Ascher Stone Q's - What to look for?

[SDplaya]

I'm looking for an Ascher stone and have read a good amount on here. Is it true to really focus on the "C" related to Cut the most when it comes to Ascher? Meaning a really great cut stone can maybe be the difference rather than G vs. H color or VVS2 vs VS, etc?

I've noticed this is a tough cookie to find as well as a recent trip to the LA Diamond district saw me looking at maybe 1 stone per vendor visited. It was tough to really get a good look at the marketplace.

i'm also frustrated by the fact I cannot view pictures of the actual stones at BN. Do they email you pics if you call? So many questions, I will dig in here and read more. Thanks in advance.

 

[swingirl]

Good Old Gold carries nice asschers with images. Try looking there.

 

[SDplaya]

Thank you will check them out now.

 

[SDplaya]

Good Old Gold carries nice asschers with images. Try looking there.

wow, I'm seeing a huge price variance from GOG vs. people in diamond district in LA. For example, I saw a 1.8 carat H color SI stone and they wanted $8800 whereas on GOG a smaller stone of 1.1 carat and G color VS2 they want $12k+. Why the variance? Is buying Aschers more of a range?

 

[decodelighted]

It's really hard to pick an Asscher stone without seeing it in person -- which is frustrating as there seem to be so few places that carry them compared to other cuts. Asschers face up smaller than other cuts ... need higher clarity because flaws are so evident in the *openness* of the cut .... and usually need higher color than other cuts for the same reason.

Do you have a size/budget in mind -- I'd try to look around for you. There's an amazing vintage one on (gasp) ebay right now but it's 35K+ I think.

 

[SDplaya]

It's really hard to pick an Asscher stone without seeing it in person -- which is frustrating as there seem to be so few places that carry them compared to other cuts. Asschers face up smaller than other cuts ... need higher clarity because flaws are so evident in the *openness* of the cut .... and usually need higher color than other cuts for the same reason.

Do you have a size/budget in mind -- I'd try to look around for you. There's an amazing vintage one on (gasp) ebay right now but it's 35K+ I think.

tell me about it! The worst part was that i drove 2+ hours to LA on a saturday thinking i'd see all these great stones in person and ended up only seeing 2-3 due to lack of access to aschers,

My budget is in the $8-12k range. Max would be $12500 or so. I was hoping for a 1.5+ size.

 

[decodelighted]

Same thing happened to me ... but in the NY Diamond District about 7 years ago! (And I was doing legwork for my now husband - cuz I: lady!)

I really lucked out & fell in love with a stone the perfect size & specs & price *in person* there -- but there weren't a lot to choose from. I had to rely on my eyes rather than a set of specs (as you can do w/ other shapes).

Vendors online can probably charge more for very appealing Asschers that they know they can back up with good pix & videos -- because there aren't that many! On the otherhand -- they aren't quite as popular as they were a few years back, so maybe they'd be negotiable?

1) Are you set on Asschers -- or would you also consider Emerald cuts (if they were "stubby" enough to be Asscher-esque?)

2) Did you see anything at the Diamond District that blew you away? In otherwords -- is the continued search just due diligence to make sure you haven't missed some bargains or better stones?

I'll say that my 1.5 H VVs1 Asscher & platinum setting came in under your budget .... seven years ago. Prices have gone up a lot w/diamonds since then. It could still be doable! Lets try!

 

[distracts]

wow, I'm seeing a huge price variance from GOG vs. people in diamond district in LA. For example, I saw a 1.8 carat H color SI stone and they wanted $8800 whereas on GOG a smaller stone of 1.1 carat and G color VS2 they want $12k+. Why the variance? Is buying Asschers more of a range?

Some of that depends on the reliability of the lab grading it. If GIA or AGS graded the stone, it will be more expensive than a similarly-graded stone from another lab (EGL, etc) or an "in-house" grading (i.e., ungraded), because those gradings are less reliable. For instance, that 1.8 H SI stone might be graded by the guy selling it to you, in which case he has an interest in making it look "better" than it is, while the GOG stone is GIA or AGS graded, and so definitely is a G VS2. Many EGL or in-house graded stones are actually lower colors and clarities than represented, and are often priced accordingly, which makes them seem like a "deal."

I'm not saying that's for sure what is going on, just what I've learned from these boards and have noticed on my own.

And YES cut can make a big, big difference - both in terms of look and pricing.

 

[SDplaya]

Same thing happened to me ... but in the NY Diamond District about 7 years ago! (And I was doing legwork for my now husband - cuz I: lady!)

I really lucked out & fell in love with a stone the perfect size & specs & price *in person* there -- but there weren't a lot to choose from. I had to rely on my eyes rather than a set of specs (as you can do w/ other shapes).

Vendors online can probably charge more for very appealing Asschers that they know they can back up with good pix & videos -- because there aren't that many! On the otherhand -- they aren't quite as popular as they were a few years back, so maybe they'd be negotiable?

1) Are you set on Asschers -- or would you also consider Emerald cuts (if they were "stubby" enough to be Asscher-esque?)

