Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS1

[Benjimang]

Hello everyone!

I am very new to this game and have been head-down researching for a few weeks. I would like to buy an asscher / square step / square emerald and was hoping for some advice on the following stone that I am considering for $3400 AUD:

Carat Weight: 1.01
Color: H
Clarity: VS1
Depth %: 67.5
Table: % 62
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Thick
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Medium
Measurements: 5.54x5.53x3.73
Cut Grade: N/A

I have attached a couple of images and the GIA report too. I'm concerned the ASET shows too little red and lots of white? I'm not sure what I'm looking for at all though. Just trying to get the best stone I can for about that price point

Cheers,
Ben

 

[Karl_K]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

not enough red in ASET and too much white.
The regular pic agrees.
It will not be as bright as a better cut asscher.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

I just bought a gorgeous 1 ct H VVS1 asscher about a week ago. Good Old Gold called some in for me (and had one in stock).

Watch the video. These were actually all well cut enough to buy, but I had a particular size I needed and could not take the largest one. Mine is the second from the left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7SBfNGxTFE&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA&index=2

 

[haloprince]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

I just bought a gorgeous 1 ct H VVS1 asscher about a week ago. Good Old Gold called some in for me (and had one in stock).

Watch the video. These were actually all well cut enough to buy, but I had a particular size I needed and could not take the largest one. Mine is the second from the left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1kEbQ-5p5g

hey DS! i think u may have posted the wrong link. the video is about adoptions

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

I just bought a gorgeous 1 ct H VVS1 asscher about a week ago. Good Old Gold called some in for me (and had one in stock).

Watch the video. These were actually all well cut enough to buy, but I had a particular size I needed and could not take the largest one. Mine is the second from the left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1kEbQ-5p5g

hey DS! i think u may have posted the wrong link. the video is about adoptions

THANK YOU so much!!! I am glad I caught your message while I could fix the link!

 

[Benjimang]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Can I ask just how bad that stone is? Is it at the poorer end, or is it decent, but not amazing?
I’m just trying to figure out if I should be heading down to ‘I’or ‘J’ colours in order to pick up value…

Cheers everyone!

 

[JulieN]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

I color is fine. J color is usually fine but sometimes best to err on the high side for significant gifts.

 

[Benjimang]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Thanks for that Julien, I've just sent of a request for some images for a few 'I' colour stones. I'll post them when they get back to me

 

[chrono]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

I colour is fine for that size, especially if well cut.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Can I ask just how bad that stone is? Is it at the poorer end, or is it decent, but not amazing?
I’m just trying to figure out if I should be heading down to ‘I’or ‘J’ colours in order to pick up value…

Cheers everyone!

You certainly don't have to go down in color! If you had 10 H VS1 asschers lined up, maybe 2 or 3 would be better cut than the others. It doesn't mean that those three will cost a lot more than the others. I have an H and really would not want to drop in color.

 

[babs23r]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

I would get a better cut asscher. You will be much happier. You don't want a dull stone .

 

[Benjimang]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm really struggling to find a well cut asscher for 3-4k or under that's around 1 ct and I colour or higher. If anyone has any suggestions, that would be great. Am I going too cheap?

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm really struggling to find a well cut asscher for 3-4k or under that's around 1 ct and I colour or higher. If anyone has any suggestions, that would be great. Am I going too cheap?

Honestly? Your budget is low for what you want. If you can afford it, and can up the budget a bit you to 5k you will have many more options. I will look for you.

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Here are some nice asschers.

This one could be really lovely. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1519449.asp Under a carat, so it's budget friendly, but it faces up fine. The ratio is 1.05 which is right at the border of square but the performance and the price make it a contender.

This one has some potential. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Very-Good-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1542208.asp It is at 70% depth, but the price reflects that. Spread is okay. It might be a bit dark, but... it's worth asking for an ASET.

Probably too tinted to buy for someone else. But if you were buying for yourself this one would be contender. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-VVS2-Very-Good-Cut-Asscher-Diamond-1522262.asp Still, I wouldn't buy a step cut at K for someone else as an engagement piece.

I'd get ASETs of those first two. JA will put them on hold for you and get you ASETs in three days.

Also, can for videos as JA is converting over to videos for all their stones so... DEFINITELY worth asking.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Yep, budget is too low. The stones I looked at ranged from around $4500-$6k+ for G to I color, all VS or VVS, 1 ct. well cut asschers.

If that one you posted was $3400 (I think our dollars are pretty close?), it is a pretty good deal.

 

[Benjimang]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Thank you both so much for your help so far! DS, the video really does help doesn't it - great to be able to see the stones like that remotely. I figured that the one I posted first at $3400 was a good deal, but I am worries i would be giving my girl a dull ring just because its a bargain.

I do like the .94 carat diamond - I had been considering that at one point. I am at the stage where I'm considering mounting it in a simple 14k solitaire setting so I can up my budget to afford this, then give her a resetting shortly after that she could actually choose herself. Do you think that detracts from the romance of a proposal at all?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Thank you both so much for your help so far! DS, the video really does help doesn't it - great to be able to see the stones like that remotely. I figured that the one I posted first at $3400 was a good deal, but I am worries i would be giving my girl a dull ring just because its a bargain.

I do like the .94 carat diamond - I had been considering that at one point. I am at the stage where I'm considering mounting it in a simple 14k solitaire setting so I can up my budget to afford this, then give her a resetting shortly after that she could actually choose herself. Do you think that detracts from the romance of a proposal at all?

