Show me some antique/original Asschers!!

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With all the interest in Asschers these days, I thought it would be fun to see some of the early ones.

Here''s one that Lady Lulu found recently: 5.62ct, L, VS-2. Tbl:55%, Dpth:70.7%, G/G, culet; large.

Apparently it recently sold at auction at $36,425, or $6591/ct

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I just found this one here: www.pierrefamille.com , said to be c. 1920.

Unfortunately only stats quoted: 6.02cts, J, VS2.

I suspect this baby is stormworthy!

 

[Lorelei]

Crumbs Widget - got me drooling......

 

[Chi]

Ahhh Asschers are timeless....

 

[Mara]

there''s only one asscher i ever want to own...in my dreams!!

The Cartier 1922 5.5c... YUMalicious!!

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Why do the original ones look so much better than the generic new ones? They didn't have the sophisticated tools in the 1920's that they do now, but an antique Asscher cut by the family will put the generic ones cut these days to shame.

 

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I''m not sure, MB....I sure the ''romance'' associated with older stones helps.

Also, and I''d love to hear more from the experts on this, but it is my understanding that the older stones are really deep, with smaller tables. Maybe this helps....

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[fatafelice]

I''m a fan of this one myself...9+ carats!

 

[Gypsy]

This is one the Icestore has posted in thier gallery on here... it''s m all time favorite. Over 5 carats is all the info it gives.

 

[Scintillating]

Love this one from Nelson Rarities.
2.37ct Asscher cut diamond - from 1925

Scintillating...

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 6/15/2006 12:40:21 PM
Author: widget
I''m not sure, MB....I sure the ''romance'' associated with older stones helps.

Also, and I''d love to hear more from the experts on this, but it is my understanding that the older stones are really deep, with smaller tables. Maybe this helps....


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80% depth isnt uncommon with 25+% crowns in the old ones and other old ones will be cut simular to todays so it depends.
Theey have been cut every which way over the years.
The spreadier cuts with the look have been the ones that stayed and they can be just as awesome as the old ones.
Notice also that most of the ones shown are in the larger sizes with a 6 ct diamond if it faces up like a 4ct well the person buying it isnt going to mind much because its still huge but someone buying a 1ct dont want a stone that faces up like a .50ct

 

[Mara]

I think if I was in the market for an asscher I would try my hardest to get an antique one in an antique ring, like something from Nelson Rarities..I would definitely love that over getting a modern cut one. The old ones definitely do look great many times.

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 6/15/2006 11:56:21 AM
Author: Mara
there''s only one asscher i ever want to own...in my dreams!! The Cartier 1922 5.5c... YUMalicious!!

Wanna hear sumptin'' K-K-Krazee? That 5.5 Cartier always BUGS me. The symmetry is off, so that the faceting pattern kinda spirals, listing to the side a bit.

I''m also not loving the top one in this thread -- so don''t really agree that the antique ones were uniformly the **** or anything

Found out that a few years ago there was a REAL antique TIFFANY asscher at a jewelry store by me, around 3 cts ... but sold to a NYC publishing exec before I got to see it! (which is all it would have been - believe me -- just SEEING.)

 

[Scintillating]

Rau antiques - asscher

8.34 G-SI1 for a mere $248,000.00

Scintillating...

 

[Mara]

Date: 6/15/2006 3:51:57 PM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 6/15/2006 11:56:21 AM
Author: Mara
there''s only one asscher i ever want to own...in my dreams!! The Cartier 1922 5.5c... YUMalicious!!

Wanna hear sumptin'' K-K-Krazee? That 5.5 Cartier always BUGS me. The symmetry is off, so that the faceting pattern kinda spirals, listing to the side a bit.

FOR SHAME!

Now I am obsessed with looking at the listing stone.

But I''d still take it.

 

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I was curious about the specs of the second stone I posted. It almost looks too ''perfect'' to me to be an old one.

I called the vendor, and he didn''t have the info in front of him, but said that it is actually shallower than most old stones. He did insist that it was "of the period".

Interestingly, he said that since that picture was taken, the stone has been remounted in a new mounting...having sold the original mounting to a customer who had previously purchased a big asscher from him, and wanted that old mounting.

It occurs to me that it really is impossible to be sure an diamond is actually ''old'' without seeing it mounted in it''s original antique setting...

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[FireGoddess]

I love that Cartier asscher, but it''s like this:

 

[strmrdr]

would ya buy this one?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 6/15/2006 4:11:23 PM
Author: FireGoddess
I love that Cartier asscher, but it''s like this:

You do know thats cuz of the tilt right?

 

[Mara]

Date: 6/15/2006 4:11:23 PM
Author: FireGoddess
I love that Cartier asscher, but it''s like this:

hehe FG what is wrong with the bottom left?

i must have really bad eyes!!

 

[widget]

Storm....I''m an old fashioned girl! I can''t make heads nor tails of that funny picture of the wackoasscher!

