In the history of diamonds and diamond cutting the Asscher cut diamond is one of the greatest cuts of diamonds ever conceived. Invented in the early 20th century by the Asscher Brothers of Holland, an Asscher cut is a modification on the most popular cut of previous century...the cushion cut. The Asscher Brothers, celebrities in their own right (they cut many of the "named" diamonds for royalty), invented a cut which was square to rectangular with a flat table (top surface), many small step cuts along the top area and larger longer facets underneath the diamond. Like the cushion cut, the Asscher cut has an open culet (the bottom of a diamond) and a facet plan to draw the eye into the diamond and give the diamond depth. In fact the beauty of an Asscher cut is how the eye "dives into the center of the diamond"...the eye relishes the "pool" of the diamond. In fact water and diamonds went hand in hand. Until recently diamonds were "graded" in terms of water..."river white" being the "D Flawless" of its time. The beauty of an Asscher cut runs counter to todays modern diamonds in which the facets and cut of a modern diamond repel the eye (in the name of "brilliance"). The myriad of facets in todays diamonds deprive the diamond of its true depth. Original Asscher cut diamonds are quite rare and are found mostly on the estate market. About the Cushion cut.

The cushion cut diamond was one of the most popular cuts of diamonds ever. For more than 70 years from 1830 to the turn of the century this was how diamonds were cut. Sometimes referred to as a "pillow cut", the cushion cut has an open culet (the bottom of the diamond) and a rectangular to square shape with rounded corners and a facet plan to give the diamond depth. The cushion cut diamond was cut for candle light. This is quite different from today's diamonds, which are cut for brighter denser electric light. The beauty of a cushion cut is the depth of the diamond. The facets allow the eye to travel into the diamond. It is a calmer more soothing cut than a modern cut...and at a romantic candlelight dinner, the cushion cut is at its best. Most quality cushion cut diamonds are found only on the antique and estate market.