How about an "I" Asscher...

[diamondkat]

Hi PSers,
I posted about smaller E/F vs. larger G/H Asscher yesterday.
Thank you all for your input and experience.
My fiance and I visited another store today -- 23rd St. Jewelers in L.A.
Anyone familiar with this shop -- widget, perhaps...
I''ve heard it has an excellent reputation for vintage and custom work.
Anyway, I saw a beautiful Asscher 2.41, SI 1, beautifully cut in the antique, chunkier girdle style.

It was white. White under the light, white outside the shop. We took it outside with an EC "F" to compare.
No tint, nada. It really didn''t look different from the EC to me or my fiance or the saleswoman.
I felt the stone talking to me!
Here''s the catch -- there is no cert for it. The owners found it at auction in Paris and haven''t had it certified yet.
They want to charge us to get the GIA cert.
The price will remain the same even if the grading goes up or down a notch.
What do you think of this practice? Is this normal/acceptable? The main saleswoman seemed to think it might be graded up to an H, but the negotiated price would remain the same. We would change the setting, and we got a price for that, too.

What do you think about being charged to get the cert?
What do you think about I stones?
I''ve got diamond fever!

Thanks all,
Diamondkat

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Date: 7/29/2006 11:15:09 PM
Author:diamondkat
Hi PSers,
I posted about smaller E/F vs. larger G/H Asscher yesterday.
Thank you all for your input and experience.
My fiance and I visited another store today -- 23rd St. Jewelers in L.A.
Anyone familiar with this shop -- widget, perhaps...
I''ve heard it has an excellent reputation for vintage and custom work.
Anyway, I saw a beautiful Asscher 2.41, SI 1, beautifully cut in the antique, chunkier girdle style.

It was white. White under the light, white outside the shop. We took it outside with an EC ''F'' to compare.
No tint, nada. It really didn''t look different from the EC to me or my fiance or the saleswoman.
I felt the stone talking to me!
Here''s the catch -- there is no cert for it. The owners found it at auction in Paris and haven''t had it certified yet.
They want to charge us to get the GIA cert.
The price will remain the same even if the grading goes up or down a notch.
What do you think of this practice? Is this normal/acceptable? The main saleswoman seemed to think it might be graded up to an H, but the negotiated price would remain the same. We would change the setting, and we got a price for that, too.

What do you think about being charged to get the cert?
What do you think about I stones?
I''ve got diamond fever!

Thanks all,
Diamondkat

I think you saw the stone and you liked it and this is the important thing. I stones are fine..Diamond Body color is a personal thing and you already stated you liked the stone in the different lighting conditions. My wife Regina owns an "H" color Diamond and it is beautiful.

Getting the stone certed is a good thing. If your going to buy the stone anyway you will have to decide what is important to you. You can make the sale contingent on them paying for the certification, but if the stone grades higher they might be less willing to keep the price as is. You paying for the cert provides you with a little extra security and the seller is willing to keep the price the same no matter what it grades will benefit you either way if your going to go ahead with the purchase. If you feel you have done your homework and feel you are getting a good price comparatively across the board to other Diamonds in the "I" range which fall in this category, go for it. Either way you are in the driver''s seat.

There are vendor''s who might be able to offer a more competetive price on a similiar stone which has already been certed by a major lab which will alleviate some of the decision making all together. It sounds like you have found a nice stone which you are steering towards. Good Luck with your decision.

 

[decodelighted]

OH MAN ... I wanna see that beauty!! It''s a real antique Asscher??? AIIIGH *thump*. Hmmm. Finding a real antique Asscher at such a HUGE size that might be an "H" -- or, at the very least, a solid "I" ..????

That would make me do crazy things. Pay for a cert? Sell my car? Pimp out my Papillon.... (I guess they call it something different - hee hee)

If you thought it was "the one" - do what you have to do ... you might always regret it ... for what, a few hundred bucks to know for sure??

AIIIGHHH. The suspense is killing me!

 

[strmrdr]

https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx
is one of these appraisers close?
is there a return policy?
Making the sale dependant on an independent review might be a good course of action.

