Asscher Cut Diamond

Many consider the asscher cut diamond to be a square emerald diamond because of the many similarities between the two diamond shapes but they are quite different. The asscher diamond has a smaller table, larger step facets and a higher crown than emerald diamond does. These properties make the modified asscher diamond a more brilliant diamond than the emerald diamond is. But similarly, they are both step cut diamond and they both have a total of 57 facets.

When the pavilion facets of the asscher diamond are well positioned, the diamond looks like it has concentric squares when you view it from the top of the table. Very much like the emerald diamond, the asscher diamond also has cropped edges and this makes the diamond appear like an octagon even though it is square shaped. If you want to see and appreciate the asscher diamond’s unique shape, it is more obvious in a square silhouette mounted on a four prong setting.

The common shape of the asscher diamond is square but there are some asscher diamonds that are rectangular in shape. This depends on the length to width ratio of the diamond. The ideal length to width ratio for asscher diamonds is 1.00, asscher diamond with less than 1.05 will have a square shape, while those with higher than 1.05, typically 1.08, will have a rectangular shape. The asscher diamonds may have varying width at their corners but they generally have a small table, high crown, deep pavilion and faceted culet. All of these characteristics allow the diamond to display a beautiful luster and create a very fascinating illusion known as the “hall of mirrors” effect.

The size of the asscher diamond goes a long way in determining the visibility of the color in the diamond. For example, a 0.5 carat weight asscher diamond with a color grade of K is considered to be good while color grade G is considered as excellent. On the other hand, color grade K is considered very poor if the diamond is greater than 1.0 carat weight, while G is only considered good.

Clarity is another important characteristic of asscher diamond. Unlike many other diamond shapes, the asscher diamond is unforgiving of impurities in it and unable to hide them. It has a flat table which gives the observer an unobstructed view of the diamond center and makes it very easy to see impurities in the diamond.