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CONTENT
GASSAN 121 Beyond Perfection
COLOR The second most important of the 4C’s
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NATURE’S TREASURES Created by mother earth
CLARITY The purity of a diamond
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HAND SELECTED For unique beauty
CUT The symmetry and shape of a diamond
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OUR HERITAGE Craftmanship and quality
CONFIDENCE Internationally guaranteed certificate
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MORE THAN BRILLIANT The importance of the cut
AWARD CEREMONY Unique GASSAN 121 diamond cut
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THE COLLECTION A spectacular array of solitaires
HRD ANTWERP Europe’s leading authority in diamond certification
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MORE THAN BRILLIANT Carat, color, clarity and cut 23
WTOCD Antwerp World Diamond Centre 37
CARAT The weight of a diamond 25
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BEYOND PERFECTION At GASSAN Diamonds, we aim to go beyond perfection, bringing you the absolute best a diamond can offer. That is precisely why we started the GASSAN 121 project. This unique and patented cut sets GASSAN apart, in a class of its own. And so are those that grant this unique diamond eternal brilliance in an exclusive piece of jewelry. I believe that with the GASSAN 121, we may have hit the most sparkling star imaginable. Not just brilliant, but more than brilliant. We take great pride in explaining to you here what makes the GASSAN 121 so exceptional, literally, in every facet.
Steve Bierman Director Gassan Diamonds Belgium
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NATURE’S TREASURES CREATED BY M OTHER EA R TH The word diamond comes from the Greek ‘Adamas’ meaning ‘invincible’, the hardest material found in nature. Diamonds are nature’s most precious product, grown deep in the earth’s crust, over eons of time. They are formed at extremely high temperature and pressure at depths of hundreds of kilometers within the earth’s mantle. Forged by nature between 990 million and 4.25 billion years ago, they were brought closer the surface through volcanic eruptions and are found in cratons, the oldest parts of the earth. Diamonds literally are as old as life on this planet itself, making it all the more precious to own such a rare wonder of nature. It is the transformation of pure carbon into these rare treasures that will determine how they will be cut and polished. It is the stone itself who decides how it will be shaped.
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HAND SELECTED FOR ITS U NIQU E BEA U TY
A product of nature, each and every rough diamond is unique, no two are the same. It takes years of experience and a trained eye to determine which stones are suitable for the GASSAN 121. At GASSAN, our diamond experts handpick the rough stones that have the potential to meet the superior quality standards of all our GASSAN 121 diamonds: exquisite Fire, Life and Brilliance.
Hand selected
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OUR HERITAGE CRA FTM A NS HIP A ND QU A LITY
GASSAN is a family business, established by Samuel Gassan in the heart of Amsterdam’s diamond district in 1945 right after World War II. By four generations, GASSAN became synonymous with extreme craftsmanship and exquisitely polished diamonds. Today, GASSAN is HQ situated in Amsterdam’s most monumental diamond landmark; a restored diamond factory, located on the bank of one of Amsterdam’s most scenic canals.
n o s d n a r g s i h d n a n a s a Samuel GBenno Leeser
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Built in 1897, the factory employed an astonishing 400 polishers, working steam-driven polishing units, unique in scale and capacity at the time. The site is a truly fascinating relic of the industrial revolution, superbly restored back to its former glory. GASSAN’s polishers now continue the legacy, allowing everybody to admire the skills that were perfected and handed on, from one generation to the next. Each and every stone that passes through their experienced hands is cut and polished to excellence, just like more than seventy years ago.
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MORE THAN BRILLIANT THE IM P OR TA NCE OF THE CU T
The round brilliant, for decades, has been the most iconic and universal of all diamonds. Designed as a mathematical formula 100 years ago, 57 facets and a distinct round shape have made the brilliant cut the most popular diamond sold. But what if there was a way to do even better?
Gasssoalintair121e ring
At GASSAN, we decided we wanted more than brilliant. Compelled by the enthusiasm and expertise of GASSAN’s Steve Bierman, the dream to create an even more intense sparkle became reality. After years of intensive research by a team of GASSAN’s diamond experts, skilfully led by Bierman, the GASSAN 121 was born.
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16 additional facets on
top The world’s greatest photographers will tell you that contrast is an essential element in creating visually stunning photographs. Even in everyday life, our eyes are naturally drawn to contrast, through shadows and contrasting colors for example. Without contrast, images and objects appear flat and dull. Contrast is the ingredient that adds depth and dimension to our world, making things more vivid, vibrant and exciting. By combining GASSAN’s renowned polishing skills and state-of-the-art technology, the GASSAN 121 adds 16 additional facets to the top and 48 to the bottom to the classic brilliant cut. Confirmed by independent analysis of the scientific research centre WTOCD in Antwerp, the GASSAN 121, through the 64 extra facets, adds just the right amount of contrast to the classic round brilliant. The result is a breathtaking and balanced game between light and dark, creating infinitely more brilliance. The uniqueness of this stunning cut is embodied in the laser engraved GASSAN 121® logo on the girdle.
m o t o b e h t n o s t e c a f l a 48 addition
The GASSAN 121, more than brilliant.
