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Serene Majesty
The Royal Asscher Diamond
It’s not very often in one’s life you
can hold magic in your hands that all at once reflects the magnitude
of the past and the promise of the future. The Royal Asscher diamond
is that magic. Cut from an octahedral shaped piece of rough to a
74 facet step-cut octagon, this diamond exhibits all the punch of
a hurricane without sacrificing its quiet sophistication and regal
temperament. Quite simply, lightning has struck twice for the Royal
Asscher diamond company that first introduced its predecessor, the
Asscher, back in 1902 and now the Royal Asscher at this summer’s
Las Vegas Jewelry Show.
With just a glance one is pulled into this masterpiece
like a fish to water, drawn deeper and deeper into its trance and
pond-like effect that can only be described as a pebble tossed into
a lake that ripples and reverberates its cinematic impact upon the
fortunate viewer.
When I interviewed "Joop" Asscher for this article (his
friends call him Joe). I was immediately put at ease by his soft-spoken
demeanor. A man of 51, married with two children, he is descended
from a line of cutting royalty dating back to 1854. His grandfather,
Joseph Asscher, was entrusted by King Edward VII of England with
cutting the largest diamond ever found, the Cullinan weighing in
at 3,015 carats. Asscher’s clients read like a who’s who
of royalty from Emperor Hirohito and Emperor Akihito of Japan; Queen
Elizabeth II of Great Britain; Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard
of the Netherlands; King Carl-Gustav and Queen Sylvia of Sweden;
King Constantine and Queen Annemarie of Greece and Queen Beatrix
and Prince Claus of the Netherlands.
When I asked Joe why the new Asscher he simply
said, "It’s a diamond whose time had come! With the mass
marketing of a new brand or style practically every single day it
was time for the old guard to take its rightful place in history."
And I couldn’t agree with him more. Every Tom, Dick and Harry
with a cutting wheel thinks they can invent a new standard overnight,
which isn’t going to happen. What impresses me so much with
the new Asscher is its attention to detail and symmetry. Without
it you’d just have a lifeless block of ice. More good news
is the marketing arm Asscher has chosen to deliver their new baby
and that’s by making veteran M. Fabrikant & Sons the sole
North American distributor.
Recently, I put the new Royal Asscher through
its paces measuring every angle, facet and percentage. This is how
it performed:
| |
Royal Asscher |
Traditional Emerald Cut |
| Brilliance: |
52% to 55% |
70% to 80% |
| Dispersion: |
45% to 48% |
20% to 30% |
| Light return: |
67% to 91.3% |
38.8% to 54.78% |
| Bow tie: |
None |
Medium to strong |
Summary
Where the Royal Asscher appears to get its magic
is from its carefully sculptured pavilion. By removing the keel
line and replacing it with a small or pointed culet and slightly
bowing out the step cut pavilion main facets, the pavilion is transformed
more into a mirrored bowl than an ornamental cone. Opposing pavilion
main facets are precision cut to twin themselves in order to not
disrupt the fluidity of the "Pond effect" created upstairs
from the nucleus of the table to the octagonal-faceted girdle. Practically
from any vantage point the diamond appears to be poetry in motion
always desiring to reflect and redirect a kaleidoscope of bar flashes
back to the eye.
In closing, I think the thing to remember here
isn’t we’ve got another traditional cut diamond with a
new brand name, because we don’t. Brand names don’t sell
diamonds, it’s the fire from the ice that will determine the
success or failure of any new cut. This diamond isn’t breath
taking because it’s called The Royal Asscher, its beauty lies
in its cut and facet arrangement. That is true today as it will
be true a thousand years from now. Quite simply you’ve got
to see it to believe it. Mere words do not suffice. To find a retailer
near you call (800) 432-8895.
Please note that Royal Asschers are no longer on the primary market since 2005. The only way for one to purchase this cut is through the secondary market—aka used diamonds.
by Fred Cuellar,
author of the best-selling book "How to Buy a Diamond." More questions?
Ask the Diamond Guy®
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