 

[widget]

I think the standard procedure is to agree to pay for the report, and if it matches or is better than the vendor's estimate, the sale goes through for the agreed price. If it comes back under the estimate, then the deal's off, and the vendor pays for the report on the unsold stone.

I think that's how it usually works, anyway...

Wow...I'm really excited for you. If it were me, I'd go ahead and pay for the report (I'd want one anyway on a stone this important).

I suppose there should be some sort of understanding that if the report comes back SERIOUSLY different from the estimate...then the price of the stone should be renegotiated...

I'm not much help am I? I'm just DYING to see your stone!!!!!!!! Im so excited for you!

widget

 

[diamondlove]

hi diamondkat,

I just wanted to chime in and say that I have a friend who has had good experience buying from 23rd St Jewelers in LA. They purchased a Michael B engagement ring there (Setting and diamond) and still go back for other gift purchases. They have two locations, right? Santa Monica one and the Manhattan Beach one, I believe.

I agree that it''ll be good getting the GIA cert even if you have to pay for it. I''d do it for the peace of mind. Good luck with your decision!

DL

 

[sanfranciscoellen]

Date: 7/30/2006 1:07:46 PM
Author: widget
I think the standard procedure is to agree to pay for the report, and if it matches or is better than the vendor''s estimate, the sale goes through for the agreed price. If it comes back under the estimate, then the deal''s off, and the vendor pays for the report on the unsold stone.


widget

This is what I would recommend.

And I would GO FOR IT! I had Cymbrie''s I colored asscher smashed up against my D colored asscher and there was so little difference that I felt like a BIG SILLY CHUMP

I''d be all over that stone! Antique too....be still my beating heart....

 

[divakat]

Once again, thanks all for your input!
Nice to hear good things about 23rd St. Jewelers. We visited the one in Manhattan Beach.
Frances Klein is bringing in a few more antique-cut Asschers in H and I color for us.
I really did like the stone at 23rd St., but I feel like I need another with which I can compare.
The stone with the cut I loved at Frances Klein was a 3+ G -- VS1 or 2, I think, and a little too steep in price -- we''re going with 2.50 or so instead.
Once I see the Hs and Is though, I''ll make a final decision between those and the one at 23rd...which is calling to me!!!
I''m excited!
Now, what do you think about settings?
I am leaning towards classic tapered side baguettes a la Harry Winston and Widget''s beauty.
What about a little pave on the head with split prongs?
Also, I was leaning towards a polished platinum shank, but would I be happier with a little engraving (and maybe a touch of pave)?
I am a musician -- and am definitely going to be a little bit hard on my ring.
So: a) tapered baguettes and polished platinum -- with a little pave on the head (or is that too much?0)
b) tapered baguettes and a little bit of engraving
Hopefully we will be set with the stone in a couple of days!!!
Best,
diamondkat

 

[widget]

Oh, My....I''m VERY excited for you! I just can''t wait to see your final choice!

Well....I vote for simple tapered baguettes a la Harry Winston, with split prongs. Forget adding any pave....why mess with perfection? Hee hee....just my thoughts....of course it''s up to you!

Ooh...what fun! I''m envious of you getting to look at so many antique asschers! Such a treat!

widget

BTW... another thing....the simple mounting will be true to period. I don''t know if you''ve seen this, but this is my mom''s antique stone in its original ''20s mounting....classic, or what?

 

[divakat]

Widget --
Your ring is pure class. I think you''re right, just the side baguettes.
That''s also what my fiance prefers.
When I said to him -- you do realize this is the exact setting your Mom has (w/ a 2+ RB), he laughed and said: "hey, so I''ve got a little bit of an Oedipus complex going on!"

I think I''ve just been swayed by so many beautiful, fancy settings.
Truth be told, the stones we''ve been looking at size and cut-wise certainly stand on their own.
I am very excited!

Two more questions for you, widget:
1) How many karats is your Mother''s ring (if I''m not being indelicate)?
2) What do you think would work best as a wedding band with this setting?

Finally, to make you swoon a little bit more, I also saw an asscher eternity band with large stones -- maybe .50 or more each, prong set. Fabulous, but way too much for the e-ring!

