Portrait diamonds... "ultra flat"?

[Ninama]

Forgive me if this topic has been opened and closed already - I''ve never seen these before. I do recall DiaGem''s post about "ultra flat" diamonds. Are these the same thing?


A "portrait" diamond with G.I.A. certificate "DVS2" mounted in platinum as a ring with a delicate support set with tiny diamonds.

1 "DVS2" diamond 2.60 ct

Tiny diamonds 0.48 ct

Total Diamonds 3.08 ct

 

[Ninama]

A "portrait" diamond with G.I.A. certificate "DVS1" mounted in platinum as a ring with six fine tapered diamonds on the sides.

1 "DVS1" diamond 1.49 ct

6 diamonds 1.24 ct

Total Diamonds 2.73 ct

 

[angeline]

Ooohh weird! I can see why they''re called ''portrait'' Looks like it''s just waiting for someone to paint somehting on it!

 

[somethingshiny]

I was thinking it was because you could see a picture through it!

 

[bill83]

thats different. Doesn''t look like as much fun as a cut that flashes light back like a well cut round.

 

[diamondfan]

Looks like it is missing something for sure!

 

[Circe]

Heh - as I recall, that''s actually how they got their names. Cut out of flat rough, "portrait" diamonds were typically used in conjunction with finely painted miniatures. I remember that the most famous example is from a bracelet owned by the Romanov''s ...

ETA: I can''t seem to find a picture of it online, but here''s a description from a NYT review of a museum exhibition on the Imperial jewels:

"Then there is ''''The Portrait Diamond,'''' dating from around 1820. Said to be the biggest table-cut (flat) diamond in the world, it weighs about 27 carats. Like a piece of glass, it covers a miniature portrait of Alexander I (ruled 1801-25) set into a shield-shaped memorial bracelet of gold elaborately adorned with ivory and enamel work."

 

[Ninama]

Ahhhh .... ah hah.

http://www.mieks.com/Faberge2/Kelch-Eggs/Kelch-1898-Hen-Egg.htm

 

[diagem]

Date: 10/1/2007 10:10:27 PM
Author: Circe
Heh - as I recall, that''s actually how they got their names. Cut out of flat rough, ''portrait'' diamonds were typically used in conjunction with finely painted miniatures. I remember that the most famous example is from a bracelet owned by the Romanov''s ...

ETA: I can''t seem to find a picture of it online, but here''s a description from a NYT review of a museum exhibition on the Imperial jewels:

''Then there is ''The Portrait Diamond,'' dating from around 1820. Said to be the biggest table-cut (flat) diamond in the world, it weighs about 27 carats. Like a piece of glass, it covers a miniature portrait of Alexander I (ruled 1801-25) set into a shield-shaped memorial bracelet of gold elaborately adorned with ivory and enamel work.''

.,

Circe, you are correct..., it was used historically to cover fine miniatures or as the Shah Jahan as a Diamond ornament...
read: http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/shahjahantablecutdiamond.html

My Avatar is an Antique Portrait cut Diamond...

 

[Gypsy]

How can the Romanov one be the largest ''table cut'' diamond in the world when this one is 175 carat''s minimum? Maybe it is the largest ''portrait'' diamond... ie, one used to cover a portrait? This one looks like a mirror... and is as large as some!

http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/darya-i-nurdiamond.html

 

[diagem]

Date: 10/7/2007 4:45:04 AM
Author: Gypsy
How can the Romanov one be the largest ''table cut'' diamond in the world when this one is 175 carat''s minimum? Maybe it is the largest ''portrait'' diamond... ie, one used to cover a portrait? This one looks like a mirror... and is as large as some!

http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/darya-i-nurdiamond.html

The jewels of the Russian tsars have (if i remember) two "Diamond covered miniatures"...., they are covered with 27+ carats of a type of portrait cut or if you prefer table cut Diamonds...

One of them is owned by SJ Phillips in London..., (a miniature of Tsar Alexander I).

The greatest table cut was once documented by Tavernier as a 400 +/- carat pinkish table cut Diamond..., which was disappeared or re-cut to (maybe) the
Darya-I-Nur which is currently part of the Persian Crown Jewels...

Hope this helps clear things...

 

[oldminer]

We saved a portrait cut diamond from a small faced lady''s watch for the 1910 period some years ago. It was used as a watch crystal. It was very clear in clarity but somewhat brownish in color. The faceting around the beveled edge was similar to brilliant cut style rather than step cut. More than a few lady''s high grade wrist watches of the very early 1900''s had diamond crystals, but I have only ever seen 2 of them.

 

[Ninama]

Thanks, guys... those are amaaaazing pieces. Very interesting history, too.