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History
Diamonds were first known to be polished in the 13th century. During the 16th century, faceting techniques were developed. Faceting methods continued to evolve, but diamonds were still hand-cut until the advent of modern precision cutting equipment in the early 1900s. The first diamond cuts were simple cuts with few facets and no faceting of the pavilion (the lower half of the stone) and therefore lacked the sparkle of modern cuts. The first brilliant diamonds appeared during the 1600s, but lacked the amount of facets of today's brilliant cuts. The OMC was created in 1681 by Vincent Peruzzi, a Venetian polisher, who added facets to the Double Cut Brilliant, making the first cut to feature the full 58 facets of modern brilliant cuts.
Lapidary Before Modern Equipment
The first method of diamond faceting consisted of holding a diamond against a wheel with a coating of diamond dust and oil. This method allowed for only the simplest faceting. During the 16th century, diamonds began to be cleaved, that is split along cleavage planes, giving crafters naturally flat surfaces, aiding stone shaping. During the 1600s, the diamond saw was invented. It consisted of a wire coated with diamond dust and oil that was rubbed across the stone, slowly cutting it. It was the invention of the diamond saw that made the brilliant cuts possible. This form of saw was used until the invention of modern lapidary equipment.
Features of OMC Diamonds
Because these early cutting methods lacked precision, no two OMC stones are exactly the same, with facets tending to be a bit uneven. The stones are referred to as off-round, resembling a cushion cut, being more or less rectangular with rounded corners. The table -- the top flat facet -- is smaller than previous cuts. The pavilion is also faceted, but is deeper than those of modern brilliant cuts, with a cutlet, or flat surface at the bottom that can be seen through the table. While the faceted pavilion gives the stone its brilliance, the depth makes the stone less fiery than modern brilliant cuts.
Caring For OMC Diamonds
If your OMC diamond is in an antique setting, it might need more care than modern jewelry. If the back of the setting is closed, the inside of the setting may be foiled to enhance stone's luminosity. Avoid putting the jewelry in water or wearing it in rain. If water gets into the jewelry, the foil can become dull or change color. Clean only the surface of the jewelry with a soft jewelry or eyeglass cloth or soft toothbrush. If the jewelry is an older piece, you might want to take it periodically to a jeweler who is experienced with antique jewelry to have it cleaned or restored if it has become dull or discolored.