Antique-Cut Yellow Diamond Ring Takes Hancocks’ September Spotlight

By Annie Davidson Watson | September 04, 2025

Stepping into the new season, Hancocks London is featuring as its September Jewel of the Month a gold ring that bridges centuries of diamond-cutting tradition with bold, modern design.

At the heart of the ring is a 2.38 ct. fancy intense yellow pear-shape diamond, a colored stone so vibrant that it appears to glow from within. Its cut is steeped in history, tracing back to 15th-century Belgium, where pioneering master cutter Lodewyk van Bercken first perfected the pear shape.

“Antique pear cuts are softer and fuller in proportion than modern versions, often with smaller tables and higher crowns that create exceptional fire and life,” explained Guy Burton, managing director of Hancocks London, in a statement. “These old cuts have a charm and character that is very different from modern brilliant cuts, and as a result they are increasingly sought-after.”

Along with the rare and romantic allure of its center stone, the ring is distinctive for its setting. Rather than relying on a traditional prong, a so-called gypsy setting secures the diamond flush into a 22k brushed yellow gold band.

This design detail, which recalls the Victorian era, not only heightens durability but also delivers a sleek, sculptural silhouette that reads strikingly contemporary. The brushed gold surface was chosen, Burton noted, to intensify the stone’s saturated yellow hue, allowing the diamond to radiate with even greater warmth.

Priced at £55,000 (approximately $73,900), the ring is a seamless meeting of past and present—a jewel that honors antique craftsmanship while embracing a clean, modern sensibility.

(Photo courtesy of Hancocks London)

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