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Asscher Cut: Loose Diamonds vs. Set Diamonds

When purchasing a diamond engagement ring, people mostly lean toward buying diamonds that are already set, commonly referred to as preset rings or mounted diamonds, since many local stores usually have them available as a straightforward and fast, cash-and-carry option.

However, there is another choice! You can also purchase a loose diamond and have it set in a ring of your choice. Loose diamonds can be purchased according to your particular specifications. Usually, that takes a bit more time, but both situations have their pros and cons, including the investment opportunities be sure to read our guide all about investing in loose diamonds.

Loose Diamond Buying Guide

Already set diamonds do not leave much space for your creativity, and jewelers see customizing as a challenge of its own. A diamond should represent your personality, and that is one of the primary reasons people are deciding to venture the path of purchasing diamonds loose.

Loose diamonds are stones sold on their own, not mounted in a setting. This is probably the best way to go if you feel restricted with the usual options you find in stores. Stones are measured by the same standards - the 4c’s (cut, carat, color and clarity), and can be bought in a variety of shapes, all according to your budget. Most preset options offer princess or round cut stones, but there are dozens of cuts available, including cushion, oval, pear, and heart shapes, but one of the most popular is the Asscher cut.

The History of the Asscher Cut

Back in 1854, Isaac Asscher established the Asscher Diamond Company in Amsterdam, Holland. Fifty years later, his two sons, Joseph and Abraham became two of the most renowned diamond experts and innovators in the world.

In 1902, Joseph and Abraham patented the “emblematic cut”, or what we know as the Asscher cut, which became a world standard in the 1920’s. Unfortunately for the Asscher family, the legal patent expired during WW2 while the entire family was imprisoned in concentration camps, restricting them from obtaining a continuation on their patented design.

Sadly, only ten members of the Asscher were left alive after the war ended, but the diamond industry in Amsterdam was completely destroyed. In the decades to come, the family rebuilt their Asscher diamond empire, and in 1980, Queen Juliana granted them a royal title, changing the company name to the Royal Asscher Diamond Company.

In recent years, the Asscher cut has surged in popularity, and there is no end in sight for this diamond trend.

What Makes an Asscher Cut Special?

The Asscher cut diamond resembles an emerald cut, except it features a smaller table, larger facets, a higher crown, concentric squares and cropped corners in a square shape. The ratio between these factors can produce more brilliance than the emerald cut, making it unique and eye-catching.

An elegant, classic choice, the Asscher cut works well with other gems, like rubies or sapphires. However, one of the biggest cons is that such a cut requires supreme quality, spectacular clarity and color, since even the slightest imperfection will easily be spotted through the step-cut facets of the stone.

Asscher vs. Emerald side-by-side comparison

When picking an engagement ring, the center diamond is the most important piece of the ring, and your focus should be on choosing an appropriate cut. An engagement ring is something you buy once in a lifetime, and the whole experience will make “diamonds are forever” sound like one of the truest sentiments that you’ve ever heard. Make your forever with an Asscher cut diamond in order to inspire the same long-lasting commitment that the Asscher family has had to its creation for over a hundred years.