Help with no-prong setting for Asscher?!!

[tad]

Hi -

I could use some advice/suggestions/recommendations from all you Asscher fans!

Here''s my story in a nutshell: My fiance bought me a gorgeous engagement ring last January. The stone was a 2.01 carat Asscher, color E, Internally Flawless, excellent symmetry, excellent polish. The stone was unbelievable....unfortunately, I didn''t love the setting. It was a 4 prong, cathedral setting, with a very wide band. I believed it looked kinda heavy next to the stone and hid much of the stone. Plus, it was just very generic looking....and I wanted something a little more unusual for such an unusual stone.

So, after a long talk, my fiance and I decided to get the stone reset, in a custom setting. We met with a reputable metalsmith and jewelry designer in our area. She designed a gorgeous setting, that didn''t use prongs and left the diamond very exposed. Stylistically, it was breathtaking. Tragically, however, it was a horribly flawed setting and 4 weeks after I got the ring back from her, my beautiful Asscher fell out of the setting and was never to be seen again....

It was a horrible experience!

Thankfully, it was insured.

My fiance and I just returned from a trip to NYC where we met up with a friend in the diamond industry and we purchased my *second* beautiful Asscher diamond. We got another gorgeous stone: 2.15 carats, Color E, IF, excellent symmetry, excellent polish.

So, now we are on the search for our THIRD setting. (I know, I am very lucky to have found a man who still wants to marry me after all of this drama!!)

We are having trouble finding a setting that we love. I don''t want a prong setting, as I love the cut off corners of the Asscher and want that shape exposed. I''d prefer not to do a bezel setting as well, because I think with this size a stone, it would look huge in a bezel setting, plus I think it would hide much of the stone.

The stone is so pretty that I really want a setting that exposes as much of it as possible and that shows off the stone.

I''ve looked at a suspension setting by Stuart Moore, which is pretty....but I fear that it may be too "heavy" looking and take too much attention away from the stone. I''m also nervous about the safety of that setting.

Does anyone have pictures of Asschers set in something without prongs and not bezeled?

Thanks so much!!
TAD

 

[jcrow]

I''m sorry to hear your story. it breaks my heart.

i don''t know of any settings per your discription, but i personally like the double claw prongs ( i think that''s the name ). i know, i know still prongs...

below is an example.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/harry-winston-ering.15007/

 

[tad]

this is very pretty -- thanks! if i do go the prongs route, i''ll definitely consider the double claw prong, as it allows you to better see the octogonal shape of the stone...

 

[jcrow]

glad to hear-

keep us posted on what u decide!

 

[Scintillating]

That's so sad.
No tensions settings after all your drama.
I've heard that some manufacturers say you can't clap wearing a tension setting.
You want to be sure your diamond is secure and isn't going anywhere. You've been through too much already.
I've heard too many bad things to trust a tension setting.
There are lots of lovely asschers setting, take some time - find something you love that is safe!

What look are you going for?
Modern?
Clean?
SleeK?

More intricate?
Pave?

Scintillating....

Oh* This is Amateur's Setting.
I know it has prongs but I thought I'd post it anyways.
It's neat how it's continous.
He also said it allowed a lot of light to reach the Asscher, which is essential for this cut.

 

[Scintillating]

This is HarlowQueen''s Harry Winston 2 carat EC.
Classic, elegant. I love high polish platinum with an asscher or EC.
I also love the claw prongs.

What you''ve described thus far sounds very clean.
Am I going in the right direction?

Scintillating....

 

[laney]

Oh my! What a horrible experience!!!! I too recently had a problem with my first stone - and had it replaced by insurance - so I understand your ordeal...

So, my friend is looking for an asscher too - and we''ve looked at tons of settings. I''ll look to see what I have in my settings folder and post some for you.

Leon Mege (I didn''t click above) - has some really gorgeous settings - that you may want to consider - those double claw prongs look so delicate and definately preserve the shape of the stone.

But as far as prongless.. well, keep an open mind here... Attached is I think Orangehorse or Orangehorsefiance''s 4ct asscher which I think is beautiful.. I will see if I can find the thread too.

SORRY for posting someone else pics (in advance..)

 

[laney]

https://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/largest-stones-on-ps-t30629.html

Take a look at the above thread... the first say 5 or six pics have nice settings that are clean.. (after the round brillant at the top..)

 

[icekid]

So sorry to hear that you lost your original stone! That must have been heart-breaking..

I don''t have any super ideas for a non-bezel, no prong setting... but I do love the double claw prongs with asschers!

I would definitely check out artofplatinum.com - Leon Mege''s website. He does amazing work and might be able to come up with something to your liking. Mark Morrell is another amazing custom designer too, but I think the wait to get a piece by him is LONG!

 

[valeria101]

Got into trouble hearing: no prongs, no bezel, no tension! What is left ? I can't quite imagine. But then, there are some intricate kinds of partial bezel that could probly do the trick: either not covering the entire girdle line all the way around the stone or open on the pavilion side. I would call these 'bezel' too though and that leavs me with nothing to show !

Try www.estatedamondjewelry.com for some open bezels on asscher stones. Once the method of holding the stone is decided, the details of the ring could be styled as you wish - even if 'antique' is not of your liking.

What was the original setting like? Just curious...

For a highly unusual setting, I would seriously consider only jewelers who have done it before and have some experience with such rings (and chances are there is just one - the designer!). If yours is the first of the kind, it may be wonderful but then... the sort of thing that happened once may well happen again

 

[tad]

Thank you, all, SO MUCH for your helpful suggestions!

I do like the Harry Winston, double claw prong setting. I am going to look into that. Do I have to go to HW to buy it -- or do others make copies of it?

And, yes, you all had the right idea of my taste: simple and modern. I just want a solitare....and no pave. I like a sleek, modern look -- but something that has a little style and funk to it....that makes it a little unusual.

I''m now going to ignore the work on my desk and browse the website you all suggested!

If anyone has other suggestions, definitely pass them my way!

Also, I''m in San Francisco, so if anyone has the name of a local designer that they would recommend, please pass that along, as well!

When I finally have a ring to wear, I will post if for you guys! This is so fun! My fiance gets sick of me obsessing over this stuff with him....and I feel a little pretentious talking about my ring with my girlfriends, so it''s really nice to have a forum to do it in, where no minds listening to me!!

 

[decodelighted]

Little late on this thread ... but never pass up an op to post my fave Asscher ring ... 1922 art deco 2.36 ct from Nelson rarities ... this does have prongs, but they are different than I''ve ever seen & don''t hide the shape of the stone at all IMO. This is a vintage ring, sold alas ... but could be reproduced if you fancy it. Cheers!