Asscher cut engagement ring

[violetrose262]

Hello Everyone!

So...I am in love with the Asscher Cut Rings! I especially love the Daniel K Rosebud Ring. I think my boyfriend is fed up with me obsessing about finding the perfect ring, so I decided to write a post. I have a problem that maybe someone can help me with. I really want and asscher cut ring but I do not like princess cut rings. I need to find an asscher cut ring that people will not think or ask me if it is a princess cut. My question is...does anyone know a way I can place the prongs so it really enhances the asscher cut and does not make it look so square like a princess cut? I definitely want a pave setting also...please let me know...thanks so much in advance!!!

 

[chrono]

Well, in general, a lot of people don't know/care much about the different cuts of diamonds. Most see a square cut stone and automatically think its a princess cut because they are pretty common in the mall chain stores. Asschers are still pretty rare in B&M stores. Doing a double prong or ribbon prong might make it look more asscherish. But really, I don't think there's much you can do. I think the two cuts are as different as night and day.

 

[fanboy]

I had the same problem. If the Asscher is really big, claw prongs will be fine as they won''t cover up much of the cut corners and the diamond will still look octagonal. Otherwise, you can do a halo setting where the halo is shaped like an octagon.

 

[vespergirl]

You might want to do a baguette halo, which emphasizes the clipped corners, like this one:

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 7/12/2007 2:56:20 PM
Author:violetrose262
I need to find an asscher cut ring that people will not think or ask me if it is a princess cut.

Not. Gonna. Happen. Know why? PEOPLE ARE DUMB. They just are. I was AT THE DIAMOND DISTRICT in NYC and sales folks would tell me cushions were asschers and asschers were cushions and radiants were princesses etc etc etc.

Most "regular folk" have never HEARD of asschers. And I mean 99.5% of people. TRULY. Even if it was 10 carats and had the word asscher inscribed on it's face people wouldn't look at it and say "Hey, that's an ASSCHER!" People, however, HAVE heard of princesses. They think "square" and they think "princess". It's just how it is.

Seriously: toughen up & get over it. Or choose another cut.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 7/12/2007 3:29:53 PM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 7/12/2007 2:56:20 PM

Author:violetrose262

I need to find an asscher cut ring that people will not think or ask me if it is a princess cut.

Not. Gonna. Happen. Know why? PEOPLE ARE DUMB. They just are. I was AT THE DIAMOND DISTRICT in NYC and sales folks would tell me cushions were asschers and asschers were cushions and radiants were princesses etc etc etc.


Most ''regular folk'' have never HEARD of asschers. And I mean 99.5% of people. TRULY. Even if it was 10 carats and had the word asscher inscribed on it''s face people wouldn''t look at it and say ''Hey, that''s an ASSCHER!'' People, however, HAVE heard of princesses. They think ''square'' and they think ''princess''. It''s just how it is.


Seriously: toughen up & get over it. Or choose another cut.

Unfortunately I have to agree with Deco. I have a RECTANGULAR cushion and people constantly ask if it''s a princess, even at jewelry stores!

 

[Gypsy]

Ditto Deco.

I was in a nice jewelry store looking at settings a few months back and had to CONVINCE the saleswoman that my diamond wasn''t a princess. You know what she decided at the end? That it was a princess and some unscrupulous jeweler had lied to me.

It''s just part of being an asscher owner.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

It will indeed happen, more often than you will be able to count.

However, I have a metal halo, so the octagonal-ish shape of the setting confuses most people at first.

I think if you go with a smaller than 1 ct. Asscher, you''ll probably want a halo to differentiate the shape, but people have no clue how many distinct diamond shapes are out there.

Good luck on your search!

 

[swingirl]

I don''t think most people know about any of the square cuts other than princess or emerald. If you tell people your asscher is really an emerald cut that is square instead of rectangular they will understand. But you can''t educate everyone so why bother. You know what it is and so do we!!! That''s all that matters! Tee hee!

 

[fanboy]

I took the OP to be concerned with the Asscher''s octagon shape appearing merely rectangular in some settings, not that she was concerned with people knowing the name of her diamond''s shape.

 

[surfgirl]

I have a problem that maybe someone can help me with. I need to find an asscher cut ring that people will not think or ask me if it is a princess cut. My question is...does anyone know a way I can place the prongs so it really enhances the asscher cut and does not make it look so square like a princess cut? I definitely want a pave setting also...please let me know...thanks so much in advance!!!

Since your dilemma is that you don''t want people to confuse your asscher with a princess, I''m afraid we cant really help you there. As other women here have already mentioned, most of the general public have no idea what the difference is between an EC, asscher, princess or radiant. So you WILL likely get asked if it''s a princess, it just can''t be helped! But you will get the opportunity to edumacate the public so yeah for you!

As for your settings, why not take a look at the SMTR threads and look at the top thread - it''s about 90 pages just of erings. You''ll find a lot of assher settings in there that you can look at...Enjoy the shopping process!

 

[kcoursolle]

I wish I had advice for you, but I''m afraid many people will think it''s a princess cut no matter what you do. As others have said, most people just don''t know that much about diamonds. I have a rectangular radiant with clipped corners that everyone thinks is a princess cut...bummer.

I''d get what you want and just don''t worry about it.

 

[frozengirl]

I am a new asscher (RA) owner. Since I am out of the "show me your ring" engagement phase (I''ve been married over eight years), I can really enjoy my asscher without caring if others have any clue as to what it is. To me, it is a very special and unique cut. I really enjoy staring at it - much more than I ever did with my RB engagement ring. My husband was the one who reminded me when we were ring shopping that I would be the one wearing the ring so I should pick something out that I like. Good advice from a really good guy.

