This year’s celebration will be in the air at the William Goldberg Diamond Jewelry Company because it marks the 25th anniversary of his patented 62-facet Ashoka Diamond Cut and the publication of “The William Goldberg Way”, a book with a limited edition about the founder.
“The Ashoka Cut is a very sexy stone,” said Eve Goldberg, who, as creative director, has run with other family members since the death of her father in 2003. “It is elongated and has rounded corners, so there is a softness and a sparkle. We have put facets to give the more fire.”
To celebrate the birthday of the Ashoka, the company is developing a student program about cutting diamonds, planned to start this summer. It must be led by William Lopez, the Master Cutter who has developed the Ashoka snit and has worked for the Goldbergs for more than 30 years.
It has also created two limited-edition removal of sadness bracelets. Both have what Mrs. Goldberg called ‘the appearance of the Ashoka, the form’, but one is in 18-carat gold ($ 4,000) and the other has pavé diamonds with the facets, for $ 7,500. The profit from the sale of the bracelets, available on the company’s website, goes to Bigvision, a recovery program for resource abuse in Manhattan that supports Mrs. Goldberg.
The original Ashoka snit, according to the company, dates from the mid-2000 BC, and was named after Ashoka, an Indian emperor who became a symbol of repentance and eliminated sorrow.
In 1988 a rare Ashoka-edged diamond for auction at Sotheby’s, and Saul Goldberg, now the president of the company, was sent to buy it. ‘I will never forget to keep the diamond in my hand. It felt magnetic, “he said in a recent interview. His bid did not win: “But there was no way we could forget,” he said. “I had the idea to try to make the cut again.”
It was not an easy task. “The cut is so unique,” he said. “It adheres to the proportions of the gold ratio and only 1 percent of the diamonds of the world has the elongated shape you need to make the cut and its 62 facets again. It took us 10 years to perfect it. “
Mr Lopez, who has now cut diamonds for half a century, took on the challenge. “We had many tests and mistakes. But we have slowly developed the Ashoka snit, “he said. “It has a subtle beauty.” He noted that it could take him as long as a month to make an Ashoka.
Nowadays, the company has the federal patent for the reduction, the registered trademark for the name and exclusive rights to distribute it, to deliver jewelers around the world and to create its own collections.
The book – written by Jill Newman, an incidental contribution to the New York Times, and Jackie Caradonio – describes William Goldberg’s activities that promote the Diamond Trade and develop his business.
Of particular importance, the city’s tribute was to him in 2006, when the block of 48th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues was renamed William Goldberg Way.
As the book quotes Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat van New York: “Willy repeatedly called to help himself, but to help the community. That’s why I had named 48th Street after him. ‘
