my ring shopping experience- asscher versus cushion

[diana682]

hi all! so my boyfriend and i went ring shopping the other day and i wanted to give a quick update. so basically i had my heart set on the asscher cut (because i LOVED it when i saw it online) we went to a jeweler and i asked to see an asscher. she showed me a 2 carat asscher and it looked so SMALL! so TINY! and sooo not sparkly!! i was very disappointed. the asschers that were 3 carats and up WERE amazing in person but just out of my price range. another jeweler showed me a cushion cut which i thought was beautiful. we also went to tiffanys and i looked at the "novo" ring which is a cushion cut on a pave band. it was gorgeous and looked amazing in person versus how it looks online. so after all of this research, i think ive changed my mind. i think i want a replica of the tiffany novo ring with a square cushion (still love the square look).

anyway, just a word to the wise about how important it is to see diamonds in person....

 

[Moh 10]

Good point.
Unfortunately many people get pretty far in the decision process using only online input.
Then they see stones in person and totally change their mind.

Color is another example.
The newbie will discover that the color grades are soooo narrow; there is very little difference between them.
I think some people go for high color given only online input but when seeing stones side by side decide that lower colors are just fine for them.

Yes asschers have to be large.
Like me, they hold a lot of weight down below.

They also have to be higher color and clarity than other more-busy cuts.

This makes nice asschers more $$$$$.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/14/2009 7:00:29 AM
Author: Moh 10
Good point.
Unfortunately many people get pretty far in the decision process using only online input.
Then they see stones in person and totally change their mind.

Color is another example.
The newbie will discover that the color grades are soooo narrow; there is very little difference between them.
I think some people go for high color given only online input but when seeing stones side by side decide that lower colors are just fine for them.

Yes asschers have to be large.
Like me, they hold a lot of weight down below.

They also have to be higher color and clarity than other more-busy cuts.

This makes nice asschers more $$$$$.

Yes. Which is why I don''t have one.

Yet.

diana, good for you on going to see what you liked. Cushions are also beautiful, I''m sure your ring is going to look gorgeous!

 

[Indira-London]

Date: 5/14/2009 7:00:29 AM
Author: Moh 10
Good point.
Unfortunately many people get pretty far in the decision process using only online input.
Then they see stones in person and totally change their mind.

Color is another example.
The newbie will discover that the color grades are soooo narrow; there is very little difference between them.
I think some people go for high color given only online input but when seeing stones side by side decide that lower colors are just fine for them.

Yes asschers have to be large.
Like me, they hold a lot of weight down below.

They also have to be higher color and clarity than other more-busy cuts.

This makes nice asschers more $$$$$.

Well said, I agree that its important to see diamonds in person as part of your process for selecting even if you are going to order online.
Its also much quicker for you to decide what you like when yuo see the diamond in person as opposed to via pictures.
I know of several clients who initially wrote/researched for 1-2 years via exchanging emails wiith me re. different shapes (e.g. cushion vs asscher vs princess etc) before finally making an appointment to come in and view the diamonds side by side.

 

[megumic]

Hey Diana - so glad you got to see the diamonds in person, makes such a difference doesn''t it?! I thought I had my heart set on an asscher or a radiant - two cuts I had never even known about prior to PS! But once I saw all sorts of diamonds in person, I fell hard for a cushion cut

It seems to be a common move around here to like some other square-ish cut and then go cushion once you see it in person. I''m still waiting on mine...but soon. Good luck!

 

[diana682]

thanks everyone- yes i am so glad i got to go in person and see the diamonds. i had read online that asschers look much smaller for their given carat weight. i just wasnt expecting such a dramatic difference. have others had this experience with asschers?

what are your thoughts on a square cushion? i also read that these can face up smaller. is that true? i LOVE a square look- i am all about symmetry and the rectangle shape really bothers me... (which is why i dont like pear, oval, marquise or emerald cuts)

anyone have good pictures of a tiffany novo ring (or a replica)? i am dying to go back and look at it again! hehe

thanks everyone for your input!

 

[mookabe]

It was so good to read this post and know someone is going through the same thing! I am completely torn between a cushion and asscher. I have always loved bling and fell in love with the Tiffany Novo but then saw a few Asschers and thought it seemed like a striking, classy and different cut, even if it wasn''t sparkly. The problem is, all the Asschers I saw were 3 carats and were at stores like Cartier and DeBeers. I am going looking in NYC tomorrow because I''ve heard the same thing about needing to see it in person. Can I ask, did you notice a big difference betwen asschers of different quality? Did stores have a lot of different asschers to show you? Was size your biggest factor?

Thanks! I''m so torn!

 

[DiamondFlame]

Good thing you had a good look IRL. If you want lots of sparkles and size for a given $, Asscher is not what you shd be looking for - it''s a different class of beauty altogether

There''s probably a recommended minimal carat size for an Asscher. Heh.