Royal Asscher

The diamond company Royal Asscher, founded in 1854, is still owned by the Asscher family, a renowned international diamond dynasty with an unparalleled 160 year old legacy of diamond innovation, excellence and ethics, which includes cleaving the largest diamond ever found.

The family's voracious passion for diamonds has guided them throughout history. The company was bestowed with the rare privilege of a Royal title from Queen Juliana of Holland in 1980.

The inimitable, patent protected Royal Asscher Cut is considered to be one of the most beautiful diamond cuts ever created. With 74 facets, 16 more than the original Asscher, the Royal Asscher Cut exudes excellent brilliance from its perfectly symmetrical shape.

According to Mike Asscher, Managing Director of Royal Asscher, the source of their diamonds is mainly Russia, as the diamonds there are most suitable for their cutting method, and are conflict-free diamonds.

The Asscher polishers have developed a special method to polish the stone with great accuracy. A laser inscription of the Asscher logo and a serial number guarantees the unique origin of each stone. This is also printed on the Royal Asscher Authenticity Certificate that comes with every Royal Asscher Cut.

The Royal Asscher Cut now features in a series of fine jewelry collections designed by Lita Asscher, the sixth generation Asscher diamantaire. Lita Asscher is also responsible for the design of the fabulously fashionable Rocks & Jewels collection with Royal Asscher Cut diamonds and sapphires.

In 2009, Royal Asscher launched its Stars of Africa collection, a true innovation in the jewelry industry featuring floating diamonds.

At the charity banquet during the expo, Royal Asscher auctioned one product from the Stars of Africa collection, which sold at 100,000 yuan- money that went to the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation.

Mike Asscher, the sixth generation of the Asscher family, told us that now in the world there are only 75 experts who can do the Royal Asscher Cut, and all work for the Royal Asscher company.

"When I was six years old, I already knew I wanted to work for the company," Mike Asscher said. "I love my job. I enjoy it so much. The products we work with are always connected with happiness, with beautiful moments like engagements, child birth, presents. That's all fun."

Though he inherited the passion for diamonds, Mike Asscher won't force his children to continue doing this business, saying they will have the freedom to choose. "It's important to enjoy what you do."

He also told China Daily the four rules to valuing diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat, and then showed us his favorite diamond ring and the most expensive ring on exhibition, of which the inspiration comes from the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.

He revealed that, for a normal diamond, it usually takes two to four weeks to complete the preparation of a single stone, and for a tailored diamond, it may take from half a year to one year to complete the whole process. Usually there are three workers in charge of the process of going from a rough diamond to a polished diamond.

Royal Asscher just opened new stores in China, one in Beijing and one in Tianjin, and is planning to open at least one more store here in Beijing within this year, with plans for Shanghai next year, according to Mike Asscher.