Asscher Cut Diamonds

The asscher cut diamonds was designed by Joseph Asscher in 1902.   The shape is nearly octagonal and has cut corners like the emerald and radiant cut.  Although it looks similar to the emerald cut, the asscher cut diamond has larger step facets, a steeper crown, and a smaller table.  The blending of the unique characteristics delivers more brilliance than the modern emerald cut.  Each having 58 facets, the asscher comes to a point called the culet, where the emerald cut has a straight line, called a keel.  The asscher cut diamond had great success but peeked in popularity in the 1920s.

For many years, the asscher cut diamonds could only be found in antique shops and estate sales.  Because the popularity waned for so many years, the great grandsons of Joseph Asscher, Edward and Joop Asscher, decided to redesign the asscher cut and introduced the Royal Asscher in 2001.  The Royal Asscher cut Diamonds has 74 facets instead of the original 58.  The Royal Asscher cut has not replaced the modern asscher cut, but it has brought a rebirth to the use of the modern asscher cut diamond.  It is recommended that when choosing  an asscher cut diamond to get a minimum of an SI1 clarity because asscher and emerald cut diamonds are easier to see the inclusions in the diamond.