Unless you know the exact setting she wants, I think it is safer to buy the diamond mounted in a simple solitaire setting and then let her look at settings and choose one she likes. The styles are so varied that it is almost impossible to choose for someone else.

 

[Benjimang]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

That's so true! However I do know that she'll love a simple band with side stones going half way around. Nice and thing like Blue Niles petit pave band. On the other hand, she loves Art Deco, but there's no way in hell ill try and pick one of those for her! I would imagine you were the sole decision maker behind your new ring DS?

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

I think that proposing in a temp setting is a great idea. And no, there is no romance lost. How do I know? That's what my DH did. He put all his budget in my asscher to make sure I got the nicest center piece and then when we could afford it I was able to upgrade my setting. It also let me take my time and find out about metals, styles, quality... and brought me to PS. I think that putting the money in the stone is a really great way to go.

 

[Benjimang]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Thanks for the support Gypsy and DS! Going with a simple band bumps my budget up a bit to the 4500 - 5000 range. I found this on Good Old Gold, but I'm struggling to find any basic 14k white gold bands for under $500 there:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10191/

I'm also waiting for a round of ASET images to come in that I have requested, including the first 0.94 stone you linked me Gypsy. I had to stop dealing with an Australian supplier I was trying to wrk with because of their policy of only doing ASET imaging themselves (not requesting from the diamond supplier) and only calling 1 diamond in at a time - I have to pay in full for each one

 

[SMC]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

nielseel recommended this Asscher on another page: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Asscher-cut/1.02-carat-K-color-VVS2-clarity-sku-156914

It is a K though but it looks so lovely! Also relatively inexpensive.

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Thanks for the support Gypsy and DS! Going with a simple band bumps my budget up a bit to the 4500 - 5000 range. I found this on Good Old Gold, but I'm struggling to find any basic 14k white gold bands for under $500 there:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10191/

I'm also waiting for a round of ASET images to come in that I have requested, including the first 0.94 stone you linked me Gypsy. I had to stop dealing with an Australian supplier I was trying to wrk with because of their policy of only doing ASET imaging themselves (not requesting from the diamond supplier) and only calling 1 diamond in at a time - I have to pay in full for each one

That's a nice stone. GOG has a TON of stuff not on their site. Just call, they will have lots of settings in budget for you.

They can get this beauty in for you: http://www.stuller.com/products/122005/?groupId=113778 And it comes in 5.5 square (perfect for the stone. ANd it will cost under 500 for you in 14k white.

Just call them or send them an email and they will help you.

 

[Benjimang]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

I sent them an e-mail earlier this morning I feel a bit more confident purchasing from them because of their comprehensive imaging and reporting on each stone. Not that I can't get that info from other vendors, but it's really great to see one with info readily available. I'm assuming the stone is in-house, rather than abroad.

I will fess up here and let you know I have been chatting with the guys in online help with B2C Jewellers. Their prices are just so good and they do respond to requests very quickly. Unfortunately, just about everything I've asked for seems to be 'dark under the table' / dark in the centre.

 

[BriBee]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

I just bought a gorgeous 1 ct H VVS1 asscher about a week ago. Good Old Gold called some in for me (and had one in stock).

Watch the video. These were actually all well cut enough to buy, but I had a particular size I needed and could not take the largest one. Mine is the second from the left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7SBfNGxTFE&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA&index=2

DS....I just had to say that I've been watching Jonathan's asscher videos on youtube and I've watched yours probably 5 times....I LOVE your stone!!!!
I'm also liking the 1.15 J in the video...might have to make some calls

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

That's so true! However I do know that she'll love a simple band with side stones going half way around. Nice and thing like Blue Niles petit pave band. On the other hand, she loves Art Deco, but there's no way in hell ill try and pick one of those for her! I would imagine you were the sole decision maker behind your new ring DS?

Oops! Sorry I missed this! Yes, I picked out my new ring! There is no possible way on earth my dear husband could pick out what I'd pick with all the millions of settings out there! I was amazingly fortunate to catch my setting on sale, and that is pretty rare, especially for an asscher.

I think you are on the right track, because I have total confidence in GOG to find great stones!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

I just bought a gorgeous 1 ct H VVS1 asscher about a week ago. Good Old Gold called some in for me (and had one in stock).

Watch the video. These were actually all well cut enough to buy, but I had a particular size I needed and could not take the largest one. Mine is the second from the left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7SBfNGxTFE&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA&index=2

DS....I just had to say that I've been watching Jonathan's asscher videos on youtube and I've watched yours probably 5 times....I LOVE your stone!!!!
I'm also liking the 1.15 J in the video...might have to make some calls

Oh, thank you SO much! I love that video, too! I love the 1.15 J and would have taken it had it fit in my setting! I was fortunate, though, to find a great stone that was a perfect fit even though it was a little smaller!

 

[diamonds-are-friends]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

The stones look great!

 

[Benjimang]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Well, funnily enough, I think I may have narrowed my search down to two of the diamonds in DS' Youtube video! I've watched it over and over hahaha.

I really like the angles and overall look of the larger J on the right, but I'm concerned about colour. Otherwise, the I on the left is still a beautiful stone. When I bump the video up to 720p full screen on my laptop I can see the tint in the J - I am wondering if I am over analysing this at all? Is J really as noticeable as I think? Should I be taking the beautiful cut over the colour?

Note: DS, your stone really is a stunner. The most appealing part is the step design. Such a beautiful pattern!

 

[Benjimang]

Re: Help with advice on a particular Asscher - 1 ct - H - VS

Double post