about to buy asscher diamond, which to choose?

[james007]

hello, i would like to hear your recommendations. thanks!

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/asscher-cut/1.02-carat-E-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-211870

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/asscher-cut/1.03-carat-F-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-21415

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/asscher-cut/1.32-carat-G-color-vs1-clarity-sku-211740


Diamond item #211870: 1.02ct, E, VVS1, $7950
Diamond item #21415: 1.03ct, F, VVS1, $8480
Diamond item #211740: 1.32ct, G, VS1, $8760

I've attached an interpretation guide for ASET images to the bottom of this email, so please read that over. Other customers have found it very helpful and I hope you agree!

The great news is all three diamonds are really pretty. They are all white in color, eye-clean and have nice light performance.

In comparing them to each other, diamond item #211870 has very nice balance of light and dark areas and there is no notable windowing and dark shadows, however in natural light dark areas are apparent. Diamond item #211740 is comparable. It is also a very pretty diamond with a very nice balance of alternating light and dark in the step cut. It has a very slight bit of windowing, however in natural light it is white and has nice balance.

Diamond item #21415 compared to the other two diamonds has the most windowing and the light performance is very slightly asymmetrical. It also looks the smallest. Regarding the filmy, granular appearance on the face of the diamond in the movie, the Gemologist said it is just grease from a finger and it wiped right off.

============ ASET

I don't know how to upload the ASET images here, but my perspective is: 21415 shows the most red areas almost no dark spaces. Followed by diamond 211870 which shows less broad red areas, but increase in dark areas and last 211740 which shows the less amount of red areas. the red green pattern look very symmetric in the three diamonds.

 

[woofmama]

save the pictures to your computer then under post a reply hit the browse button to upload. Upload each one then click the place inline.

 

[james007]

Here they are, same order:

 

[woofmama]

Great you were able to post the ASET's!
Okay here are my thoughts: I would rule out numbers 1 & 2. Number 3 looks beautiful in the video, has the largest faceup and the ASET looks good. I like the red/green contrast in the ASET for #2 but based on gemoligists comments and smaller faceup I would choose #3.

 

[Niel]

I don't mean to show you more options. But those are all pretty expensive for a 1 ct. At that price you could get a branded asscher

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8863/

 

[Enerchi]

Disclaimer - NOT an asscher expert! but if you are lucky - Gypsy (who IS!) will be by to comment. Christina is awesome at asschers too

If I were purchasing, I agree w Woofmama and prefer #3 from the JA options and I do like the GOG one listed above... but bang for buck wise, I'd go #3 JA.

Gypsy, Christina ... where are you???

 

[woofmama]

I don't mean to show you more options. But those are all pretty expensive for a 1 ct. At that price you could get a branded asscher

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8863/

Octavias are beautiful but really don't look like a classic asscher. Look up Kennys rings and you can see a very notable difference.
Personally I prefer the classic asscher. They have a quiet, art deco vibe and beauty. Octavias are very busy stones and very deep so harder to choose a setting. Plus they have a smaller faceup since most of their weight is in the depth.

 

[Niel]

I don't mean to show you more options. But those are all pretty expensive for a 1 ct. At that price you could get a branded asscher

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8863/

Octavias are beautiful but really don't look like a classic asscher. Look up Kennys rings and you can see a very notable difference.
Personally I prefer the classic asscher. They have a quiet, art deco vibe and beauty. Octavias are very busy stones and very deep so harder to choose a setting. Plus they have a smaller faceup since most of their weight is in the depth.

That's true I suppose. I do prefer those steps as well, just thought I'd pass it along. Of those choices I think of pick the largest one, sense asschers face up small. But I if it were me I'd go lower in color and try to get closer to 1.5ct. Just because of the size. But if she is color sensitive I'd still say go for the size and pick the largest one...

