Calling asscher / emerald lovers...

[ecf8503]

How small is too small?

I have a very small budget and a strange desire for a step cut (and an AVR!). How big does the stone have to be to be able to appreciate the steps? 4mm? 5mm? Bigger?

Just wondering if I should take the plunge and get a small one, see if I like it, and then trade up if I do when I have more funds? Or should I just save and wait?

Thanks!

 

[Lula]

I go by length x width in millimeters rather than carat weight, because fancy cuts are often cut deep with thick girdles. I think an emerald-cut needs to be at least 4 mm by 5 mm (or @ 3.5 x 6.5) to look "steppy" and not like a baguette. A typical emerald-cut with those dimensions would be in the half-carat to 2/3 carat range.

 

[ecf8503]

Thanks! I've been scouring JA as they seem to have a lot of stones and have videos of them all, and the stones are so large in the videos it's hard to tell what they would look like at 4mm, 5mm, etc - that's why I wanted to get some opinions from those in the know.

 

[Lula]

You're welcome -- JA has a good selection of ECs in the .50 to .66 range. Think about the proportions, too -- you don't want a smaller emerald-cut to be too long compared to its width. So, 3.5 x 6.5 might be a bit too long and narrow (1.70). Something like 3.6 x 5.8 would be closer to a 1.5 ratio.

 

[ecf8503]

I like the fatter looking ones -

I'm still at the point of browsing, but I haven't seen enough of them in person to know if I can appreciate the steps if the width is only... say... 4mm.

 

[chrono]

My minimum threshold for ECs is 6 x 4 mm and for square ones to be 6 x 6 mm in order to appreciate the steps without squinting.

 

[ecf8503]

That's what I was afraid of. I see an asscher I like at 4.5mm square, and some EC's at 5x4... too small, huh?

 

[Speara]

I have been debating the exact same dilemma, I just love the asscher cut (and emerald as well), but have never seen an asscher in person yet, so finally went with a 0.55ct asscher (4.5mm x 4.5mm) from JA, but made sure it was one with very good clarity (VVS1) and symmetry (1.01 ratio) ...so will let you know when I receive it.

...unless you have already decided on yours, then would love to hear what you went with

 

[Gypsy]

I have a 5.8x5.9 asscher no squinting needed. I think 5.5 or larger for asschers.

 

[kenny]

It also depends on your eyesight.
Everone's close-focusing ability declines with age, even with glasses.

I recently bought two Octavia asschers to compare them live side by side for a few days.
They were 6mm and a 6.6mm, 1.2-ct and 1.5-ct respectively.

I 'needed' the 1.5 since my 50+ year old eyes could not resolve the beautiful Octavia pattern in the 1.2.
Also that amazing hall of mirrors 3-D effect was barely discernible in the 1.2 so I sent the 1.2 back and kept the 1.5.

I better not live any longer or I'll need a 3-carat Octavia Asscher.

What size others 'need' may not be the same as what you 'need'.
If you have the credit limit or cash I'd buy a couple to compare them live, then return one.
That's the only way you'll be certain of what you 'need'.
If you time it right you may be able to squeeze the purchase and return into one credit card billing cycle.
Then you'd never be obligated for the payment of the returned stone.
You will have to pay maybe $50 in shipping which IMO is a worth it for such an important expensive purchase that you want to get just right.

 

[dk168]

My 2 ECs, the smaller one is 0.48ct and the bigger one is 1.19ct, and I can see the steps in the small one, which is currently my day to day RHR.



DK

 

[isaku5]

Kenny, I also remember that you 'almost' had the 2.38c Octavia.

I've often wondered whether a PS'er got that baby????