Square Emerald/Asscher Purchase

[ACruz]

Hi All,

I'm interested in purchasing, the best cut (most important to me obviously) Asscher/square emerald natural diamond out there. 1.5 carat I color SI 1 or slightly better color or clarity but not necessary. I'm in south Florida. Where's the best place I can go here to see some preferably in person or online? Thanks.

 

[tyty333]

Do you have a budget you're trying to stay in? Just trying to see what you could get on-line. I'm not in S. Florida,
so dont have any recs. Hopefully, someone else is though and can post some places to check out.

 

[ACruz]

Do you have a budget you're trying to stay in? Just trying to see what you could get on-line. I'm not in S. Florida,
so dont have any recs. Hopefully, someone else is though and can post some places to check out.

Under $10,000

 

[Karl_K]

Eyeclean si1 SE/Asschers are rare as hens teeth.
Even a lot of vs2 stones are not eyeclean.

 

[ACruz]

Eyeclean si1 SE/Asschers are rare as hens teeth.
Even a lot of vs2 stones are not eyeclean.

Thanks understood. Let me ask you this, my strongest desire is in finding a stone that has superb light performance and looks large because of a great cut. Does this mean I won't find really really well cut stones without going up to VS2? Does the clarity level go hand in hand with cut quality? Im not as concerned with eye clean than with cut.

 

[Karl_K]

I have seen some superbly cut stones that were not eyeclean.

 

[ACruz]

I have seen some superbly cut stones that were not eyeclean.

and that's what I really want, a fantastic cut most of all. Actually I'm pretty sure I'm more concerned about color than eyeclean. My eyes are going so eyeclean is the least of my concern yet color and contrast I can notice. If I could find an I color (of course I wouldn't mind whiter) with a fantastic cut I think I would be satisfied even if the stone is not eyeclean.

 

[PNWRockHound]

Cut and clarity (vs2, vs1, SI1, etc) are two independent but equally important dimensions. A well-cut stone will distribute light perfectly and take one’s breath away. A stone with good clarity (at the very least, eye-clean) will appear pristine in addition to being bright, white, and fiery. The cuts you mentioned are known for being particularly unforgiving when it comes to inclusions (imho, round brilliant hides inclusions best, esp when they are not on the diamond’s table), and a not-eye-clean stone will be pretty obvious. People examine rings most closely out of all jewelry pieces, so clarity is definitely a factor you should consider. I will go as far as to say that a beautifully cut but not eye-clean 1.5 ct stone in a ring will be a deal-breaker for most people. just food for thought. If it were me, VS2 would be the absolute minimum clarity I would consider in an asscher/square emerald.

 

[ACruz]

Cut and clarity (vs2, vs1, SI1, etc) are two independent but equally important dimensions. A well-cut stone will distribute light perfectly and take one’s breath away. A stone with good clarity (at the very least, eye-clean) will appear pristine in addition to being bright, white, and fiery. The cuts you mentioned are known for being particularly unforgiving when it comes to inclusions (imho, round brilliant hides inclusions best, esp when they are not on the diamond’s table), and a not-eye-clean stone will be pretty obvious. People examine rings most closely out of all jewelry pieces, so clarity is definitely a factor you should consider. I will go as far as to say that a beautifully cut but not eye-clean 1.5 ct stone in a ring will be a deal-breaker for most people. just food for thought. If it were me, VS2 would be the absolute minimum clarity I would consider in an asscher/square emerald.

I understand, however, I own a square emerald which is an SI 1 and it is eyeclean. You can barely see anything even with a loop. Maybe I got lucky, but that's why I'm shooting for only that level clarity to keep cost down. What I ultimately want is great cut or at least to see great cuts without being eyeclean and then judge.

 

[PNWRockHound]

I understand, however, I own a square emerald which is an SI 1 and it is eyeclean. You can barely see anything even with a loop. Maybe I got lucky, but that's why I'm shooting for only that level clarity to keep cost down. What I ultimately want is great cut or at least to see great cuts without being eyeclean and then judge.

It is awesome that SI1 has been good to you before. It is not a given, from my experience. I hope you strike gold again in your search!

 

[ACruz]

It is awesome that SI1 has been good to you before. It is not a given, from my experience. I hope you strike gold again in your search!

This is it. It's close to perfect. I'm just not crazy about what it does in certain lighting. I get Maltese cross effect sometimes. I think I'd rather have a dark speck than whole Maltese cross.

 

[ACruz]

I've become obsessed with finding perfect.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Thanks understood. Let me ask you this, my strongest desire is in finding a stone that has superb light performance and looks large because of a great cut. Does this mean I won't find really really well cut stones without going up to VS2? Does the clarity level go hand in hand with cut quality? Im not as concerned with eye clean than with cut.

When chasing eye-clean a lot of shoppers fail to consider transparency. You are better off with a very well cut stone with full transparency even if it has some eye- visible inclusions, as long as they aren't obvious to casual observation. But certain inclusion types tend to scatter light, even if they can't be resolved with the naked eye. This can result is slight haziness which is certainly not what you want if you are looking for great cut quality.

 

[ACruz]

When chasing eye-clean a lot of shoppers fail to consider transparency. You are better off with a very well cut stone with full transparency even if it has some eye- visible inclusions, as long as they aren't obvious to casual observation. But certain inclusion types tend to scatter light, even if they can't be resolved with the naked eye. This can result is slight haziness which is certainly not what you want if you are looking for great cut quality.

Thank you. Can you explain transparency? In my ignorant mind that sounds like seeing through the diamond like windowing but obviously you're describing something positive.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Good question. It's a diamond quality aspect that there is not enough focus on. Primarily because the major gemological laboratories do not directly grade it. GIA does have a way of communicating a significant transparency issue very indirectly, but it escapes notice by all but the most experienced diamond shoppers.

While we normally think of diamond as being a completely transparent material, that is not always the case. Transparency can be compromised by both inclusions (especially certain types in concentration), and by atomic level defects in the carbon lattice.

Transparency issues manifest as a slight haziness or milkiness, which can be subtle and difficult for normal shoppers to assess accurately. It often takes a trained eye. But if a diamond has appreciably compromised transparency it will never be capable of optimal light performance no matter how well cut it is.

 

[ACruz]

Good question. It's a diamond quality aspect that there is not enough focus on. Primarily because the major gemological laboratories do not directly grade it. GIA does have a way of communicating a significant transparency issue very indirectly, but it escapes notice by all but the most experienced diamond shoppers.

While we normally think of diamond as being a completely transparent material, that is not always the case. Transparency can be compromised by both inclusions (especially certain types in concentration), and by atomic level defects in the carbon lattice.

Transparency issues manifest as a slight haziness or milkiness, which can be subtle and difficult for normal shoppers to assess accurately. It often takes a trained eye. But if a diamond has appreciably compromised transparency it will never be capable of optimal light performance no matter how well cut it is.

Thank you.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Thank you.

You're very welcome. We have a couple articles on this topic if you want to learn more. You can search "diamond transparency" on the search bar of our website.

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

If color is your jam then you might need to go up to colorless. Step cuts are known to show color. My asscher definitely does.

 

[melz]

I came (back) on this forum for information as to the best place to sell a diamond. As it happens, it may fit your bill. I'll post it in the appropriate forum and webpage if there is interest. It's the "one surprise" in this video. VVS2, E color, 1.6 carats.