1920s Asscher-Cut Diamond Ring

Appraised on: August 16, 2003

Appraised in: San Francisco, California

Appraised by: Berj Zavian

Category: Jewelry

Episode Info: San Francisco (#806)

Originally Aired: February 9, 2004

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (2:16)

GUEST: I inherited the ring from my grandmother, and she received it as a gift from my grandfather. She passed away about three years ago.

APPRAISER: And you got it?

GUEST: And I got the ring.

APPRAISER: Fantastic. It's just a beautiful piece.

GUEST: I know she treasured it.

APPRAISER: Now, you know it's a diamond engagement ring.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: When did your grandmother get this ring?

GUEST: Sometime not long after World War II.

APPRAISER: Okay... so it's 19... 48?

GUEST: Somewhere around there.

APPRAISER: This happens to be a Deco mounting, and in that time, they used to call it a square stone with four sides equal. If you look at the baguettes on the side, they are tapered, so that denotes Deco-- 1925, 1928, down to 1930. And they still make them today, but the idea is, it's a true Deco mounting and it's platinum. This particular shape, they don't call it "square-cut" anymore. They don't call it an "emerald cut" anymore. There's a new terminology out, which is very hot and very desirable in the East Coast. They call it an Asscher cut. It's the same thing-- square with the corners cut off, and the name is Asscher. And every young bride-to-be wants a ring like that. So you've got a new ring here. You know what I mean? You're right in style. This particular square, Asscher-cut diamond is clean. There is no inclusions in it. And the color is white, and it's approximately five, maybe 5 and a half carats, so you have not a small ring there. You have a very desirable diamond ring that should be certified, so you know what you have. Now, would you like to know how much your grandmother gave you? You do, huh? All right. At auction, a ring like this can easily go anywhere from about $30,000 to maybe $45,000. If we get a clean certificate on it, it can go over $50,000, okay?

GUEST: Wow!

APPRAISER: You floored me when you brought this because...

GUEST: It's floored me.

APPRAISER: It's a beautiful stone.