Asscher cut diamond rings
Diamonds have fascinated man even from prehistoric times. Its steely hardness and dazzling sparkle have made it the most popular of precious stones. Women treasure it as the gemstone of eternal love. Even though the size of a diamond is an important factor in determining its value, the gem is rated more by quality than by mere physical dimensions. It is the natural sparkle of a gem that determines its final price. A clear, flawless and colorless stone will produce a brilliant sparkle, but only if it has been properly cut. Every rough diamond will need that precise cut which will give it the best possible sparkle while retaining as much of its original weight as possible. Many diamonds loose their sparkle or carat weight through improper choice of cut. It takes the intelligence and skill of an expert diamond cutter to determine the best possible cut for a rough stone, so as to get the maximum sparkle and carat weight out of it.
Different Diamond Cuts
There are several different types of cuts for diamonds, which include the round brilliant, emerald, heart, radiant, princess, marquise, pear, cushion, asscher, oval, step or trap cut (baguette), mixed princess, rose, etc. A diamond cutter needs to make a detailed study of the rough stone before deciding on its final appearance, the shape, number of faces, and the type and depth of the cut for each stone. The size and clarity of the rough stone are the most important factors. The reason fancy cuts started gaining popularity among diamond cutters was that they could retain more of the original carat weight of a rough stone with minor flaws when compared to traditional cuts. The regulation guiding principles that help cutters determine the cut are: 1- crown height, 2- pavilion depth, 3- table diameter, 4- girdle thickness, 5- crown angle, 6- pavilion angle. Proper analysis of these factors (giving due consideration to fashion trends) will allow for maximum possible sparkle with minimum possible reduction in carat weight. In present times, diamond cutters have the benefit of computer technology to assist them in making the most suitable choice.
The Asscher Cut Diamond
The original Asscher cut has been exclusively patented, and every genuine Asscher diamond comes with the Asscher family insignia along with a distinctive identification number inscribed directly on the stone?s girdle. These identification marks can only be seen under very high magnification, and potential customers can ask any jeweler to show them to certify the diamond?s authenticity.
The original or ?vintage? Asscher cuts are considered more valuable than the modern Asscher cuts. Joseph Asscher, founder of the Royal Asscher Company that was established in 1854 in Amsterdam, first designed this distinctive cut in 1902. He was already acknowledged as an internationally renowned diamond cutter and this new cut soon became accepted. Original Asscher cut diamonds are scarce and the few available for purchase generally come up only during disposal of estates. These can be very expensive.
Asscher has the credit of having cut the largest discovered diamond ever the 3,205 carat Cullinan diamond. His reputation as a master cutter attracted the attention of Britain?s King Edward VII, who commissioned him to cut the stone. It took Asscher nearly six months of deep study to come to a final conclusion on how the cut the stone to perfection. He cut it into three flawless stones. The largest and most famous of them is called ?the Star of Africa. Weighing 530.20 carats and having 74 facets, it is set into the scepter of King Edward VII.? Along with the other two diamonds, it is exhibited in the Tower of London with the main display of the Crown Jewels.
An unusual characteristic of the Asscher cut is that it is not bound by any strict set of proportions along which it should be cut. This flexible feature allows cutters to explore their imaginative skills within reasonable bounds. It makes almost every Asscher cut diamond unique, its size and shape conforming only to the broad guidelines specified wide shape and square beveled corners and to the physical dimensions of the rough stone. The numerous parallel step facets can be varied from stone to stone, creating an attractive pattern all around the diamond. The cut of the stone needs to be deep, so as to large number of steps can be cut into. The facet on the top, called the table, is generally small but can vary in size. The cutting has to be precise to get the best sparkle. This is a cut that allows all flaws and inclusions to be seen if there is any defect in the cutting. A perfect cut produces the same effect as that seen in infinitely reflecting mirrors.
Conclusion
The Asscher cut may not be the most popular choice for diamonds, but it is one of the more sophisticated looking cuts. Its sleek, square edges give it a classical elegance. It is from this cut that the emerald cut evolved, and that is why it sometimes called the square emerald cut. It is also referred to as a modified cushion cut. The choice of the stone for an Asscher cut must be done very selectively, as not all stones are suitable for it. There standard recommended guidelines for selecting the stone, which are purely optional and can vary according to individual taste: cut good; clarity VS2; color G; percentage of depth 65-72%; table 54-61%. Since the cut will attract special attention, the stone should be of the best affordable quality. Sparkle and clarity should be given more importance than size.
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