Loose Asscher Hunt.

[raegan1215]

Hi there! I''ve been reading (and reading and reading) for weeks now. My boyfriend and I have gone to try on tons of rings and have picked out the setting style we want and agreed upon a budget. I''ve always known I wanted an Asscher (not an RA!) and have now fully convinced him we''re best off getting the stone online and having a setting custom made at a local jeweler.

So. Our jeweler has pulled two stones for us to come see Friday night but I''m still pretty convinced we''ll do better online. I''ve searched around and been emailing with some vendors but haven''t had much luck at all.

I''ve read just about every Assher related thread on here and have collected the following specs to aim for:

Carat: 1 - 1.05
Color: G or H
Clarity: VS1 or VS2 (eye clean!)
Table: 55 - 61%
Depth: 65 - 75%
Crown: 10 - 15%
Sym/Pol: VG or better

GOG says they don''t have anything. WF and Engagment Rings Direct haven''t responded to me.

When I use those specs on Pricescope''s finder, I come up with tons of stones but in really digging through the list, not too many actually fit my specs of having a GREAT cut.

Our budget is about 4k and I know that''s tight for these specs but I''m confident it''s out there for me if I''m patient. We''re willing to wait a few months if need be to see if we can get exactly what we want.

CAN YOU HELP ME?!? Thanks in advance...

 

[raegan1215]

That 4k budget is just for the stone. And I bet I could get him up to $4500 or 5k for the PERFECT one if all else fails.

 

[decodelighted]

Oh boy. That's a toughie. There aren't a lot of asschers cut to your specs to begin with ... and those that are command a premium.

Have you checked Blue Nile? That will give you a realistic assessment about prices and 4K for a one carat well cut g/h asscher sounds unrealistic to me. Especially given the price increases in the last couple of years.

ETA:

I found this one that's a "signature ideal" 1.01 H for $5,235

and

This one that's a .93 G for $4665

 

[raegan1215]

I know it''s a toughie but I still think it''s doable. From what I''ve read, those BlueNile "Signature Ideal" aren''t even necessarily within these specs. Some have larger tables, some are far deeper. They do have the really deeply clipped corners and a culet though. I also read that those Signature Ideal have higher prices in part because they''re already in-house so I''m paying for analyzation, storage etc.

Other vendors (DirtCheapDiamonds, WhiteFlash etc.) have many, many rocks on their sites in my specs. Just not necessarily great cuts. I need some help weeding through them.

Again, I''m willing to do the hunting and shopping and waiting if need be...I know it''s out there waiting for me...

 

[Gypsy]

I'll keep an eye out too. But it's a toughie.

Just an FYI, if all you've done is send email querries to ERD, WF and GOG (ask them to source for you and call stones in)... then I'd pick up the phone and call! It's a very busy time of year.

Also, I'd call Bill Pearlman in a heart beat, he doesn't have a decent selection of lose stones online but can get you anything you want with a phone call.


You might want to up the budget or lower the color a bit.

Also some people have had a LOT of luck calling Leon Mage for diamonds recently. I don't know if the caveat is that you have to get a setting from him (not that that's a hardship) but it might also be worth a call.

Also, your specs are a bit restrictive. I'd go lower of depth for the right stone, and higher on table for the right stone. And I'd like a crown over 15% just fine, personally.

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 11/28/2007 3:33:00 PM
Author: raegan1215
From what I''ve read, those BlueNile ''Signature Ideal'' aren''t even necessarily within these specs. Some have larger tables, some are far deeper.

Well .. I don''t know what you''ve read but the two Signature Ideal stones I picked out for you met your required specs -- they''re just over budget. I''m not saying pick "any" Signature Ideal Asscher ... but it''s not a bad place to start considering the low inventory all over the map at this time of year.

If you want help "weeding through" the numerous in-budget selections you''re convinced are out there -- why not post ''em?

 

[raegan1215]

well here''s one:

http://www.whiteflash.com/asscher/Asscher-cut-diamond-519639.htm

and whiteflash seems to have a few more. most have larger tables than i''d like.
i seem to have gotten flack for my specs...i took them all from multiple posts on here about asschers.
since i''m hunting online it''s really all i have to go on.
if someone wants to offer advice to other specs i should be aiming for, i''ll all ears.

unfortunately though since wf charges to see detailed info on any stone i can''t pick and doesn''t offer detailed specs or any photos ahead of time, i''m kind of relying on those basic measurments.

gog said he''s awaiting a couple stones which might fit my criteria too...

any more advice? if/when i get aset images, what should i look for?
the advice provided on this link confuses me a bit - which of these are better and which are worse? https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/asschers-and-aset-a-sneak-peek.35080/

 

[Gypsy]

The WF one could be nice. I''d wait to see what GOG has for you in terms of specs then I''d pick ask for the vendors the bring in the stones with the tightest specs.

As for your specs.

With the caveat that fancy''s MUST be seen... here''s what I look for:

Clarity: eyeclean
Table: 52 - 62 even higher table is fine if the ASET is good. I USUALLY like tables to be smaller than depth, but have seen nice stones that don''t conform to this. Crown height, for me, is important the larger the table. If the table is too large for the diamond, the crown height can be too low, and the stone can be dull and lifeless. Some people (Tacori for one) love their larger tabled step cuts though, so again, ASET and your own eyes are key.
Depth: 60- 70 is fine. Although I personally prefer depths of 64-66 to balance ''miles deep'' appearance with nice spread. HOWEVER, Kaleigh has a LOVELY asscher that is pretty darn shallow (and very spready

) that still has the miles deep look. Anything over 70 for me, unless its a REAL antique asscher (like Widgets), is a waste.
Crown: 11 - 18+%. I''d take a really high crown anyday... more fire. Mine has almost a 16% crown (15.8 I think)... and I''d personally love a 17 or 18%.
Sym/Pol: VG or better. Depends on the reason for the VG in Symmetry.

 

[raegan1215]

thank you!
i think i am going to wait and see what gog comes up with.
although i''ve found one on dirtcheapdiamonds that i like too!
they''re just so pretty!!!

(and i love your pic of your santa cat!)

 

[Gypsy]

Good luck and let us know what you come up with!!!

Duncan (my cat) thanks for your the compliments. Traveling Gal photoshopped in the hat.

 

[coach_x+]

I''d give engagementringsdirect.com a call 212-221-1594 and ask for Mark, he is working on an asscher for me.

Make sure you include your budget.

Keep in mind this is the worse time of the year b/c it seems like everyone is going for the BIG christmas gift.