Antique, as the name suggests means old. People are not so happy when they hear words such as old. However, when ever someone hears antique then it creates a lavish, royal and contemporary image in one’s mind.

Old European Style

Antique or old European diamond jewelry is always in demand from buyers, ladies and even young generations. Modern day cutters cut precious stones in old style to meet the demands of people. The reason for this increase in demand is the style that is used to cut this stone. Diamond in earlier days was cut in such a way so that the light falls directly to the top most face. The light was then passed to the bottom face from where it was split into rays of seven colors. These colors were the colors of rainbow which made the jewel appear more shiny and lustrous.

Another charming reason is the way it looks in candle light. Once the stone gets hit by candle light, it produces a charming and romantic effect. It is believed that these stones are a part of the family of the heirlooms and are transferred through generations. Some of the modern stones are cut in a form identical to the cut of stones in antique jewelry.

Old Mine Cut Style

The old European cut appears larger than the old Mine cut. This is because they have square and round shaped corners. These look similar to the modern day Asscher and Princess cut. These antique diamonds have thin girdles. Girdles are the edge around the body of the stone. It is also known that these precious things have certain chips in them. These chips are either polished away or are hided under the metal clasps.

Tint Style

Tint was not considered as beautiful as it is now days. It was available at a low cost also. Another specialty of both the Old Mine cut and the European cut is that they are famous for masking true colors.

Rose Cut Style

Rose cut is another variety of this precious stone. This was the most popular in earlier times and was the first one to have faceted cutting design. This is dome shaped in design as its bottom is flat shaped while all the faces come at one center to meet at the top. The facets form a point by meeting at the center. This kind of design, gives the jewel an appearance like a rose bud.

Antique jewelry comes in the form of pure gold or can be in a combination of gold and diamond. Despite of a variety of antique jewel items, diamonds have gained more favoritism than any other item. The increase in demand of these old style diamonds has led to a high growth result in the market of these ornaments. These ornaments also reflect the timelessness beauty of old days.

Diamond wholesalers are a great place to get one at a lower cost than from a retailer. But to make a purchase of a loose diamond, you should know about diamonds and how they are graded so you get what you pay for.

There is a general saying when judging a diamond. That is to know the 4 C’s. This is carat weight, cut, color and clarity. The weight is the easy part. This has to be measured and can be done so easily. Knowing the different cuts is also important. The difference between a princess cut, or a cushion is vastly different from each other but so are the marquise cuts. Know the difference between them before you engage with a diamond wholesaler. The uniformed can be taken advantage of easily.

A good warning sign when thinking about making a loose diamond purchase is if the wholesaler tells you that getting the diamond appraised is easy and that is how you can get a certificate for it. If you purchase a diamond without a certificate from either the GIA or AGS in America then you are taking a chance. The certificate is the way all diamonds are graded and priced, unless you are an expert. Not many people are unless they are in the diamond business.

Knowing the weight, color and cut are easy to judge, but the clarity is where the value can really come into play. This is what is referred to as the inclusions or impurities that each natural diamond possesses. If you can see dirt particles with the naked eye, the value of the diamond should not be very high. If the diamond wholesaler tells you different, then do not trust their advice and move on to another dealer.

Let’s face facts — buying a diamond engagement ring is one of the most important purchases that you will ever make. It will set the tone for your marriage, and may be more meaningful to you than the purchase of your first home.

Not only that, but buying an engagement ring is a big investment. Simply put, you want the best value for your money and you need to deal with someone that you can trust.