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Apart from the intensified contrast, each and every GASSAN 121 diamond is polished to perfection, sparkling exceptionally with Fire, Life and Brilliance, three characteristics that describe how light is captured and reflected. “Fire” is the rainbow of colors you see when a diamond is polished perfectly. “Brilliance” is another essential element, it is the underlying brightness that allows light to be reflected from the surface of the stone to the eye, from every angle. “Life”, last but not least, is what many people refer to as the sparkle defined by the flashing effect of different facets, one after another, catching and reflecting light as the diamond is moving.
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THE COLLECTION A S P ECTA CU LA R A RRAY OF S OLITA IRES
GASSAN 121 offers a spectacular collection of solitaires from pure classics to a more modern twist, romantic bloom or neat halos of thread pavÊ. Designed with minimal metal that perfectly traces the contours of the diamond, the brilliant sparkle of a GASSAN 121 selected diamond is ingeniously highlighted through our bespoke design. Contemporary classics
 GASSAN Diamonds fuses the essential timelessness of diamonds with dynamic, contemporary design, adding a captivating dimension to classic diamond jewellery. Creativity and state-of-the-art design are underpinned by a deep respect for traditions and trust, while innovation is balanced by a true understanding of eternal beauty. Sincere and intense emotions are often so powerful that they are difficult to express in words. The unique GASSAN 121 solitaire diamond, eye-catching through its magnificent design, perfectly symbolizes your affection for the person you respect, admire and love above all others.
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MORE THAN BRILLIANT CA RAT, COLOR, CLA RITY A ND CU T
These four quality criteria together determine the value of a diamond. Our specialists are often asked which of the four C’s is the most important. We are convinced it is the cut. The color, clarity and size of each and every rough diamond is determined by Mother Nature. But ultimately, the skilled hands of our master cutters are the tools needed to turn a rough diamond into an absolute masterpiece. The perfection of a diamond depends solely on the precise polishing of facets, allowing an optimal game of light between the facets. A diamond of the highest color and clarity is nothing but a dull and boring stone, if it is not expertly polished, and that is what makes our diamonds true pieces of art.
The Gas an 121 cut
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CARAT THE WEIGHT OF A D IA M OND
The weight of a diamond is expressed in carats. Carat says something about the size of your diamond, translated in the weight of the stone. One carat equals 0.2 grams or 100 points. (Don’t confuse carat with karat, as in “18K gold,” which refers to gold purity.) 1 carat = 1 carat = 0.01 carat =
0,2 gram 100 points 1 point
Just as a dollar is divided into 100 pennies, a carat is divided into 100 points. For example, a 50-point diamond weighs 0.50 carats. But two diamonds of equal weight can have very different values depending on the other elements of the Four C’s: Clarity, Color and Cut. Even a fraction of a carat can make a considerable difference in cost, therefore precision is crucial. In the diamond industry, weight is measured by a hundred of thousandths of a carat, and rounded to one hundred thousandth of a carat. Diamond weights heavier than one carat are expressed in carats and decimals. (For instance, a 1.08 ct. stone would be described as “one point oh eight carats,” or “one oh eight.”) The carat, the standard measurement of weight for diamonds and other gemstones, derives its name from the carob seed. In ancient times these small seeds had a fairly uniform weight, early gem traders used them as counterweights in their scales. The modern metric carat, equal to 0.2 grams, was adopted by the United States in 1913 and other countries soon after. Today, a carat weighs exactly the same in every corner of the world.
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COLOR THE S ECOND M OS T IM P OR TA NT OF THE 4C’ S
Diamonds can be found in all colors of the rainbow, from deep brown to warm yellow, lively pink to mesmerizing purple, intense red to deep blue. When diamonds show a vivid or intense color, they are called ‘fancy colors’. Colorless or white diamonds, best known to the public, show no colour, at least at first sight. When you look at them more closely, these diamonds can show a hint of yellow or brown. When the stones are compared to benchmark stones, the exact color of each diamond can be determined. The closer to absolute colorless a diamond is graded, the higher its value. In diamonds, color actually is all about what you can’t see. Diamonds are valued by how closely they approach colorlessness – less color, equals the higher their value. GASSAN’s color-grading scale for diamonds is the industry standard. The scale begins with the letter D, representing exceptional white+, and scales down to letter Z by increasing appearance of color, from light yellow to brown. Each letter of this grading has a clearly defined range of color appearance. Many of these color distinctions are so subtle, often invisible to the untrained eye. But these slight deviations make a very big difference in diamond quality and price.
