The Asscher cut diamond was first invented in 1902 by two brothers from Holland. It is also known as the ‘square emerald cut’ as it has a very similar ‘stepped’ look. It also has cropped corners similar to the emerald cut. But, whereas the emerald cut is rectangular shaped, the Asscher cut is square shaped.

The Asscher cut diamond has never been that popular until recently and they were pretty difficult to come across in most jewellery stores. It owes its new found popularity to its inclusion in the popular TV show ‘Sex and the City’. Many celebrities have also been spotted wearing the Asscher cut, and as a result sales of the once unpopular cut have rocketed. They are particularly popular as engagement rings and are a good alternative to the traditional round shapes.

The Asscher cut was designed in order to draw attention to the diamond. This means that if you have a low quality diamond in this cut, its imperfections will be automatically noticeable, so, it is advisable to buy the most expensive diamond you can afford.