBright , @Karl_K , @rockysalamander and others - while we're on the topic of fascinating books, @Sagebrush , Richard Wise, is the author of The French Blue. I'd recommend it for any lover of diamonds and gems. Epic tale, fun to read, great historical information.

https://www.amazon.com/French-Blue-Richard-W-Wise/dp/0972822364

hmmm I have some Christmas money left.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Not read all this. But i spent some time with Scott Sucher who has done most of the research on the Taviner. French Blue. And Hope.
He has had access to the lead models from British museum which was scanned by one of Sergey partners in Antwerp.
He has been left alone in the vault at Smithsonian with the Hope and has proven conclusively how each fits into its predecessors and why tje crystallography resluted in some of the facets.
Check him out at MuseumDiamonds.com

 

[Sagebrush]

Garry,

I spent sometime with Scott a few years back. Interesting to note that the French Blue was apparently one of the first brilliants. Here's a link to the book site, you'll find my articles under History. http://thefrenchblue.com/index2.htm

 

[valeria101]

I never knew my jeweller-grandmother to use the term 40/40, but it was one of the patterns she really favored.

I have one memory of 40/40: it was the model I hit upon as my Ideal, while playing with DiamCalc (there must be an old, old thread around here...).

Glorious contrast ... indifferent to substantial deviations from symmetry, aside reasonable pplay around the literal 40/40 ... & great for my favorite gypsy setting where pavilions cannot hope for light ... Everything & then some !

I was certainly suprised to come back to Pricescope after not few years & find the place rife with old cut revivals, not far from what I thought to be a great neighbourhood of proportions ...