History of the Asscher Cut Diamond Ring
Each different diamond shape, or cut as they are known in the industry, has its history and is used in jewelry in a wide variety of ways. The Asscher cut is no different; it has a history that includes its inception, peak popularity, subsequent waning, and recent resurgence. Despite not being the most popular of diamond cuts, the Asscher cut has a long history and has seen periods of enormous popularity.
What Is an Asscher Cut Diamond?
Asscher cut diamonds frequently evoke ideas of affluence, luxury, and excess. It is the only diamond shape with a capital letter in its name. The Asscher cut, a combination of the princess and emerald cuts with X-shaped facets from its corners to its center culet, is a step-cut diamond like the emerald cut. Its faceting's brightness helps conceal some inclusions and lesser color grades. Many upcoming brides who adore classic elegance choose Asscher cut diamond rings because of their clear balance, eye-catching design, and Art Deco vibe. The Asscher diamond's step cut draws attention to the stone's clarity and is perfect for highlighting loose stones with greater clarity levels. Asscher cut diamonds, also called square emerald cuts, are essentially square when viewed from above but have rounded corners to allow more light to penetrate the stone. The appropriate length-to-breadth ratio for them is 1 to 1.04, and they usually have 50 or 58 facets.
Due to its sleek presentation and appealing Asscher cut, it has a devoted fanbase. It would appear to be a contemporary diamond cut made for today's avant-garde jewelry makers. If so, you'll be shocked to find that it was originally developed in 1902, more than a century earlier. It took this diamond shape several decades from its introduction to the diamond market to become popular. However, the Asscher cut found its audience with the advent of the Art Deco era. Everything underwent a significant break from tradition in the 1920s. It was the era of industry. A new message of modernity and the geometric impact was conveyed through architecture. Jewelry was inspired by this.
Asscher cut diamond rings are pricey and hard to come by. However, no other diamond cut compares in the eyes of some.
The Family Legacy
The Asscher family is renowned among gemologists, lovers of diamonds, and historians for creating the royal Asscher. A name the family developed during a century of cutting unusually large, rare, and frequently royal diamonds. Joseph Asscher, born into a family of diamond cutters, established himself by creating the Asscher Cut in 1902. The result of this was the Royal Asscher. The Asscher cut quickly became well-known among the rich and famous of the early 20th century because it was so easily recognizable. To protect the family's wealth, Joseph patented the design. It was the first diamond cut to be copyrighted against imitation by other businesses. The Asscher cut was a mainstay of art deco jewelry because of its brilliance and clean lines, which were ideal for the style.
Abraham Asscher, Joseph's son, divides The Excelsior, the largest diamond in the world at the time, into ten pieces in 1903. The Cullinan diamond was discovered in 1905, and Joseph Asscher cut it into nine stones in 1908. Some are now included in the crown jewels. With its long lines and striking shape, Asscher cut diamonds experienced a significant increase in popularity during the Art Deco era. The Asscher cut's patent ran out during World War II, allowing rival diamond cutting firms to imitate the stone with less desirable results.
The Royal Asscher Cut
Edward and Joop Asscher developed the Royal Asscher cut diamond much later in 2001 to improve upon their great-grandfather's endeavor. They increased the precision of the cut, added facets, and produced a diamond that reflected more light than the original Asscher cut, thanks to advances in diamond modeling and cutting technologies. Royal Asscher's are infrequently offered by local jewelers, and demand has decreased since the turn of the century. This is partially a result of scarcity and partly a preference for cuts with greater sparkle, such as the perennially well-liked round brilliant cut.
The Asscher Cut Diamond Ring In Recent History
Many women all over the world prefer the Asscher diamond cut. There is no doubting the vintage beauty of these stones, but ultimately, the shape of your diamond engagement ring will depend on your unique taste and style. A step-cut diamond makes up the Asscher cut engagement ring. It features vast bursts of brilliance and a glassy luster because of its long and rectangular facets. Hollywood celebrities have loved the vintage vibe of the Asscher cut diamond rings.
- The Krupp diamond, a stunning 33.19 carat stone, was set in the most well-known Asscher cut diamond ring, which belonged to Elizabeth Taylor.
- Cash Warren gave Jessica Alba a 5-carat Asscher cut engagement ring with a diamond halo and pave band.
- Former boyfriend, Chris Robinson gave Kate Hudson a stunning Asscher cut ring with an Art Deco halo, which she used to wear.
- When she and her now-ex-husband Ben Gibbard were together, Zooey Deschanel wore a 3-carat Asscher cut diamond ring.
- When she and Pete Wentz were dating, Ashlee Simpson wore an engagement ring with an Asscher cut halo and a 4-carat center stone.
- Chris Martin gave Gwyneth Paltrow an Asscher diamond engagement ring mounted on a tiny micro pave band.
- Pippa Middleton displays an Asscher diamond ring with a geometric halo inspired by Art Deco and set in either white gold or platinum.
- Kate Bosworth complements her effortlessly stylish appearance with a beautiful Asscher cut engagement ring with baguettes in an Art Deco style.