Best,
diamondkat

 

[widget]

It''s 3.91cts....but it''s very "fat" (71.6% depth).

I''m really not the one to ask about wedding bands...I guess I''d want as simple as possible...either plain or baguette or EC eternity band...

If you want the W-band to sit flush with the E-ring, you should consider this when choosing the mounting for the asscher.

BTW...you mentioned maybe having it set in a couple of days...aren''t you going to have it custom made? (Leon Mege comes to mind...

)

widget

 

[divakat]

Widget -- Oh, 3.91...lovely!
Yes, we''re going custom. We''ll either have 23rd St. or Frances Klein make a custom setting. I love Leon Mege''s work, but we should do fine with good local folks in L.A.
For future rings, however, I have drooled over many a Leon pic!!!
I meant we''d have the stone in hand in a couple of days to then have it set.
If we go with the 23rd St. stone, we have to send it out for the cert, which will take a couple of weeks -- boo hoo!
We do need to get the GIA cert, don''t we? Just to be safe, right?
I''ll update you after I revisit the 23rd St. stone and see Klein''s stones.

Best,
diamondkat

 

[divakat]

Hi widget and all PSers --

We bought the Asscher at 23rd St. Jewelers!!!
I am soooo excited.
I''m going to meet with them to discuss design tomorrow.
I''m going with the tapered side baguettes and simple polished band.
Possibly a couple of tiny lil'' diamonds on the basket.
Split prongs.
The setting the stone is in is split prong, w/pave on the basket, but the band is a knife edge pave, which I''m just not in to.
Now I just have to find out how long I have to wait before it''s on my finger!!!
Stats: 2.41 carats, I color(poss. H), SI 1 (one little brown spot right in the "corner" of a step) -- totally eyeclean.
We''re going to have the owners of the shop write up a little history of the stone, where they acquired it in Paris, etc.
As soon as I have pics, I''ll post them.
In the meantime, thanks you PSers for all your help.

Oh, one last thing. Wedding bands -- I saw and eterenity band with French-cut diamonds channel set. They''re little baguettes with additional faceting. Sooo pretty. Thinking about doing one on each side of the e ring...

Best,
diamondkat

 

[widget]

Oh, My!!!! I''m just THRILLED for you!!!

I think French-cut diamonds in the band(s) is GREAT idea!!!!!

I hope you have a good camera all primed and ready to take a zillion pics....we don''t see enough antique asschers around here...can''t wait!

Congratulations!
widget

 

[mrssalvo]

sounds gorgeous...i can''t wait to see pictures too...

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 8/2/2006 9:12:46 AM
Author: mrssalvo
sounds gorgeous...i can''t wait to see pictures too...

Oh me too!!!

 

[bookworm21]

can''t wait either....

 

[Dee*Jay]

This just sounds divine!

 

[divakat]

PSers --
I''m going to the jeweler''s on Friday to see the stone loose -- out of its current mounting. They are also having baguettes brought in for me to pick out!
I will take pics then -- hope you like it!

diamondkat

 

[mia15]

Congratulations, Divakat! I can''t wait to see how it turns out. I live in LA, and I''ve heard great things about 23rd Street Jewelers.

 

[divakat]

Hi PSers --
I forgot to take my camera when visiting 23rd St. Jewelers today - sorry all!
I saw my "I" Asscher loose today for the first time.
It looks really good.
There is the faintest tinge of warmth when viewing it sideways in bright sunlight, but it''s a beaut, it faces up really white!
The gemologist hadn''t seen it out of the setting either, and she was really pleased with it, too.
So, now -- the setting.
They are bringing baguettes in -- haven''t arrived yet -- and they also want me to see another setting -- a canary asscher with small RB side stones.
Either way, I am going to do side stones with a very fine, 3-sided pave band w/milgrain edges,
with two wedding bands in the same pave.
They had a gorgeous pink tourmaline ring with absolutely stunning, subtle pave.
I was against it at first because it seemed to blingy for me, but it really looks beautiful!

