Chancing the Asscher

[scoobyzoo]

Hello everyone. I could use some help with the specs of three Asscher cut diamonds. I have been looking locally, originally refusing to purchase sight unseen. After 6 months of looking, I have only been able to find a handful. I have even had 2 b&m ship some in, but had the same issues as the others I saw. I was able to see the imperfections with the naked eye (None higher than VS1). An old college friend used to work for a jeweler and contacted them and they have 3 different ones that match my criteria. Can I get your opinions on which one could be the best option to have sent to look at? All 3 are GIA certified and they have no problem with me returning them. Sorry I do not have pictures.

All 3 diamonds are
Color: F
Clarity: VVS2

Stone A
Carat: .9
Polish: VG
Sym: VG
L/W: 1.00
Table: 62
Depth: 69
Flour: None
Girdle: M - SK
Price: X

Stone B
Carat: .9
Polish: EX
Sym: VG
L/W: 1.01
Table: 66
Depth: 69.3
Flour: None
Girdle: M - SK
Price: X + 850

Stone C
Carat: 1.01
Polish: EX
Sym: VG
L/W: 1.01
Table: 58
Depth: 68
Flour: Med B
Girdle: TK - VTK
Price: X + 1050

Stone A was my first thought, but the GIA says Feather, Cavity, Indented Natural and Surface Graining. It does not have a plotting diagram but is the only one my friend has seen. He said that its steps are Medium and looked nice, but he saw it before talking to me so he did not look that closely. Should I be worried about the Clarity Characteristics?????

Stone B shows only a needle just off center on the table but its table and depth seem off. Stone C does not have any clarity comments or plot. Both stone B & C are pushing my price range, but are a possibility.

I would be willing to wait for the right diamond, and have shown that in my search, but she is not willing to plan without a ring and has a specific season she wants to get married in. If I wait much longer, then we will have to move the wedding back an extra year.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Ellen]

Hi scooby,

I am far from an expert on Asschers, but I''ll give you a bump and hopefully those who are better equipped to really answer you will. What little I can tell you is, at this level of clarity, nothing should be a problem. We are talking tiny inclusions here.

Nothing looks terrible from the info you have. The girdle on the 3rd one might be hiding some weight in it, and therefore face up a bit smaller than it should. (do you have the diameter measurements?)

I see you have no pictures, which I know people would like to see. Honestly, these need to be seen. If you could swing having them all sent in, that would be best, so you could compare.

One other question, in your post, you say were originally refusing to buy sight unseen. Does that mean you are by chance now open to buying online? If you were, people would be able to help you a lot more, because they could get more info, and different types of pictures, which help a lot. Just wondering!

 

[Skippy123]

Like Ellen said, you need pics or a link to pictures usually so we can see the windmills and steps. A helpful thread Strmdr gives numbers and shows good examples of asschers is this thread, he posts towards the bottom of page 1
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/all-about-asschers.24689/ Hopefully he will chime in.

 

[katamari]

Hi Scoobyzoo. My knowledge is limited to my own recent asscher search and countless hours of PS forum reading, but I do suggest following Storm''s guidelines. Given just the numbers, the table on #2 is big and #3 is too thick. Again, just by the numbers, asscher #1 looks the most promising to me.

Have you thought about James Allen? They are an online vendor, but they have pictures of the actual stones (or will get them for you free of charge). They will also get you Idealscopes and sometimes Sarin reports. As an online vendor, they have access to far more stones than most B&M stores have access to. And, I found them to be very helpful.

It was also very important for me to see the stones (I wanted to make sure I had clipped corners, big windmills, a fantastic cut), but I felt that the pictures on the site allowed me to know what the stone looked like compared to when I saw it in real life.

Perhaps as another possibility (and you will want to hear from more knowledgeable PSers to know if it is possible) is for you to find a stone through an online jeweler that posts images and then have your B&M jeweler call in the stone via the GIA report #. I am curious if this would work; it might be worth a shot.

When I was looking at B&M stores, IDG had the best Asschers. Jared actually kept showing me radiants and cushions and telling me they were Asschers--no joke. So, after that, I was far more confident in online shopping.

Good luck to you!

 

[scoobyzoo]

Thanks for all of the replies.

I had him send me diamond A and I am very pleased with it. It seems to draw me in more than the local stones I have looked at. I really like it, but I must admit that I do not fully understand what makes an Asscher an Asscher. I have read all the post on them, but I do not see every characteristic in the examples.

The most important thing is she is getting what she wants. I plan on taking this in soon to have a custom ring made, but would like other peoples opinions before I do this. I have been trying to take pictures of this diamond with an older digital camera but that has been a challenge all its own. I don''t think any of the pictures truly show off the diamond, but they might be good enough to show the strengths and weaknesses. One thing to note is that the camera seems to make the step a little darker than it appears to the eye, and I was unable to get the diamond centered in the holder or on the camera.

I am not sensitive, so don''t be afraid to tell the truth.

Hopefully strm will be able to add an opinion.

 

[strmrdr]

put the stone in the v between 2 fingers and take a picture under even florescent light and post it.

put the camera in macro mode.

If it don't have a macro mode back the camera off a bit and crop the image down to show the stone. Usually around 22-25 inches is about right for non-macro mode and 8-12 inches for macro mode.

 

[scoobyzoo]

 

[scoobyzoo]

 

[scoobyzoo]

 

[scoobyzoo]

 

[scoobyzoo]

An interesting note.

I really like this one because the steps, arrows and windmills really draw me down into the center. My brother just looked at it and doesn''t like the cut because the steps, arrows and windmills draw him into the center. He has never seen or heard of an asscher before and at first thought something was wrong with it.

Just goes to show that each person has their own preference

 

[lala2332]

I recently fell in love with asscher cuts. I''m not an expert, but that one looks great to me! Like you, I love the way the cut draws you in. Good luck with your search and post pics once its set!

 

[strmrdr]

In the pics the pattern looks a little uneven but its tilted.
If in person the patterns look symmetrical when looked at strait on id rate it kicken.
Take it out into sunlight and check the fire but it should be fine as the crown height looks to be in the right range.

 

[scoobyzoo]

I took the diamond into my local jeweler to get estimates of the custom ring and they offered to take a picture of my diamond next to one of theirs. I figured I would post the pic for your review or analysis. My diamond is on the right.

Theirs is .89 ct, SI1 (however the inclusion is not really that easy to see to the naked eye), G color Table 63 and Depth 69. Theirs is about $1200 less.

 

[strmrdr]

impossible to tell much with the white background and that lighting.
What did your eyes tell you?

 

[tberube]

If I''ve learned anything about an asscher on my last shopping trip (with a friend who wants an asscher)...it''s that you need to SEE these babies. They''re nothing like rounds...they''re all different. Like snowflakes. You need to see a few, figure out what characteristics you prefer and don''t prefer, and then fall in love with one. Then all those numbers and feathers may go out the window!! Haha (or not).

Good luck!