 

[james007]

I have seen that octavia asscher before, but I think I still prefer the classic asscher. From the three diamonds, my first option was diamond number two. I like the ASET image on that one. Based on the the 360 photos, I prefer the brilliance of diamond three, but I like the smaller table of diamond two. Other difference I think may be causing the difference in brilliance is what they refer about the diamond being dirty prior to taking the pictures, and also due to the fact that diamond #2 has 3 facet pavilion and diamond #3 has 4. Any recommendation on that? I very concerned about the description on diamond #2 on being slightly asymmetrical and increased windowing. When I see the photo and the ASET images it doesn't appear asymmetrical to me. I don't like asschers that look dark in the center, based on the photo angles they present, diamond #2 shows the less dark areas, I'm thinking it may be due to it having more red areas on the aset images, I probably wrong on this as I'm not an expert at all.

 

[woofmama]

Hopefully Chrono, Julie and KarlK will be along soon to help with your questions. I'm not nearly as experienced as them.
Gypsy was always great with stepcuts but doesn't post much these days. Christina also should have some feedback.

I'm on a learning curve with these stones so I'll wait to see if any of the above folks jump in to help. Stepcuts are my favorite so I follow every thread closely.

 

[james007]

I don't think they are here today

 

[lunemo]

I am not an expert but am an asscher owner. I like the look of 21415 the most. Good luck with your purchase!

 

[Niel]

Is there a reason you want to stay so high in color? Lowering in color will get you a larger stone. Which for this type of cut does really help.

 

[Niel]

Do you think these are bad choices?

I am no expert with step cuts, so i wouldnt feel comfortable saying one way or the other. I just am asking because 10k is a lot of money, and i dont want you to pay that much for a stone and it not meet your expectations. Have you looked at 1ct asschers in person? have you looked at asschers in a variety of colors? a few people her have dropped down to i-k colors in step cuts to get a larger size.

Im not sure if that works for you or not. Some people want super colorless, some are comfortable with lower and even prefer lower colors, and it works for them. I just hope youve considered those options too, because the diamond industry prices a D-G color higher, but that doesnt mean its necessarily "better" for you, you know?

 

[woofmama]

Based on your experience, i'm trying to get the best diamond deal I can, are these james allen diamond prices worth what they claim? I will be paying over 10,000$, this is a huge sacrifice I'll be making. That's why I have been asking all these questions. I want something I will really like. Whatever I give to my girlfriend she will love it, but I want it to be great.

I'm confused- are you asking on behalf of the original OP james007? Are you the significant other?

 

[chrono]

#3 is the prettiest in the video but seeing so much green in the ASET makes me hesitate. It doesn't mean it's not a nice stone though, I think it just needs to be looked at in person. Perhaps the green is bordering the red, so who knows. The only way to tell is to have the stone in hand and play around with it in different light situations to see how sparkly it is and how the steps reflect light.

 

[james007]

yes, sorry it's the same user, first time I subscribed to the forum I used the other username, but was not able to change it and created another this other account. I have never posted before with that username, btw is there a way to remove it? when I wrote from my phone it looks I was already logged with that other account, didn't even notice. I intend to stay james007

 

[james007]

what are your thoughts about #2? are the three pavilion not a good choice? is it probably the diamond is dirty as they claim?

 

[woofmama]

what are your thoughts about #2? are the three pavilion not a good choice? is it probably the diamond is dirty as they claim?

Number 2 will face up the smallest. I'm sure it was just dirty, my diamond has to cleaned daily, smudges show up really easy on step cuts.
Have you seen an asscher in person? 1ct is about the size of a .75ct round. I would like to recommend you choose number three. Much better size for the money and you don't need an E or F. You can send it back if you don't love it. I returned a diamond recently to JA and it was very easy.

 

[james007]

Thanks all for your help, I think I will finally go with 3 as the majority of you has recommended that, as well as the gemologist review. If I don't like it, I'll return it for sure.

 

[Karl_K]

Plus they have a smaller faceup since most of their weight is in the depth.