2) Did you see anything at the Diamond District that blew you away? In otherwords -- is the continued search just due diligence to make sure you haven't missed some bargains or better stones?

I'll say that my 1.5 H VVs1 Asscher & platinum setting came in under your budget .... seven years ago. Prices have gone up a lot w/diamonds since then. It could still be doable! Lets try!

Well SHE is set on Aschers! So Ascher it is. Nothing blew me away, then again, it was my first trip in person and I didn't really know the market and what i was lookign for. I was hoping to see a ton of stones and compare/contrast, but alas, I only saw 3 of which 1 I liked and the other has an EGL # I cannot seem to find online (Ive since called the vendor in LA to have them locate it again for me).

yes the continued search seems to be due dilligence and the fact that this vendor was a bit too "let's make a deal" for me and a wee bit too pushy for my liking. that and the fact this stone isn't GIA has me skeptical. I hope you're right! Where else should I be looking? I'm calling places in LA to setup appointments at least and let them dig up stones for me to view.

 

[SDplaya]

Here's one I have yet to view

EGL USA is #74194609D

How is the cut on this? Does it mean good/very good...which i interpret as a level below if GIA said that..worries me.

the vendor wants $8000...now interestingly, I called 2 weeks ago and never gave my name and th quoted me $9700....this is the crap I don't want to deal with, where I feel like I'm being sold a used car...so my confidence is low at this point in who to trust.

 

[decodelighted]

Cut grades are kinda a crap shoot. Some folks say that GIA "good" = actual "poor" so I can't imagine how wonky an EGL "good" is. And IN HOUSE "ratings" of stones are only as good & honest as the place doing the rating. For instance Blue Nile "Signature" cuts or whatever. Not sure how reliable they are on finicky little tricky asscher stones.

By the way -- the spelling is "Asscher" -- it's name comes from a family who invented the cut. Some vendor might have written down Ascher -- I've seen that happen before. But thought you might wanna know since you're going to be talking/writing about it a lot in the future!

 

[SDplaya]

Thank you, and yes Asscher it is! What did you think of the stone reports I just posted? EGL just scares me, is it safe to say to not bother with EGL?

 

[backwardsandinheels]

I like to compare them on James Allen's website to train my eye. Pricescope has a chart (Knowledge tab, then Fancy cuts) of dimensions to try to stay within for a fancy cut shape rating of excellent, good, etc. This is truly one of the cuts to see with your own eyes, preferably with other stones to compare it to. A windmill could be off, not as sparkly as expected,etc. I would let a little slide if you find a true vintage Asscher as that is a much more rare animal. There are old threads about what is an Asscher, square step cut, cut-cornered modified blah blah blah No, it's good info and will help to serve you well to be informed so that you ask good questions. Search the threads. Also, please post her ring size and is she color sensitive? Does she want a certain size stone for a certain reason? This pesky gorgeous shape faces up so small. I saw an Asscher at Costco yesterday that was 2 carats, same size side by side with a 1.5 round

Check out Good Old Gold's Octavia Asscher if you think your girl would like it, has more of a round brilliant sparkle to it. Good Old Gold has loads of Asscher tutorials. Good luck in your education!

 

[SDplaya]

I like to compare them on James Allen's website to train my eye. Pricescope has a chart (Knowledge tab, then Fancy cuts) of dimensions to try to stay within for a fancy cut shape rating of excellent, good, etc. This is truly one of the cuts to see with your own eyes, preferably with other stones to compare it to. A windmill could be off, not as sparkly as expected,etc. I would let a little slide if you find a true vintage Asscher as that is a much more rare animal. There are old threads about what is an Asscher, square step cut, cut-cornered modified blah blah blah No, it's good info and will help to serve you well to be informed so that you ask good questions. Search the threads. Also, please post her ring size and is she color sensitive? Does she want a certain size stone for a certain reason? This pesky gorgeous shape faces up so small. I saw an Asscher at Costco yesterday that was 2 carats, same size side by side with a 1.5 round

Check out Good Old Gold's Octavia Asscher if you think your girl would like it, has more of a round brilliant sparkle to it. Good Old Gold has loads of Asscher tutorials. Good luck in your education!

Lots of info to digest -- she wants an Asscher, it was a specific request/thought a long time ago that i remember. I like the look at the Asscher as well, but from what I've read, the way it sets, a bigger size stone might not even be showcased, so a 1.5 carat vs a 2.00 carat might even look about the same to her, which means, I'd rather go for a 1.5-1.75 range stone with premium cut. She isn't a color snob or know enough but I'd like to avoid any hue of yellow, which sounds like F-G territory or maybe i can get away with an H color. Clarity seems like something I can even let slide a bit too here, but would prefer VS1 or VS 2, and maybe, just maybe an SI-1 but I'd need to see in person to determine that.

I am headed up to LA next week and am setting up appointments. I'm convinced to stick with GIA but there just seems to be more inventory of EGL. Do I just aim for an insanely nice EGL graded one? meaning like an F color EGL assuming that would be considered G with GIA, etc? The price variance is quite large. Does it make sense to ask these vendors to email me pics of the stones in advance? Would any even do that? Man, that would save me a ton of hassle...