barashinda
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2013
- Messages
- 10
Hi All,
I've been reading through this forum for quite some time. I have a 1 ct Princess solitaire engagement ring, however, when my husband proposed he promised me an upgrade after 4 years to a 2+ carat. That time has come! I started looking into Asschers because I loved the simple geometry of the stone's shape. However, actually seeing some Asschers in real life was quite difficult. When I attempted to see some at the chain stores (ahem, Robbins Bro.) I was told that I wouldn't be interested because they don't sparkle as much. So I decided to go back and look for Princess cuts. But then...something magical happened, over Thanksgiving, while visiting family, I was helping a friend shop for diamond earrings and I finally saw an 2 ct Asscher! It was more beautiful than I imagined!! I decided that's what I wanted.
I did considerable research here on PS and various sites to understand what to look for. But I also had to keep in mind my husband's strict budget. Not so much a number, but not to get ripped off. Which I'm sure most of you know, is not easy. We did a ton of research on diamond pricing and were discovering more and more that no one really provides a good deal. So my husband insisted I look for what he called "distress sales," i.e. people trying to sell them to get whatever they can, not trying to make the highest profit. But considering what I was looking for is rare, I was skeptical.
I was looking for:
- Asscher (all the asschers I was able to see in person were the "Square Emerald Cut"; I noticed a few "Cut-Cornered Square Step Cut" on James Allen and was immediately attracted to their rarity and seemingly more sparkly nature, so I have been focused on a "Cut-Cornered Square Step Cut." I was told by a few sellers that there is no difference between the CCSSC and the square emerald. I don't think that's true. My understanding is that the CCSSC has additional steps in the pavillion. I also understood that Royal Asscher branded cuts were considered CCSSC. I never intended to look for an RA cut since I know they have a high premium, which definitely goes against my husband's rule of getting a steal.)
- 2+ carat
- GIA-certified (I had seen several EGLs and was just not confident in their assessment)
- Minimum mm size of 7.5 mm x 7.5 mm
- Closest to 1.0 l/w ratio as possible (not because it actually shows, but because I am pretty OCD)
- I (lowest color) - (I know that they typically say H should be the lowest, but this wasn't as big a concern as size for me)
- VS2 (lowest clarity)
- And for price: a STEAL!
Well, to my surprise, we found an estate dealer with a Royal Asscher branded diamond. I immediately convinced my husband to get it, here are the specs:
- 2.61 ct
- Royal Asscher laser inscription
- 7.63 mm x 7.61 mm x 5.27 mm
- Color: I
- Clarity: VS1
- Polish: Excellent
- Symmetry; Very Good
- Depth: 69.3%
- Table: 53%
- Flourescence: None
And the price...$16,900. Did I get a steal???
I've been reading through this forum for quite some time. I have a 1 ct Princess solitaire engagement ring, however, when my husband proposed he promised me an upgrade after 4 years to a 2+ carat. That time has come! I started looking into Asschers because I loved the simple geometry of the stone's shape. However, actually seeing some Asschers in real life was quite difficult. When I attempted to see some at the chain stores (ahem, Robbins Bro.) I was told that I wouldn't be interested because they don't sparkle as much. So I decided to go back and look for Princess cuts. But then...something magical happened, over Thanksgiving, while visiting family, I was helping a friend shop for diamond earrings and I finally saw an 2 ct Asscher! It was more beautiful than I imagined!! I decided that's what I wanted.
I did considerable research here on PS and various sites to understand what to look for. But I also had to keep in mind my husband's strict budget. Not so much a number, but not to get ripped off. Which I'm sure most of you know, is not easy. We did a ton of research on diamond pricing and were discovering more and more that no one really provides a good deal. So my husband insisted I look for what he called "distress sales," i.e. people trying to sell them to get whatever they can, not trying to make the highest profit. But considering what I was looking for is rare, I was skeptical.
I was looking for:
- Asscher (all the asschers I was able to see in person were the "Square Emerald Cut"; I noticed a few "Cut-Cornered Square Step Cut" on James Allen and was immediately attracted to their rarity and seemingly more sparkly nature, so I have been focused on a "Cut-Cornered Square Step Cut." I was told by a few sellers that there is no difference between the CCSSC and the square emerald. I don't think that's true. My understanding is that the CCSSC has additional steps in the pavillion. I also understood that Royal Asscher branded cuts were considered CCSSC. I never intended to look for an RA cut since I know they have a high premium, which definitely goes against my husband's rule of getting a steal.)
- 2+ carat
- GIA-certified (I had seen several EGLs and was just not confident in their assessment)
- Minimum mm size of 7.5 mm x 7.5 mm
- Closest to 1.0 l/w ratio as possible (not because it actually shows, but because I am pretty OCD)
- I (lowest color) - (I know that they typically say H should be the lowest, but this wasn't as big a concern as size for me)
- VS2 (lowest clarity)
- And for price: a STEAL!
Well, to my surprise, we found an estate dealer with a Royal Asscher branded diamond. I immediately convinced my husband to get it, here are the specs:
- 2.61 ct
- Royal Asscher laser inscription
- 7.63 mm x 7.61 mm x 5.27 mm
- Color: I
- Clarity: VS1
- Polish: Excellent
- Symmetry; Very Good
- Depth: 69.3%
- Table: 53%
- Flourescence: None
And the price...$16,900. Did I get a steal???
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