1.2-1.5ct Asscher cut

[aesbuggin]

We've been shopping to much lately and I'm starting to get overwhelmed, so I need someone to reel me in a little

We had several Asscher cuts shipped into local jewelers and we keep seeing a pattern...that all want to send D-F diamonds! WHY!?! I know color and clarity are very important for a step cut diamond, is it really necessary to go that colorless? It's negatively affecting the size they are ordering. We have clearly stated 1.2+, but we keep getting sent stones around 1ct. Budget is about $7000 for the stone. Here's what we currently have on "hold". They are from a variety of places (local jewelers, a chain and a friend of the family wholesaler) so they prices seem to vary A LOT!

1.01 D VVS2 $6465 - beautiful stone, overpriced (chain) and small..we can do better
.96 F VS1 $5872 - great stone, looks much larger that the 1.03 they have
1.51 J VS1 $7100 - visible color, I was kind of frustrated they would even so that low
1.26 H VS1 $6415 - our favorite so far! beautiful stone and seems like good value
Wild Card! - 1.33 D VVS2 emerald cut - 1:1.23 ratio so it is somewhat square until you compare it to an actual square. GORGEOUS but that shape throws me completely off and I'm scared I would regret not getting the asscher i've loved.... BUT it's $5400! It's a stone that is owns by our wholesaler friend, so he can play with price more

One online that has caught my attention: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/A131-2APAVU

Setting is a petite pave halo with pave band. We want the stone to be center stage, so the halo is going to be a step below the stone kind of like the Tacori bloom, but not as ornate. Pretty much you don't see all of the halo diamonds when you are looking straight down at it center stone they tucked away.

Ok so I know I'm rambling, but I'm just not sure where to go. I'm a serial shopper, I think I'll be that person that doesn't pick a dress because I just want to keep trying them on. Do we keep getting them to pull diamonds or what? The 1.26ct is that top pick right now.
Starting to wish I didn't even get involved with this...but he's the one that wanted me to go :/

 

[chrono]

I presume you've informed the shops that you do not want only D-F diamonds? I am not a fan of the ED diamond due to the cut quality. Unfortunately, because you are shopping locally and did not provide any pictures, no one here can comment on the cut quality of the 1.26 ct you are interested in.

 

[MarionC]

I went through what you are going through now and had Asschers....0.9 & 1.55 in lower colors before going with a K.
FYI, Here's a video of it. I don't think you need a D/F, just great optics.
Go for the one that knocks your socks off. This one did for me, and it cost about a third of a D, yet looks colorless in person.
https://youtu.be/KLJ4hf-VPJU

edit: FYI that video was filmed with daylight illumination.

 

[aesbuggin]

I apologize, I know that post is all over the place. I guess my question is more about what should we be looking for in an asscher cut? Is this D-F is necessary for the stone to standout or are G-H stones just harder to find. I don't have the GIA #s for them, I tried to find an opportunity to write it down at the store, but it didn't work out.

The 1.26 is definitely the front runner, but I just feel like we need something to compare it to. It's hard to compare D, H and J diamonds...I honestly think I like that tiny bit of "color" you get from an H. The D & E almost look fake to me.

 

[aesbuggin]

Beautiful stone, Jimmianne! I don't think I would have been as bothered by the color of the J they brought in if it hadn't been sitting next to that D emerald...It's hard not to see the color when you have something so flawless next to it.

Why are asschers so hard!?!

 

[chrono]

Colour is colour; it has little to no bearing on how sparkly the stone is. High colour is whiter and low colour is warmer/yellower, which is a personal preference. G/H is a safe middle ground if you want a larger size. GIA numbers are useless when buying step cuts and to gauge cut quality. It is only useful to know that the colour and clarity grading is accurate. Cut quality determines how sparkly or dull the diamond will look and when it comes to step cuts, it is one of the most important C to me because it has so few facets that every angle working in concert counts.

In terms of colour, I love the icy whiteness of D-F but I am also willing to drop as far as I if needed. I am unable to appreciate anything lower than I in step cuts but it doesn't mean that others don't.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would limit my search to G-H color, probably. You have to give them the parameters so they aren't wasting money shipping in stones that are not what you want. However, there is no way to know if an asscher is well cut with minimal leakage without an ASET image showing light return. I bought a 1 ct asscher from Good Old Gold and they called some in, evaluated them for light return, and they took a video for me. I am going to post the video for you so that you can see the difference between very good and excellent asschers.

