Help!! Asscher advice

[katamari]

Hi kmci!

I certainly don''t know about the technicalities like Garry and Karl, but from I strictly aesthetic point I think this Asscher is smokin'' hot. It looks fantastic.

I have a <1 carat Asscher that I love, love, L-O-V-E! I suggest, if you are thinking about size (and haven''t already done this), visit a B&M store and hold up some stones against your hand to see what you think. In the longrun, I think you will be happiest if you go with the stone you feel suits you best than the biggest one you can afford. What size are the rings you like the most irl (on others)? What would suit your lifestyle and work best?

Really check spread because I think this is more important than carat size--no one will take your stone out of the setting and weigh it, but they will look at it. Especially as you approach the points where cost increases just because of size (1, 1.25, 1.5), you want to make sure you are getting what you pay for.

Also, consider the setting. How are you thinking about having it set? This is absolutely just my opinion (and some will disagree), but if you are thinking about sidestones or halos, you might want to go bigger because there will be more competition for the spotlight. But, a solitaire (again, in my opinion) can be smaller because there is no competition. Higher settings also make the stone look bigger than lower settings.

Good luck!

ETA: I just realized by re-reading my post that I am assuming you are the ring-getter. If you are the ring-giver, either ask her preferences (if you are openly discussing this) or take someone of a similar frame and taste to the store to try to assess what you want.

 

[kmci]

I''ve always wanted a 1ct (don''t know why), but always just assumed they were a lot more expensive, and to be perfectly honest, have never even tried an asscher on (every B&M I''ve been into look perplexed when I ask if they have any.... I originally wanted a princess cut, and when I realised I was an asscher girl I had no idea how complex they were and am thankful I found Pricescope!!

I will be the ring wearer, my bf did want to do it all himself but after I found Pricescope and started talking about all the things I was learning he decided he''d feel safer with me choosing the rock!!

I''m thinking of having a very fine bezel setting, with a fine band, I''ve only got little hands, so I don''t want a chunky setting, and I work in the medical industry so I want it to be safe, I figure that a bezel will also help show off the shape.

Strm, 9k for a 1.5, really?? All the ones I''ve seen have been over 11k, I''m in Australia so you''re 9k is my 11.5k, maybe thats what I was thinking??

 

[kmci]

Katamari, I just went back through and found pictures of your kicken asscher, it is beautiful, and looks great on your finger.

 

[blackpolkadot]

kmci,

I also have a < 1 carat asscher. My pictures, of course, don''t do it justice, but I

it! Katamari and I actually both bought our ~.70 asschers around the same time!

I think a 1 carat will be lovely. And my eyes do love the stone you are talking about! GORGEOUS!!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 10/2/2008 5:11:30 PM
Author: kmci


Strm, 9k for a 1.5, really?? All the ones I''ve seen have been over 11k, I''m in Australia so you''re 9k is my 11.5k, maybe thats what I was thinking??

h/vs2 are around that range if you can find one.
11k may be more realistic to actually find one on the market and it would be higher color.
The h/vs range from the top cutters in that size range are usually sold before they hit the market to a couple designers who charge huge markups.

 

[katamari]

Thanks so much, kmci!

I think the bezel would be amazing. LaurenthePartier has one of my favorite rings on PS and she has a bezeled asscher.

It took blackpolkadot and I some time to find the perfect asscher, so I would suggest if you love this one to get it. It really is gorgeous!

I have read on here that there is mark-up in Australia but it may just be due to currency conversion. There are some other Austrailians on the board who would know better, though.

 

[kmci]

Yeah, I think I''ve been pretty lucky. I''ve been researching for months (and months), but not actually looking (just dreaming), and the moment my bf said if I find something I like then its full steam ahead, look what I stumble on!!! I''ve looked at images and more images of very ordinary (and some awful) asschers over the past few months, and the moment I''m in the market I find one looks perfect. I''ve always said to my bf it''s not about the $$, but almost got a bit greedy when this one fell under budget, there is never going to be an upgrade, I believe in the engagement ring remaining the engagement ring, and I want to be sure I''m making the right decision. Even with a higher ct weight alot of the other asschers around that fall under budget I would not consider, and many have less spread than this one. The fact that I''ve spent the entire last week thinking about it also suggests that its a good thing!