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CLARITY THE P U RITY OF A D IA M OND
LC P3
VVS1
As carbon crystallizes under immense pressure and heat for thousands of years, other elements than carbon can be included in the stone. They often create unique birthmarks, either internal (inclusions) or external (blemishes).
VVS2
P2
P1 VS1
I2
These elements result in inclusions, from minimal traces, barely visible, to larger flaws. The less inclusions a diamond has, the higher the value. Every diamond is unique. No stone in the world is absolutely perfect under a 10× magnifying glass, though some come close. A stone that doesn’t contain any flaws is extremely rare; it is called loupe clean. That explains why a loupe clean, smaller diamond will be significantly more valuable than a larger, but imperfect stone.
VS2 SI1S
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CUT THE S YM M ETRY A ND S HA P E OF A D IA M OND
Av Diameter = 100 % % Table Width % Crown Height Crown Angle % Girdle Pavilion Angle % Total Depth
% Pavilion Depth
% Culet % Length Halves Crown % Length Halves Pavilion
Cut quality is the key element that gives a diamond its fire, sparkle and brilliance. The allure and beauty of a particular diamond depends more on the quality of the cutting than anything else. This characteristic refers to the shape in which a diamond is cut and the quality and symmetry of the polished facets. Perfect proportions, excellent symmetry and an expert polishing are the ingredients that turn a dull chunk of rough diamond into a dazzling diamond. Only then the light move freely through the diamond’s facets, creating that extraordinary and enchanting luster. For example, look at a side view of the standard round brilliant. The main parts, from top to bottom, are the crown, girdle and pavilion. A round brilliant cut diamond has 57 facets. The horizontal facet on the top is called ‘the table’. The proportions of a diamond refer to the relationships between table size, crown angle and pavilion depth. It is important to note that a wide range of proportion combinations are possible, and these ultimately affect the stone’s interaction with light and how attractive the diamond is to the person admiring it.
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CONFIDENCE THE INTERNATIONA LLY GU A RA NTEED CER TIFICATE
Our diamond certificate is the confirmation of the GASSAN business ethic. Using high technologic equipment, skilled gemologists carefully verify, examine and certify each diamond according to international standards. GASSAN’s in-house, fully equipped Amsterdam Diamond Lab (ADL) provides ADL certificates that indisputably asserts the qualities of your diamond either loose or set in jewellery. In addition, we supply diamond certificates from world-class gem labs such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and HRD Antwerp. Each GASSAN 121 diamond is accompanied by either an ADL certificate or a unique HRD Antwerp certificate.
The element of conf i dence
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AWARD CEREMONY U NIQU E GA S S A N 121 D IA M OND CU T
The renowned Antwerp-based diamond grading laboratory HRD Antwerp decorated the GASSAN 121 with a special award, in recognition of its revolutionary and superior design.
Unique desigGn as an 121
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HRD ANTWERP
WTOCD
E U ROP E ’S L E A D I NG AUTHO R I TY I N D I A MOND CE R TI FI CATI O N
A NTWERP WORLD D IA M OND CENTRE
The HRD Antwerp certificate that exclusively belongs to your GASSAN 121 guarantees the authenticity of your natural diamond and garantee the unique characteristics that determine its quality. HRD Antwerp is Europe’s leading authority in diamond certification. Through innovation and research HRD Antwerp has become the specialist in diamond know-how. The methods and procedures HRD Antwerp implements are fully compliant with the rules for grading polished diamonds set by the International Diamond Council (IDC). HRD Antwerp is the only international lab that strictly complies to these rules. To secure your certificate is genuine, HRD Antwerp developed unique specific safety measures, including a laser inscription on the diamond’s girdle and a watermark and fluorescent markings on the certificate.
Polishing diamonds is mostly a matter of artisan expertise, however modern technology has become an invaluable asset in the world of diamonds. The Belgium based WTOCD is the single most important scientific research centre in our industry. WTOCD offers assistance in the development, selection, implementation and optimal use of new technologies to improve manufacturing processes resulting in top quality products. The distinguished diamond research centre was therefore the ideal partner to analyze the patented GASSAN 121 cut. Their report confirms that the additional facets created through the unique GASSAN 121 design, enhance the contrast between light and dark, resulting in the ultimate brilliance that captivates every eye.
HRD Antwerp offers owners of certificates the possibility to access their certificate details 24/7 on their online certificate archive, my.hrdantwerp.com.
Europe’s leading authority in diamond certification
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The patented GASSAN 121 is a revolutionary diamond cut that reflects ultimate beauty by its unique design.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in data retrieval systems, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without the prior written permission of GASSAN Diamonds B.V.
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