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The secret of Asscher house

Published on March 16, 2024

The diamond jewels of the Asscher dynasty, which gaves its name to one of the most famous types of cut of the most precious stones ♦

Many know Asscher because it is also the name of a particular cut of diamonds. But the Royal Asscher Diamond Company, a Dutch company founded in 1854 by the Asscher family, also produces jewelery, which obviously make extensive use of diamonds. Do you think that the headquarters of the company is still the original one, in Tolstraat street, in Amsterdam. In the jewels there are the elements of the Arts and Crafts movement, which gave life to the Art Nouveau style, and then evolved into the Art Deco. Really regal pieces of jewelry. On the other hand, it is named after the Royal Asscher Diamond Company in 1980, when it was conferred the honor of royal supplier by Queen Juliana. And in 2011 Queen Beatrice perpetuated the prefix “Royal” for another 25 years.

Orecchini Pavo con diamanti taglio Asscher — Pavo earrings with Asscher cut diamonds

Royal Asscher is still owned by the Asscher family. It became famous in the early 20th century for the work of Joseph and Abraham Asscher, and became the Royal Asscher Diamond Company in 1980, when it was awarded the Royal Dutch Predicate by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in recognition of the company’s importance in the Netherlands and worldwide.

Orecchini con diamanti per 1 carato con taglio Asscher — 1 carat Asscher cut diamond earrings

The Asscher cut was born in 1902, invented by Joseph Asscher, who patented this special shape for the diamond. It was also the world’s first patented diamond cut. The original design featured 58 stepped facets and a steep pavilion with cut corners. Basically, it is an emerald cut diamond, but square and with cut corners. The Asscher cut was a staple of art deco and art nouveau era jewelry, with its straight lines and faceted arrangement making it perfect for clean, graphic elements brought to life by movement.

Riproduzione della corona reale britannica, esposta nella sede di Asscher, con il grande diamante Cullinam — Reproduction of the British royal crown, exhibited in Asscher, with the large Cullinam diamonds
The history of the company is linked to some extraordinary diamonds: the Excelsior of 997 carats, one of the largest diamonds found. In 1903 Abraham Asscher divided the stone into ten diamonds to minimize defects (some inclusions). The diamond Excelsior is finished (but it is unknown if it is a merit) to be worn as a pendant from the bra, during the 2003 Victoria Secret Fantasy Bra show, worn by Heidi Klum. A complete intimate of about 13 million dollars. Another historical diamond is the Cullinan, discovered in 1905, of 3,106 carats (621.2 g). The diamond was presented to King Edward VII, who invited the Asscher brothers to London to discuss how to cut the stone. Joseph Asscher divided the Cullinan into three parts. Then there are nine large stones: the largest is 530.20 carats (106.040 g), the Cullinan I. It is part of the jewels of the British crown.
[caption id="attachment_85020" align="aligncenter" width="709"] Engagement rings from the Maison Asscher

Anelli di fidanzamento della Maison Asscher — Reproduction of the British royal crown, exhibited in Asscher, with the large Cullinam diamonds
The history of the company is linked to some extraordinary diamonds: the Excelsior of 997 carats, one of the largest diamonds found. In 1903 Abraham Asscher divided the stone into ten diamonds to minimize defects (some inclusions). The diamond Excelsior is finished (but it is unknown if it is a merit) to be worn as a pendant from the bra, during the 2003 Victoria Secret Fantasy Bra show, worn by Heidi Klum. A complete intimate of about 13 million dollars. Another historical diamond is the Cullinan, discovered in 1905, of 3,106 carats (621.2 g). The diamond was presented to King Edward VII, who invited the Asscher brothers to London to discuss how to cut the stone. Joseph Asscher divided the Cullinan into three parts. Then there are nine large stones: the largest is 530.20 carats (106.040 g), the Cullinan I. It is part of the jewels of the British crown.
[caption id="attachment_85020" align="aligncenter" width="709"] Engagement rings from the Maison Asscher

A curiosity: during the months of the coronavirus epidemic, Mike and Lita Asscher decided they wanted to help fight covid-19 by creating a mask that printed the image of Asscher diamonds. The mask is made of non-medical fabric and is sold online: the profits were destined for scientists at the LUMC (Leiden University Medical Center).

Orecchini in oro giallo e diamanti — Yellow gold and diamond earrings

Anello con diamante taglio ovale — Ring with oval cut diamond

Sotheby’s presents a record-breaking blue diamond

Published on February 17, 2022

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The De Beers Cullinan Blue ha una stima di 48 milioni di dollari

It’s record time for diamonds. This time in the most precious competition in the world, Sotheby’s came first, presenting The De Beers Cullinan Blue, the name of an extraordinary natural diamond. The stone is also one of the most precious blue diamonds ever offered at auction: its value is estimated at over 48 million dollars. The blue diamond, with a rectangular stepped cut, weighs 15.10 carats and was recently cut from an exceptional rough stone discovered in April 2021. In addition, it is the largest internally flawless step cut vivid blue diamond that the Gemological Institute of America (Gia) has ever ranked.