 

[violetrose262]

Thanks so much for your help, Chrono and everyone else....I found this 1922 vintage Cartier where the prongs really enhance the Asscher cut...what do you think??

Do you have any pictures about the ribbon prongs that you were talking about earlier?? It would really help. Thanks!

 

[chrono]

I'm sorry but picture isn't showing up?

Here's an example of a ribbon prong:

 

[violetrose262]

I don''t know if the picture I pasted is working so here is the link....http://www.nelsonrarities.com/dir01-12/asschercut.html. Maybe it just looks that great b/c it''s huge!

 

[chrono]

I''m sorry but I got a "404 File not found" message.

 

[chrono]

Is this it?

 

[decodelighted]

I know the 1922 Cartier you''re referring to. Yes, double claw prongs like that can highlight the shape of the asscher stone .. however, their usefulness & appeal on a setting is really determined by the size of the asscher. Ya just can''t get the double prongs small enough to be both attractive & stable on a less than 1 ct asscher -- at least in my opinion. And the shape of the SPECIFIC asscher in question comes in to play too -- narrow corners/small windmills make it VERY difficult to have double claw prongs. Not enough room for them. Sometimes people put the double claws on the corners but that looks kind of octopussy to me -- & not flattering to the stone. Bezel setting is another option.

 

[chrono]

Here''s a few other designs that I like for asscher cut stones:

 

[decodelighted]

Have you seen this one ... designed by Taffin? Unfortunately it''s about 10K for the setting ALONE!

 

[shminbabe]

That ribbon prong ring picture is soooo beautiful!!!!!!!!

I''m a diamond newbie but I do agree with the others. just get the asscher you love and forget about others'' opinions. you can wow this group with your good taste, though

have fun. you''ll get lots of help here.

jeannie

Date: 7/17/2007 2:58:48 PM
Author: Chrono
I''m sorry but picture isn''t showing up?

Here''s an example of a ribbon prong:

 

[shminbabe]

Lauren,

I like your setting with the metal halo too. It''s cool and unique.

jeannie

Date: 7/12/2007 4:17:40 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier
It will indeed happen, more often than you will be able to count.

However, I have a metal halo, so the octagonal-ish shape of the setting confuses most people at first.

I think if you go with a smaller than 1 ct. Asscher, you''ll probably want a halo to differentiate the shape, but people have no clue how many distinct diamond shapes are out there.

Good luck on your search!

 

[chrono]

Date: 7/17/2007 3:09:20 PM
Author: decodelighted
Have you seen this one ... designed by Taffin? Unfortunately it's about 10K for the setting ALONE!

Deco,
I am thinking of doing a "poor girl's" version of the Taffin ring. Do you think it is possible to do a plain band, but keep the prong the same (at 9 and 3)? I wonder how safe it is just to have 2 large prongs holding the center stone? All the sides are really exposed too...I wonder how safe that is?

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 7/17/2007 3:09:20 PM
Author: decodelighted
Have you seen this one ... designed by Taffin? Unfortunately it''s about 10K for the setting ALONE!

Whoa, that''s a beautiful ring!!!

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 7/17/2007 3:19:40 PM
Author: Chrono
I am thinking of doing a ''poor girl''s'' version of the Taffin ring. Do you think it is possible to do a plain band, but keep the prong the same (at 9 and 3)? I wonder how safe it is just to have 2 large prongs holding the center stone? All the sides are really exposed too...I wonder how safe that is?

I *LOVE* that idea for your pinkie stone! Without knowing what the side view of this design is -- it''s hard to say how risky it *actually* would be. There *could* be some kind of less obvious brace/mini-basket that supports the stone from underneath the girdle ... I feel like a similar Daniel K version had *something* else for support.

Also depends on how often you plan to wear it ... it''s a RHR, right? (Ha -- "right?") If it was special occ. only -- maybe you wouldn''t even need x-tra support or girdle protection.

Another possibility is to modify the design slightly with a teensy razor thin bezel around the girdle of the stone - that attaches to the side (tensiony) prongs. Sort of a girdle bumper.

 

[decodelighted]

For instance, Chrono ... here is the Daniel K "Regal" setting ... with side view showing. See how it's like the Taffin from the front view, but has support underneath - with a supportive basket??

 

[jstarfireb]

I think a solid metal bezel like Lauren''s accentuates the octagonal shape best. However, my favorite setting for an Asscher is the Harry Winston-style tapered baguette setting, like this one:
http://www.jewelryexpert.com/CATALOG/Asscher-Platinum-Geometry-Ring-er.htm

It doesn''t really make the stone look any less square, but I''ve seen few to no princesses set in this kind of ring, so that may set it apart. Or people will still think it''s a princess...who knows...but YOU know it''s an Asscher, and you can take that moment to educate the non-diamond-savvy among us!

I like double prongs too, but I''m with Deco in that putting them outside the cutout looks really unflattering!

 

[chrono]

Date: 7/17/2007 3:36:07 PM
Author: decodelighted
For instance, Chrono ... here is the Daniel K ''Regal'' setting ... with side view showing. See how it''s like the Taffin from the front view, but has support underneath - with a supportive basket??

Gotcha! Thanks Deco. I''m keeping this pic in my folder for future reference.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 7/17/2007 3:09:20 PM
Author: decodelighted
Have you seen this one ... designed by Taffin? Unfortunately it''s about 10K for the setting ALONE!

10K is for INITIAL BASE DESIGN FEE. Doesn''t include metals and materials actual work, if I remember correctely.



CHRONO-- I had this setting checked out by Maytal Hannah Hoffman already, so she is familar with it ( I was briefly flirting with the idea of it) and had suggested some interesting variations on the theme while keeping the same general idea of the Taffin setting. Price was reasonable too. I would contact her.