Considering one carat assher

[Systolic]

I was considering the below. My only concern is the 64% table, because I have read that it should be 61 or below. Will the 64% table make a big difference? I realize that I misspelled asscher in the thread title, but I can't edit it.

Thanks.

Very Good cut,
F color,
VS1 clarity
Ex Polish
VG sym
Depth 69.9%
Table 64%
Thick Girdle
ratio 1.01
Florescence: None

 

[Gypsy]

It has potential.


I''d ask for measurements, some good pics of it from the top and the sides, a sarin, and an ATEST. With fancy''s the numbers are just the beginning.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I''m no expert, but I see nothing wrong with a 64% table. I think most generic asschers (square emeralds) have a table larger than 61%. As far as I know the stones you should avoid are those where the table % is very close to the depth % because the depth of the step pattern is lost and the stone can look flat.

I think depth of around 67 - 70% and tables around 61 - 64% are common for square emeralds--the depth on mine is 68% and the table is 63%.

 

[Systolic]

She has expressed interest in an Asscher, but one thing I noticed about them is that they don't seem to have as much sparkle as princess or a radiant cut. Is that because the cut is supposed to "draw you into it" more than the other cuts, highlighting the clarity of the diamond?

So I take it then that a 64% table is acceptable on a VG cut square emerald-type asscher as long as there is a nice windmill in the center and nice squares?

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I think woman generally fall into two camps: those who love sparkle (like round brilliants and princess cuts) and those who like more understated looks (step cuts--emeralds and asschers--definitely fall into this category as well as some of the "chunkier" cuts like some cushions and old european cuts). There is absolutely nothing wrong with either, it''s just a matter of preference and while I love step cuts, I can certainly appreciate the beauty of round brilliants and princess cuts.

Are you absolutely, positively sure that your girlfriend wants an asscher? Has she tried them on in the 1 carat range and said "this is what i want!" Or is she on the fence about an asscher vs. another type of cut? I only ask because I think you have to absolutely LOVE asschers to be happy with them for many, many years. For those who love the depth of asschers (like me), you have to be willing to give up size because they definitely face up small. If she''s more of a size girl and wants something that is definitely at least a carat, this asscher is going to look small to her. I know you didn''t post any dimensions, but with the depth at 70%, it''s not going to face up any larger than a .75 round brilliant would. Again, there is nothing wrong with that so long as she knows this is the cut and size she wants.

As far as the pattern and windmill goes, the pattern should be even and provide a nice contrast without any "dead" spots, especially in the center. Windmills are a personal preference. Some like big windmills which provide a very octagon-looking shape. Some like smaller windmills, but usually if you''re an asscher-lover, you want to see some windmill.

Relative to many on this board, I know nothing about asschers, just that I love them. I don''t want you to doubt your decisoin, it''s just that after watching several people here on PS trade in their asschers for other cuts that face up larger, it only reinforces the fact that you really do have to love them in order to be happy with them in the long-term.

 

[Systolic]

Measurements are 5.51 x 5.48 x 3.83 mm

 

[Gypsy]

It''s pretty standard spread. But I think you can do better. I would try to stick to Depth under 66 to get more spread, and try to get to 5.8-6 mm. It''s going to make a HUGE difference in an asscher. Not just in terms of visual size, but in terms of how visible and defined the steps are to the eye. This one here at .90 carat is getting the same spread as the one you posted... and probably costs less (it''s a D) as it''s under a carat. http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/366/

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I agree with gypsy--I think looking for something with 65 - 67% depth instead of 70% will help to gain a bit more spread (thus you can see the pattern better). Also, I''d probably do a VS2 instead of a VS1 and maybe a G--I did a quick comparison and it was tough to find many 1 carat/F/VS1s under $5,000 whereas all of the G/VS2s were under $5k up to the 1.05/1.06 range.

 

[UCLABelle]

I had an asscher, and liked it a bunch, but ended out changing it...

It was not the "fewer" facets (I believe) that I didn''t like, but rather the depth of the diamond. I had a 1.9 and it looked much smaller than 1.5 rounds...

In the end, I got an emerald cut at 1.5. It had the sleek lines of the step-cut but appeared a bit larger...

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Gypsy]

I would consider even shallower than 65 depth. Kaleigh's is ... somewhere near 61, I think, and it's stunning AND it's the same size visually as MY 1.09 at .9 ish carats. Fancy's have to be seen. My 'sweet spot' measurement is around 63-65 depth with a table around 56-60 for spread and fire-- crown height around 14-16% (high crown). My asscher doesn't perfectly fit that though. I have a 65.something depth, 60 table, and 15 crownheight EX/symmetry EX/ polish.

I also ESPECIALLY in a one carat asscher. Would consider G or even H color, and definitely VS2. But as pickings are slim... finding a well cut stone in budget trumps maximizing EVERYTHING. Ideally, it would be stunning visually, perfect numerically, a 'high' H-- that could re-grade at a G, and a completely from every angle clean VS2. But you might wait for a WHILE waiting for that puppy to show up. Or you could have GOG or someone source it for you and get lucky. You never know.

I would go for that D over the F you posted though.

 

[:)]

Systolic, has she seen asschers in person with relation to weight or just seen them and thought they were beautiful? In other words, has she tried on an Asscher and liked the size appearance for weight? They are quite beautiful, but do indeed tend to face up small for their weight. If size does not matter to her and she has actually tried them on then they are quite a beautiful shape.

 

[Gypsy]

I did not mean that there aren''t STUNNING asschers outside of my sweet spot specs. THere are MANY MANY, my sweet spot is very restrictive... so much so that my OWN asscher doesn''t fit into it! Fancy''s have to been seen. Have to.

 

[Systolic]

The ONLY place I can find a decent selection of asschers is Blue Nile, Good as Gold and such only have a couple of rocks. Plus, over one carat in the proportions that are recommended in this thread are almost 1,500 more than the rock I mentioned above which is priced at 5,336, even when stepping down to a G or VS2. So it seems that for only a slightly smaller crown I would get a pretty good deal.

 

[Systolic]

I just came across another site, they are asking $5,425 for this one. It looks like this has a lot of promise.

Carats : 1.04
Cut Grade : Very Good
Color Grade : E
Clarity Grade : VS2
Measurement : 5.85x5.71x3.63
Ratio : 1.02
Depth : 63.6
Table : 54
Girdle : M-STK
Culet : None
Polish : Very Good
Symmetry : Very Good
Certification : GIA
Fluorescence : NO

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I think it looks good and there will be a visible difference between the first one and this one. Naturally I''m still going to tell you that you need to see it first--it would be nice if you and your girlfriend could compare this stone with the first one, but I''m guessing that''s not feasible. I only say that because it might be nice for her to see a shallower stone with a larger spread vs. a deeper stone, you never know what floats her boat.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 10/10/2007 8:23:53 PM
Author: Systolic
The ONLY place I can find a decent selection of asschers is Blue Nile, Good as Gold and such only have a couple of rocks. Plus, over one carat in the proportions that are recommended in this thread are almost 1,500 more than the rock I mentioned above which is priced at 5,336, even when stepping down to a G or VS2. So it seems that for only a slightly smaller crown I would get a pretty good deal.

Jon at good old gold will help you narrow down to 2 from a list that is larger than blue niles then bring in the 2 for photos all for no charge.
A long list of asschers is next too useless.
Skilled help narrowing it down then getting pictures is where it is at.
We can help too if the there turns out to be more than a couple choices to bring in that meet your range.
Then when you have the pictures we can help you from there.
Showing us numbers from places that wont provide pictures like blue nile is useless, we cant help you.