Blue diamonds of this type, quality and weight are exceptionally rare. There are only five examples exceeding 10 carats that have been auctioned, but none have exceeded 15 carats. The De Beers Cullinan Blue is the most important piece of Sotheby’s Hong Kong Luxury Week: it will be offered in a single lot live auction in late April 2022 (exact date is yet to be determined). Given the global interest in a treasure of this nature, the diamond will first be presented on a world tour in New York, London, Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Taipei.

Blue diamonds of any kind are rare on the market, but this is the rarest of the rare; nothing of remotely similar calibre has appeared at auction in recent years. Hundreds of millions of years in the making, this extraordinary blue diamond is surely one of nature’s finest creations. Now brought to dazzling life by the hand of one of the world’s most skillful cutters, it is the ultimate masterpiece – as rare and desirable as the very greatest works of art. At a time of unprecedented demand for the finest, world-class, coloured diamonds, we are incredibly excited to bring to the market what is sure to become one of the most celebrated gems in the world.
Patti Wong, President of Sotheby’s Asia

The diamond was discovered in the Cullinan mine in South Africa in 2021, one of the very few sources of extremely rare blue diamonds in the world. Over the past year, De Beers has partnered with his partner, Diacore, one of the most experienced diamond master cutters, to cut and polish the stunning rough diamond and bring The De Beers Cullinan Blue to life.

Il diamante blu, con un taglio rettangolare a gradini, pesa 15,10 carati è stato recentemente tagliato da un'eccezionale pietra grezza scoperta nell'aprile 2021 — Il diamante blu, con un taglio rettangolare a gradini, pesa 15,10 carati è stato recentemente tagliato da un’eccezionale pietra grezza scoperta nell’aprile 2021

The De Beers Cullinan Blue stands as a proud masterpiece that has been gifted from nature with the hues of the sky and sea, perfected through a step-cut that is bold, distinctive and masterful. Among the rarest of stones in what is arguably the most desirable of colours – powerful and vivid, but at the same time calm and majestic – it must surely rank among the greatest wonders of the natural world. It is literally irresistible.
Wenhao Yu, Chairman of Jewelery and Watches at Sotheby’s Asia

While other colored diamonds can be found in mines around the world, there are very few sources of blue diamonds, most of which are recovered from the Cullinan mine in South Africa. Cullinan has produced many of the most famous diamonds in the world, including the 530-carat Great Star of Africa, the largest faceted colorless diamond in the world. Cullinan continues to produce some of the most extraordinary treasures in the world, including all De Beers Millennium blue diamonds. Notably, the De Beers Millennium Jewel 4, a 10.10-carat oval-shaped Fancy Vivid blue sold for $ 31.8 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in April 2016.

The De Beers Cullinan Blue. Solo cinque esemplari che superano i 10 carati sono stai venuti all'asta — The De Beers Cullinan Blue. Solo cinque esemplari che superano i 10 carati sono stai venuti all’asta

This diamond ranks as one of the best De Beers has ever seen. It is extremely rare and unique, and as the Home of Diamonds, De Beers is pleased to join together with Sotheby’s to bring this diamond to the world.
Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers Group

In auction another killer blue

Published on May 26, 2016

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The lights on the Oppenheimer Blue, exceptional diamond sold for 57.7 million dollars, are still on, but another blue killer is coming. And it’s always Christie’s to lead the dance with the next auction of Magnificent Jewels in New York, June 9 (please, write down the date in your diary). This time the top piece is the Cullinan Diamond Dream, of 24.18 carats, the largest fancy intense blue diamond offered at auction. It was extracted from the Cullinan mine in South Africa, known as the Premier Mine. It is the largest stone of the four blue diamonds cut from the original rough diamond of 122.52 carats, discovered in 2014. It is the same mine where, in 1905, was found a crazy 3106.75 carat diamond, the Cullinan I, also known as the Star of Africa. It is the largest polished white diamond found out, and now rest secure in the Tower of London along with the jewels of the crown of England. The Cullinam blue that arrives at auction, is type IIB and is especially big. The most intense blue diamonds fancy weigh average less than 1 carat: 24.18 carats is therefore an exceptional size. The classification as Type IIb makes it even more rare: in this kind of diamonds missing a symmetrical crystalline form and represent less than half of 1 percent of all diamonds that are found in nature. How much does a diamond like that? The estimate ranges from 23 to 29 million dollars.
It will not be the only highlight of the auction. In the catalog there are also jewels of Bvlgari jewelry, Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Graff, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Federico Graglia

Mistero set con rubino e diamanti di Van Cleef & Arpels. Stima: 120-150mila dollari — Mistero set con rubino e diamanti di Van Cleef & Arpels. Stima: 120-150.000 dollari

Bracciale art deco di Cartier, con dimanti e acquamarine. Stima: 150-200.000 dollari

Anello con diamante fancy yellow di Van Cleef & Arpels. Stima: 400-600.000 dollari

Collana con dimanti bianchi e colorati. Stima: 350.000 dollari

Orecchini multigemma di Van Cleef & Arpels. Stima: 40-60000 dollari

Collana di diamanti di Bulgari. Stima: 80000-120000 dollari

Anello con diamanti e tormalina. Stima: 25-35.000 dollari