Just a note, the cut grades on the Enchanted Diamonds site mean nothing for fancy shapes. They work somewhat on rounds, but there is no numerical formula that can really assess fancy shapes. You have to see the stone and have an ASET image to see if the stone is a dud with lots of leakage or a brilliant, beautifully cut stone. ED won't be able to access an ASET as they don't have that stone in inventory. They just list stones from large diamond suppliers and only have the pics given to them by the suppliers.

Bottom line, I'd really probably only search for asschers through GOG because I know they would help me find the best one. I think anywhere that won't supply the ASET image is risky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7SBfNGxTFE&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA&index=2

 

[MarionC]

Beautiful stone, Jimmianne! I don't think I would have been as bothered by the color of the J they brought in if it hadn't been sitting next to that D emerald...It's hard not to see the color when you have something so flawless next to it.

Why are asschers so hard!?!

thanks! It took me ages to find mine, a real "holy grail" search". It's hard when you can't see a lot at once. I agree with DS about GOG. & they have many education videos on youTube comparing Asschers that are fun to watch. That was really helpful for me to understand what I was looking at, and looking for.
Those Ds can really throw a monkey wrench in the works
However, a warmer stone can be a perfect backdrop for color flashes and more character, so warm does not equal bad and many people prefer it to the icy-white of a D.

 

[aesbuggin]

I would limit my search to G-H color, probably. You have to give them the parameters so they aren't wasting money shipping in stones that are not what you want. However, there is no way to know if an asscher is well cut with minimal leakage without an ASET image showing light return. I bought a 1 ct asscher from Good Old Gold and they called some in, evaluated them for light return, and they took a video for me. I am going to post the video for you so that you can see the difference between very good and excellent asschers.

Just a note, the cut grades on the Enchanted Diamonds site mean nothing for fancy shapes. They work somewhat on rounds, but there is no numerical formula that can really assess fancy shapes. You have to see the stone and have an ASET image to see if the stone is a dud with lots of leakage or a brilliant, beautifully cut stone. ED won't be able to access an ASET as they don't have that stone in inventory. They just list stones from large diamond suppliers and only have the pics given to them by the suppliers.

Bottom line, I'd really probably only search for asschers through GOG because I know they would help me find the best one. I think anywhere that won't supply the ASET image is risky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7SBfNGxTFE&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA&index=2

Thank you! That was helpful!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I am glad! Finding fancy shape stones is not easy, because the majority are not really well cut. But great cut is important and worth seeking!

 

[aesbuggin]

Could the quality of the cut play into why jewelers tend to lean towards D-F? Do quality of cut and color go hand in hand?

In response to making sure the jewelers know our parameters, we've had lengthy discussions about what we are looking for. I think there is just isn't a lot to choose from. The first one's they brought in were more based on what they thought were good stones and we've kind of gone from there. I had never seen an asscher under 2.5ct before we started this process, so it's been a learning experience.

 

[Huldak]

Color and cut quality are not linked, no.

You've gotten good advice, I recently went through the asscher buying process too and went with GOG. You might also go on jamesallen.com. It's fun to view the diamonds on there and they will get you asets on 3.

 

[chrono]

Could the quality of the cut play into why jewelers tend to lean towards D-F? Do quality of cut and color go hand in hand?

I wrote about this a few responses up in this thread:
Colour is colour; it has NO bearing on the cut quality of any diamond. There are D-F diamonds with great cut and there are D-F diamonds with atrocious cut, so no, they do not go hand in hand.

 

[MarionC]

Could the quality of the cut play into why jewelers tend to lean towards D-F? Do quality of cut and color go hand in hand?

In response to making sure the jewelers know our parameters, we've had lengthy discussions about what we are looking for. I think there is just isn't a lot to choose from. The first one's they brought in were more based on what they thought were good stones and we've kind of gone from there. I had never seen an asscher under 2.5ct before we started this process, so it's been a learning experience.

My jeweler told me that asschers are glassy without much flash, then showed me one they had just acquired for a client and were all excited about. It leaked, even I could see that and I was just learning. I don't blame them - I don't think many people are aware.
When I dealt with James Allen, there was a guy there named Gary who was really good at choosing the better ones in their inventory [which are often available to many vendors, not in hand, although I would certainly buy from JA if they were the ones to pick out my stone], so if you look at things on JA you might want Gary along for the ride for his input. When I was talking with him he worked on Weds & Sats.