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The Precious Book of a wonderful diamond jewellery story

FUTURE HEIRLOOMS

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LEGACY Jan Maarten Asscher is a descendant

from one of the most famous diamond dynasties in history. The Asscher legacy is one of innovation, excellence and craftsmanship.

Innovation of cutting-edge diamond manufacturing technology with advanced techniques culminating in unique diamond shapes and cuts.

Excellence honed over decades of knowledge and uncompromising quality learnt through creating some of the most famous diamonds in the world.

Craftsmanship with inexorable attention to detail expressed through crowning cut, symmetry and finish.

This remarkable heritage and legacy will be continued through the new Jan Maarten Asscher diamond jewellery collections.

Jan Maarten Asscher, 8 years old, inspecting a diamond circa 1970.

Jan Maarten’s grandfather, Jacob Asscher marking a rough diamond circa 1950.

The Asscher brothers discussing a polishing strategy for the Cullinan diamond circa 1907.

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HISTORY The Asscher family have been passionate artisans and experts of the diamond industry since 1854.

A diamond family of incredible history.

In 1903 the Asscher’s cleaved, cut and polished the 995 carats Excelsior diamond, which at the time was the largest rough diamond ever discovered. It was found on June 30th in 1893 at the Jagersfontein mine in the Orange Free State, one of the South African Republics. It was finally manufactured by the I. J. Asscher Diamond Company into 11 exceptional polished diamonds weighing from 9 to 69 carats. The Excelsior still remains the second largest rough diamond of gem quality ever found.

The Excelsior diamond was then surpassed in 1908 when Joseph Asscher (Jan Maarten’s Great Uncle)

Far left, The King’s Sceptre with the Cross of the British Royal Crown Jewels.

Redesigned in 1910 to incorporate the Cullinan I diamond of 530 carats.

Left, Royal Imperial State Crown of Great Britain, manufactured in 1937 features the Cullinan II of 317 carats.

and his brothers cleaved, cut and polished the Cullinan diamond, which was discovered on the 26th January in 1905, at the Premier No. 2 mine, near Pretoria, South Africa. It was the largest rough diamond ever found in the world and weighed an amazing 3,106 carats.

It was expertly cut and polished into 9 important diamonds, ranging in size from 4 to 530 carats. The largest of these diamonds became known as the Great Star of Africa or Cullinan I and adorns the King’s Sceptre with the Cross of the British Royal Crown Jewels. The second largest of these diamonds, at 317 carats, was fashioned into a rectangular cushion cut and became known as the Second Star of Africa and adorns the Royal Imperial State Crown of Great Britain.

Far left, Brooch worn by Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar of 1911, created by Garrards & Co Ltd in 1911, featuring the Cullinan V weighing 18.8 carats.

Left, Joseph Asscher in 1908 cleaving the Cullinan diamond

A visit to the Asscher diamond factory in 1911 by President FalliĂŠres of France and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

Esteemed visitors to the Asscher diamond factory after 1920

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INFLUENCES

1854 IJ Asscher founded company

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arts & crafts

art nouveau

bespoke excellence craftsmanship

expressionism decorative innovative

1893 Excelsior diamond discovered at the Jagersfontein mine in South Africa

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1905 Cullinan diamond discovered at the Premier mine in South Africa

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2008 Jubilee cut diamond rediscovered by J.M Asscher

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JUBILEE 1854

EXCELSIOR 1893

CULLINAN 1905

H E R I TA G E

Craftsmanship HEIRLOOMS

info@asscher.co.uk • +44 (0)20 7242 8724

FUTURE HEIRLOOMS