In the market for an antique diamond engagement ring? We’ve created a comprehensive guide to buying antique stones to make things a little easier. Antique diamonds are desired because of their romantic feel, larger faceting and greater scintillation (flashes of light that appear when the stone is in movement). This causes the stones to have a fiery sparkle, especially in dim lighting, as they were cut in the 1800s with candlelight in mind.
Most antique stones range in color from J all the way through O, as their whiter counterparts were re-cut into modern stones. However, since diamonds are graded when they are face down, antique stones face up much whiter than their technical grade. This is why it’s so important to look beyond the paperwork when searching for the right diamond.