Do the numbers at the bottom mean that although it weighs 1.23cts, it looks like a 48 pointer?

(BTW...did you notice my post above re the second stone posted on this thread? What to you think? Is it an authentic antique?)

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[lizz]

This reminds me of when I was looking to buy an asscher online, and I posed this question to one of the online vendors. It was doing the same thing as in that photo where FG circled it. The vendor said it''s very, VERY hard to photograph a diamond (we all know this), and that the listing did not exist in person, just in the photo.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 6/15/2006 4:15:03 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 6/15/2006 4:11:23 PM
Author: FireGoddess
I love that Cartier asscher, but it''s like this:

You do know thats cuz of the tilt right?

Yeah, just drives me a little batty when I look at it.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 6/15/2006 4:23:18 PM
Author: widget
Storm....I''m an old fashioned girl! I can''t make heads nor tails of that funny picture of the wackoasscher!


Do the numbers at the bottom mean that although it weighs 1.23cts, it looks like a 48 pointer?

(BTW...did you notice my post above re the second stone posted on this thread? What to you think? Is it an authentic antique?)


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means it has 64% less spread than the "DC standard" EC of that weight.
checking the diamond... its hard to tell , without knowing the history of the stone.

 

[strmrdr]

re second one posted:
impossible to say without knowing the story if its 1920''s it was cut in what became the modern style.

 

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Date: 6/15/2006 4:52:01 PM
Author: strmrdr
re second one posted:
impossible to say without knowing the story if its 1920''s it was cut in what became the modern style.

Well, I''m suspicious...especially since I learned that the stone is now in a modern setting.

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[KittenKat]

Gorgeous Asschers!! Wow.

I would really love to own an antique asscher that is 3cts...

 

[Art Nouveau]

Hi All,

I haven''t had time to post recently, but I have followed the Asscher threads with great interest. Last month, I had the pleasure of helping a friend of mine shop for a 5-carat Asscher and we saw three drop dead gorgeous 5+ carats stones, an original 1920''s D- Flawless, an original 1920''s F. VVS2 and a new F VS1. The F VVS2 antique Asscher was the most stunning, and a lot more affordable than the D Flawless, but because of the high crown and deep pavillion, the stone faces up like a 4 carat. The jeweler who showed us the antique Asschers is a high end estate jeweler dealer. He pointed out to us that the culet is important in an Asscher cut and it is one of the elements that gives the antique Asschers the special "look". I don''t know if this has been discussed before, but if the culet is important, why is it that most new Asschers are cut without one? The new Asscher was stunning too. It has big corners which give it a "Stop" sign shape and the GIA cert actually says "Octagon" under shape. The crown is not as high as the antique F, giving it a better spread. If you are buying a 5 carat Asscher, would you be willing to pay a premium for an orginal 1920s stone? If there are two stones with specs that are close, would you be expected to pay a premium for the old one? Would the original Asscher command a higher price if it is resold years from now?

Art Nouveau

 

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Oh My, AN.....Lucky lucky you!!! Did your friend choose one of the stones you mentioned?

Author: Art Nouveau

If you are buying a 5 carat Asscher, would you be willing to pay a premium for an orginal 1920s stone? YES. (but I''m weird.

)

If there are two stones with specs that are close, would you be expected to pay a premium for the old one? Would the original Asscher command a higher price if it is resold years from now?

Art Nouveau

It would seem to me that given your recent shopping excursion with your friend, YOU could answer this question as well as anyone else!

I would have guessed that older stones might cost less than their modern equivalents, since some of their ''ideosyncracies'' (lower color, smaller spread, visible culet), would be considered ''flaws'' by today''s standards.

I''d also guess (and these are guesses!) that antique stones would be a better longterm ''investment'' than modern ones. The only problem is, how do you "prove" a diamond is antique without it being mounted in a custom, verifiable antique mounting?

I''m SO ENVIOUS!!!!! I can''t think of anything better than ''helping'' a friend shop for a five carat antique asscher! Uh....yes I can....shopping for one for myself!

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[Art Nouveau]

Hi Widget,

You are so right! The only thing better than helping a friend shop for a 5-carat Asscher is to be shopping for one myself. Alas, it''s not in the budget. When I was shopping for a 4-carat diamond, I didn''t know anything about Asschers. If I am buying a stone now, I probably would have bought an Asscher instead of a radiant. There is just something magical about looking into the never ending ''hall of mirrors'' in the stone.

Several antique jewelry dealers told me that collectors are willing to pay premium for anitique Asschers and cushions. The F VVS2 Asscher did come in an original 1920''s Deco setting and the source can prove it''s authenticity. The difference in price between the old F VVS2 and the new F VS1 was over $25K. Myy friend decidied to go with the new stone.

I am still curious about the importance of a culet in an Asscher. I hope the experts in this forum will chime in. Thanks.

AN