Going by the mm measurements the Octavia is the biggest 1ct stone being considered.
Due to the small table and large corners they face up in the same range as other well cut asschers.
I get the preference part and don't have a problem with that :}
The are different and I love the more classic style asschers also when they are well cut almost as much as mine.

OP since the Octavia is in consideration I don't feel I can comment on the other diamonds.
It would not be fair and against the rules.

 

[james007]

Plus they have a smaller faceup since most of their weight is in the depth.

Going by the mm measurements the Octavia is the biggest 1ct stone being considered.
Due to the small table and large corners they face up in the same range as other well cut asschers.
I get the preference part and don't have a problem with that :}
The are different and I love the more classic style asschers also when they are well cut almost as much as mine.

OP since the Octavia is in consideration I don't feel I can comment on the other diamonds.
It would not be fair and against the rules.

Hi Karl_K, thanks for your comment. My post is about the first three diamonds. I never intended to consider the octavia asscher. Someone brought it to the conversation, and I just mentioned I have seen it before. I have looked in many websites about asscher diamonds and finally decided probably will buy from james allen, as I liked the service so far, they review my diamond selection without any additional cost. I saw an octavia video from GOG and the diamond is beautiful but it is not the style I'm looking for. I don't wish to offend anyone by saying this, it's just I prefer the classic asscher.

If possible, I like to hear your comment about the three diamonds. If your still feel it would be unethical, I'll understand. Thanks!

 

[Karl_K]

Since the Octavia is out of play I can answer.
Because of the stone laying on its side in the pictures which makes it hard to judge face up appearance and affects the look because it is laying on a major facet I put a lot of weight in the gemologist opinion.

My question for the gemologist is do the darker(pattern) areas flash with small tilt on #211870?
I think #211870 is worth an in person look if the answer to that is yes.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I don't know asschers and I am not sure if we have our asscher cut experts on this thread (other than Karl of course). And apologies in advance if anyone posting here who knows asschers.

Anyways, I am just throwing an option out here that I really like. They are accepting offers and you can get a 1.7ct diamond with GIA cert. It is a reputable seller and I am sure you can negotiate.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-00CT-ASSCHER-ANTIQUE-VINTAGE-SOLITAIRE-DIAMOND-ENGAGEMENT-WEDDING-RING-PL-GIA-/151044290680?pt=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item232af0f878

 

[Karl_K]

I don't know asschers and I am not sure if we have our asscher cut experts on this thread (other than Karl of course). And apologies in advance if anyone posting here who knows asschers.

Anyways, I am just throwing an option out here that I really like. They are accepting offers and you can get a 1.7ct diamond with GIA cert. It is a reputable seller and I am sure you can negotiate.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-00CT-ASSCHER-ANTIQUE-VINTAGE-SOLITAIRE-DIAMOND-ENGAGEMENT-WEDDING-RING-PL-GIA-/151044290680?pt=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item232af0f878

Bad p3 angles look at the first on finger pic, you can see the finger through the diamond all over the P3s.
Actually that diamond should be the poster child for bad p3 angles.

 

[chrono]

We call that "windowing" in CS because the last 3 tiers of the pavilion is too shallow.

 

[CharmyPoo]

Good learning. I noticed in one of the pics but not so much others.

 

[Karl_K]

Good learning. I noticed in one of the pics but not so much others.

Glare from spot lighting can hide it, in more diffused lighting it really stands out.
I would guesstimate in this case it is costing this stone about 30%+ of its brightness potential.

 

[CharmyPoo]

Doesn't sound too hot after the evaluation.

 

[isaku5]

I'm no expert by any means, but I have seen generic asschers which are sleek and stylish, but don't rival the sparkle factor of the Octavia.

On PS many folks liked the asscher look, but couldn't get past the lack of sparkle and fire; hence, the Octavia which sparkles like crazy. Both are options. It's all about individual taste.