Asscher pricing-- mystery

[sv77vs]

I have been looking at a lot of asschers over the past few months, and I have always been wondering how cut quality factors into pricing for this style. I wonder because I see many crappy looking stones that seem to cost more than average for that color, clarity, and size, and I see some decent looking stones that seem to be on the other side of things.

Is it just spread that is factored in? What am I missing? I haven''t been able to make sense if it. Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

 

[kenny]

FWIW, I tried really hard to figure out asscher pricing back when I was shopping.
I gave up.

Unlike with round diamonds there are too few asschers, and what constitutes good cut is too mysterious, to nail pricing down - at least for my pea-brain.

I DO take comfort that I bought stones with published prices.
I think this transparency prevents gross overpaying.

When an Internet vendor is setting prices they know the published competition and can't price their good TOO much higher, though again what constitutes good cut remains a mysterious factor in the price.

Sorry I'm not much help, but I'll be watching this thread closely.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 2/8/2010 11:49:54 PM
Author:sv77vs
I have been looking at a lot of asschers over the past few months, and I have always been wondering how cut quality factors into pricing for this style. I wonder because I see many crappy looking stones that seem to cost more than average for that color, clarity, and size, and I see some decent looking stones that seem to be on the other side of things.

Is it just spread that is factored in? What am I missing? I haven''t been able to make sense if it. Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

Great question. I am sure Karl will be around soon to answer your questions. I can say as a consumer , this always got me too. For me pics were key, numbers were a guide line. From that I had Karl tell me which one to pick. Spread was a factor in my stone.. But it''s many factors... Depending on what look you want, etc... Best of luck, I will be following this thread as well.

 

[Karl_K]

There is only so much I can say on this without going over the line.

After studying it for years the conclusion I have reached is that it makes no sense what so ever. They are all over the place as you have noticed.
in general but not always a large table and poor spread will get a discount.
There are a couple cutters whose work (unbranded at retail) brings a premium(they are more consistent but not always top end and sometimes cheaper ones beat them) then there are 3 main branded ones: our Octavia, Royal Asscher and Daniel K.



We ended up taking production costs and adding a reasonable and fair profit for the online market and let the prices fall where they fell with Octavia.

 

[kenny]

Date: 2/9/2010 1:43:03 AM
Author: Karl_K
After studying it for years the conclusion I have reached is that it makes no sense what so ever. They are all over the place as you have noticed.

Thank you.
Actually, these are comforting words, since I couldn''t figure it out.

 

[sv77vs]

That is comforting. Especially when I see one that I like that seems to be discounted for no apparent reason!