Asscher Cut Pricing
Asscher cut diamonds tend to be deeper, so they use rough diamonds more efficiently than round diamonds. They use a large percentage of the rough diamond (approximately 65% - 75%). Asscher cut diamonds hold more carat weight distribution in the center or belly of the diamond rather than out wide. This makes them look smaller than round cut diamonds of the same carat weight. A round cut diamond with 1.00 ct weight will be about 6.4 mm, whereas the Asscher cut will be 5.5 mm.
Knowing that the size is visually smaller, you can expect to pay less for an Asscher cut than a round cut, holding all other factors the same. The average discount on a round-cut diamond may be as much as 15%. If you're looking for a 1 carat Asscher cut diamond ring, you can expect to pay around $3716 for the stone if it's an Excellent cut, VS2 clarity, and a G color diamond.
Asscher Cut Versus Other Diamond Cuts
It can be challenging to decide between different diamond shapes, whether because the stone's cut is comparable or just because of the silhouette. If you're considering buying an Asscher diamond, you've thought about a few other options. We've compared these stunners in detail to make it easier for you to choose. But remember that our team of knowledgeable gemologists assists couples in making these decisions daily. Reach out if you're stumped and want to discuss it with an expert. They like assisting clients in locating the ideal diamond for their budget, romantic situation, and way of life.
Emerald Cut
"Square emerald cut" is another frequent name for Asscher cut diamonds. It received this moniker because most Asscher-cut diamonds have a length to width ratio of approximately 1:1. They share characteristics including the step-cut and the blunted corners. The bottommost facet of a stone, known as the culet, is sharp in the Asscher cut, whereas the culet of an emerald cut stone is long and flat. Many consumers find the Asscher's pointed culet intriguing since it draws attention to the diamond's center. Its brilliant depth frequently transfixes the spectator as a result.
Princess Cut
It's likely the silhouette that has you torn if you decide between these two stone shapes. But that's where the similarities end. Although they're both relatively square, the Asscher cut features cropped corners. It also has fewer, more extended facets than the princess cut. So while the step-cut Asscher is mesmerizing and its facets lead the eye to the center of the stone, it's best for showcasing the clarity of a diamond, not the brilliance. On the other hand, a princess-cut diamond has elaborate faceting created to magnify the stone's brilliance. That means you'll get more brilliance, fire, and scintillation from engagement rings featuring this diamond shape.
Cushion Cut
This argument is comparable to the Asscher vs. Princess Cut controversy. The most significant distinction is that Asscher cut diamonds would often be less dazzling than cushion cut diamonds. Cushions are brilliantly cut, similar to princess cuts. Compared to the step-cut Asscher, they have more facets, meaning more light reflects off the stone and returns to your eye. These two stones also differ in terms of shape of the stone. The corners of the Asscher are clipped and blunt, while those of the cushion are softened. The cushion's form, which revolves around arches, makes it a suitable option for brides who value a delicate, feminine appearance. On the other side, the Asscher is an architectural design. For individuals who value simplicity, elegance, and a hint of antique, the straight lines and huge, clear facets are ideal.
Asscher Diamond Ring Settings
Personal preference ultimately determines whether to get a solitaire Asscher cut engagement ring or a three stone Asscher cut engagement ring. The only person whose opinion truly matters in this situation is the one who will be wearing the ring every day. But what we can do is explain the standard settings for Asscher diamonds and how to make yours stand out from other rings with the same central stone. Many people opt to uphold this tradition with their engagement ring setting because the Art Deco era is when Asscher diamonds initially became well-known. However, this diamond form doesn't require much to get people's attention. Consider an Asscher cut solitaire engagement ring since the obvious step cuts are enough to command attention. Additionally, we at King of Jewelry believe these settings are particularly spectacular when used with a 2-carat Asscher cut diamond because the larger the stone, the more clarity of the diamond can be seen.
But what if you choose a distinctive appearance for your 2-carat Asscher cut diamond ring? There are many strategies to achieve that, such as avoiding Art Deco influences. But exploring your metal possibilities in-depth is one of our favorite methods to experiment with a ring's appearance. Few people know that choosing between 14K and 18K rose gold can radically alter the appearance of an Asscher cut rose gold engagement ring. For instance, an Asscher cut rose gold engagement ring made of 14K rose gold will appear significantly pinker than one made of 18K rose gold. That's because 14K rose gold contains a higher proportion of copper alloy, which gives the metal its rosy color.
Size Guide for Asscher Diamonds
Asscher cut diamonds often range from a few millimeters to several carat weights. Please refer to the table below for the sizes, and carat weights of popular Asscher cut diamonds. Please check our diamond size chart page for all sizes and shapes.
King of Jewelry has established a firm name in the jewelry market "since 1999." King of Jewelry operates a wholesale jewelry store in the Los Angeles jewelry mart, allowing it to provide couples searching for their ideal engagement ring with never-before-seen wholesale costs. In addition, the King of Jewelry offers a wide selection of wedding and engagement rings in various metals, sizes, styles, and cuts. For brides on the leading edge of fashion, they even carry the newest designs employing half moon diamonds or trapezoid diamonds. The exquisite collection includes Beautiful Asscher cut engagement rings, oval cut engagement rings, cushion cut engagement rings, emerald cut engagement rings, princess cut engagement rings, radiant cut engagement rings, and yellow diamond engagement rings.