The Asscher Saga..Newbie with a headache- Please help!

[beautifuldisaster]

I thought this was supposed to be fun..diamond shopping

I have the worst headache ever. From the minute my bf mentioned getting engaged I took it and ran with it....the ring I thought would be sort of easy as I thought I knew what I wanted. Must to my dismay, what I want and what my wonderful bf wants to pay are not so much in the same neighborhood. I can''t be fault him, he wants a house and I want a bigger diamond. Although it pains me to admit it, a house should take precedence.

My job is to find an asscher ring around 1.00-1.25 carat and a setting for $5,000 or as close to it as possible. I have looked at uniondiamond.com and whiteflash amongst others. I am just so confused as to windmills, cuts, etc. that I wouldn''t know a good asscher if it slapped me in the face probably. I have nobody that I can truly trust (a jeweler or something) which is what brought me here. Can someone please assist me? I know I posted before, but I keep getting more and more confused, the more I read.

I really want an antique setting with two trillions and pave on the sides, I know..it''s good to want things. I found one in Jared that was like that and under $1k, although I have no pic of it. Here is a pic of what I like...without the $3k price tag of course...lol

http://www.galleriadiamonds.com/three_stone_antique_engagement_ring_852.htm

Anyone know of other styles/sites with something similar?


Can someone please adopt me and help me? You will have alll of my gratitude and I know my bf will be forever in your debt. I don''t know who to trust and who to stay away from and clearly I think I will be buying online rather than B&M.

Thanks so much!!!

 

[beautifuldisaster]

What about these?

http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamond_details_PHPQ_itemid_E_5607&uitnsq7pa8mf567g0khsn0n071

http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamond_details_PHPQ_itemid_E_45980&uitnsq7pa8mf567g0khsn0n071

http://www.dirtcheapdiamonds.com/diamond_detail.cfm?did=5044403

http://www.whiteflash.com/asscher/Asscher-cut-diamond-755756.htm


i dont really know what %'s I am supposed to look for ideally..

Thanks so much!

 

[SeaOats]

Well, first I would definitely check out this thread, entitled "All About Asschers" LINK

Also, how about looking on Whiteflash under their expert selection? That way you have an actual pic to look at. The one you listed from Whiteflash is not in house and with asschers, you really need to see them!

Good luck!

 

[strmrdr]

I would contact Jon at www.goodoldgold.com and see if he can help you.

Or one of the whiteflash crew at

www.whiteflash.com
I dont like the ones they have in stock but they have got some good ones in for people lately.

When they find one post the info here including pictures for approval either way :}
Tell them your going to do so.

 

[diamondsbylauren]

Congrats BD- buying a diamond should be FUN!

I would say that you should consider another shape besides trilliant with an Asscher Cut center- the reason?
Asscher cuts are step cut, and triliats are brillaint faceted- which may not emphasize the center as much as you''d like.

Smaller Asshers are a nice option

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/29/2005 9:15:6 PM
Author:beautifuldisaster

#1. Must to my dismay, what I want and what my wonderful bf wants to pay are not so much in the same neighborhood.

#2. My job is to find an asscher ring around 1.00-1.25 carat and a setting for $5,000 or as close to it as possible.

#3. I am just so confused as to windmills, cuts, etc. that I wouldn''t know a good asscher if it slapped me ...

Just picked three pieces of your message hoping they summarize it pretty well...

For #1. How many stones have you seen ? It isn''t easy to just pick by grades and numbers without knowing (=seeing) what they mean. Chances are your image of the perfect ring and the "translation" into grades don''t quite match. I would be surprised if you do not end up finding just the right match after all.

#2. Sounds good to me: it would be F-G/Si1, probably about 1 carat. Getting the proportions right should insure that stone has the right size. Step cuts come at rather different sizes for whatever weight depending on their cut. IMO, look for $/size for a given set of grades if browsing a database.

#3. There are lots of slightly different shapes all called "Asscher" in all legitimacy. Aside the precisely defined branded version, the original Asscher cuts didn''t have any standard set of proportions... As long as you like the shape (wind or no wind, square or not, cut cornered or not... whatever) and the stone has good brilliance and size for the money, that''s a ncie diamond for the like of me. Who''se to say otherwise ?

A diamond is a diamond. All are supposed to be bright... and it doesn''t hurt if they are large either

About the setting... Sidestones may either break the budget or be too small and not too well cut (quite often these two characteristics go together for some unknown reason). Is it worth sacrificing either the quality of the main stone or the workmanship of the setting to get those sides ? This is your decision, of course - just one thing to consider.

For settings, you might want to take a look HERE
The shop has decent prices (I think) and the settings are quite dainty (not in a bad way).

Without that harsh and glaringly not-antique bright polish, carefully paved single cuts and rather well defined hand engraving... I thing those asscher cut diamond below are not unhappy in their setting

Any chance you might agree ?

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/30/2005 1:33:48 AM
Author: diamondsbylauren

I would say that you should consider another shape besides trilliant with an Asscher Cut center- the reason?
Asscher cuts are step cut, and triliats are brillaint faceted- which may not emphasize the center as much as you''d like.

Yeah... step cut sides are a pain to find and some would consider worth the match (myself included).

Here''s why (below)

and while I am at it... how about this stone ? Looks clean to me (& a terrific bargain for the color and size). There are several lucky finds like this where this one comes from including this G-VS2. And there are other places to look up, of course.

Btw, the budget sounds safe with such $3500-ish diamond and a setting like those above (about $1500).

 

[beautifuldisaster]

Thanks David. I know this should be fun..but its verrrrrrrrrrry stressful!

I am up for considering other shapes, I just wanted sidestones because I wanted it to appear larger and have more bling.
Any ideas?