A little more about the history -- the owners said that they found the stone in an antiquarian market in Paris a few years ago. It was set in a 1950s cocktail ring, but they thought the stone was too pretty not to stand on its own, so they put it into a solitaire setting. So the stone is at least 50 years old. True Asscher or not, we don''t know...but I love that my stone has a story and has had incarnations as different rings.

After we make the final decisions about the setting, I''ve got 6-8 weeks to wait

!
I have a bad case of diamond fever!!!

Best,
diamondkat

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Date: 8/5/2006 2:44:57 AM
Author: divakat
Hi PSers --
I forgot to take my camera when visiting 23rd St. Jewelers today - sorry all!
I saw my 'I' Asscher loose today for the first time.
It looks really good.
There is the faintest tinge of warmth when viewing it sideways in bright sunlight, but it's a beaut, it faces up really white!
The gemologist hadn't seen it out of the setting either, and she was really pleased with it, too.
So, now -- the setting.
They are bringing baguettes in -- haven't arrived yet -- and they also want me to see another setting -- a canary asscher with small RB side stones.
Either way, I am going to do side stones with a very fine, 3-sided pave band w/milgrain edges,
with two wedding bands in the same pave.
They had a gorgeous pink tourmaline ring with absolutely stunning, subtle pave.
I was against it at first because it seemed to blingy for me, but it really looks beautiful!

A little more about the history -- the owners said that they found the stone in an antiquarian market in Paris a few years ago. It was set in a 1950s cocktail ring, but they thought the stone was too pretty not to stand on its own, so they put it into a solitaire setting. So the stone is at least 50 years old. True Asscher or not, we don't know...but I love that my stone has a story and has had incarnations as different rings.

After we make the final decisions about the setting, I've got 6-8 weeks to wait

!
I have a bad case of diamond fever!!!

Best,
diamondkat

I'm glad you like your stone and glad it faces up really white. I can see the excitement and anticipation in your post. Don't worry it will look really nice and that time will pass soon enough. It is not unusual for custom setting's to take 6-8 weeks or longer. It sounds as if this is going to be a knockout of a ring. I also applaud your efforts in getting a small write up/history done on the diamond. I think a story to tell about the origin of the diamond adds to the importance of how you feel about your purchase and will be used as a conversation piece later on when describing your ring to friends. I can hear you now.... "Ohh I just love the baguettes, and did I mention this stone came from Paris darling"..(As you sip on a cocktail at a dinner party!

)

 

[diamondkat]

Hi Widget and all PSers --
I finally got my Asscher E-ring from my fiance tonight!!!
We have been waiting for over 6 weeks for it to be completed!
My fiance told me that it took our jeweler a long time to find square emerald cut side stones of good quality -- she sent back a few sets.
Anyway, it is beautiful!
I am thrilled, and my fiance is thrilled.
He picked it up this afternoon, and said that he kept taking it out of his desk drawer at work to stare at it!
I am going to try to upload pics now, but if I can''t, I''ll do it tomorrow.
We just got a new digital camera, so bear with me.
The specs:
Center stone: 2.41 carats
TCW: 3 carats
I color -- looks white to me!
Thanks again for all your help and support.

diamondkat

 

[diamondkat]

OK -- I am not having luck with pics now and it is very late!
I will send tomorrow.

diamondkat

 

[widget]

Oh, diamondkat....I'm thrilled for you, and SO GLAD you're back with pictures! I just can't wait to see them!

If you continue to have trouble attaching them, notify admin and they'll do if for you.

BTW: Did you ever send this stone off to the GIA?

EAGERLY WAITING....

widget

ETA: regarding loading pictures...are they too big? If you go to you photo editing program and change 'image size' to around 400 pixels, that should do it. Also...be sure they have "unique" titles...

 

[mrssalvo]

i''m so happy for you. can''t wait to see the pictures.

 

[Stone Hunter]

I am looking forward to seeing your photos. I want to drool over a lovely antique assher and an I at that. Of course I want to check out your setting too.

Is your setting WG or Plat? Please give us all the info with your photos.

 

[Ellen]

Can''t wait to see this ring!

 

[littlelysser]

Count me among those that CANNOT wait to see this lovely!

 

[~*Alexis*~]

Can''t wait to see the pics!