So....., this little beauty will be on its way from the other side of the country for me to look at next week.

Strm, I would love to have a kicken little asscher on my finger, so here is the website.... sorry I didn''t include it earlier, but I would have been devastated if it had disappeared before I gave it a chance (not that I think any of you pricescopers would do such a thing!!).

Some of the info I included is different, it only came back from GIA yesterday, so I was using the in house evaluation, the only real change was the table size, which I figured wasn''t that big a deal, I like the look. Oh, and it got upgraded from VG to EX in polish. It is an F, VS2, which I am assured is eye clean.

The vendor is Jogia Diamonds, located in Western Australia, and I think their website is brilliant, with beautiful images, and videos too.

http://www.jogiadiamonds.com.au/diamonds/diamonditem.php?code=SS1048

 

[kmci]

I''ve just realised that the table is 65% and the depth is 64.4% and think I had some palpitations, but this is still okay, isn''t it??

Anyways, I''ll be seeing it next week, I love the images so far, so everything is okay!!!!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 10/4/2008 2:11:03 AM
Author: kmci
I''ve just realised that the table is 65% and the depth is 64.4% and think I had some palpitations, but this is still okay, isn''t it??


Anyways, I''ll be seeing it next week, I love the images so far, so everything is okay!!!!

yes
let us know what you think when you get it!

 

[arjunajane]

kmci, I live in Perth where Mr Jogia has his business. He is very well regarded, and is one of only 2 diamond sources in Australia I would consider buying from (Garry being the other)

Jogia also paticipates on PS from time to time.
I have also heard he is quite competitive with US prices, and as I understand it they specilaize somewhat is asschers. I think you have made a great choice in vendor, and the fact that its an attractive price sounds like a bonus. This way your guy will be happy, and you could also get a blingier wedding band

It is true that asschers face up a lil smaller, but if you have small hands than that size should be lovely.

pls let us know how you go when you receive the stone !

 

[honey22]

Date: 10/4/2008 8:30:51 AM
Author: arjunajane
kmci, I live in Perth where Mr Jogia has his business. He is very well regarded, and is one of only 2 diamond sources in Australia I would consider buying from (Garry being the other)

Jogia also paticipates on PS from time to time.
I have also heard he is quite competitive with US prices, and as I understand it they specilaize somewhat is asschers. I think you have made a great choice in vendor, and the fact that its an attractive price sounds like a bonus. This way your guy will be happy, and you could also get a blingier wedding band

It is true that asschers face up a lil smaller, but if you have small hands than that size should be lovely.

pls let us know how you go when you receive the stone !

Ditto Jane - I''m in Melbourne but considered Jogia too. I have another suggestion to add to the mix. Get an idea of what your bf is really happy spending, and then ring Mr Jogia with your budget, colour and clarity specs and then have him suggest some stones. Come back here with the pics and then we can give recommendations (or rather, strm and Gary can argue

).

If you are ever in Canterbury Melbourne anytime soon though, give yourself the pleasure of visiting Gary''s store - I

it!! I was there today in fact dropping my ering off to be resized down again (made the mistake of taking it somewhere else last week to be sized up and now back to be done where I really trust) and their service and diamonds are just top notch!!!! The SA was so sweet, I looked a bit sad when I had to give my ring up and complained to my fiance that I didn''t want to be without it a week, and she said she would try and get it done in less time if possible - how''s that for service - they even understand the separation anxiety I will suffer without my widdle rock. Wonderful. And, the bestest bit is, I get to go there again sometime this week to pick it up, and oggle the pretty little sparklies again. I saw a VERY nice 2ct E VS2 stone that I told df was my upgrade - he just dragged me out of the store, no fun

 

[kmci]

Thanks guys, getting good feedback makes me feel really good

Mr Jogia has been really nice, and I do feel good about dealing with them. Now the hard part is waiting 6 days to get to see it!!

Honey, I like your thinking, definitely something to keep in mind if I don't fall in love on Friday!! I told my bf that I wanted nothing less than a ct and it would probably cost him 10k about 9 years ago..... and I was wondering why I'm still waiting!!!! It's only been in the last year or so after a friend bought her diamond and had a beautiful ring made (I'm talking 1ct centre stone and triple row pave band... wow) for 8k that I've realised things don't need to be that expensive, oops must have forgotten to tell the bf!!!!