Celebrity Inspired
Zendayaβs Engagement Ring: The East-West Cushion and the Two-Tone Setting
A Georgian idea worn on a modern red carpet β and the practical details to get right if you want the look.
Written by the Mapple Gems workshop, Surat Β· Updated 26 September 2026
Short answer: Zendayaβs engagement ring, first seen at the Golden Globes in January 2025, is widely reported to be a Jessica McCormack design: a cushion-cut diamond of about five carats set east-west in a Georgian-style closed βbutton backβ mount, in white and yellow gold. Our inspired version is a cushion moissanite or IGI-certified lab grown diamond in a white gold bezel on a yellow gold band, 2 to 5 carats.
Zendaya did not announce her engagement to Tom Holland with a post. She simply wore the ring on the red carpet at the Golden Globes on 5 January 2025 and let people notice; the engagement was confirmed the next day. Within hours, jewellery watchers had matched it to a listing on the website of London designer Jessica McCormack: a 5.02 carat east-west cushion diamond button-back ring. The designerβs own listing describes it in white and yellow gold. Zendaya herself has not published the details, and her ring may have been customised.
The three design ideas in the original
1. An east-west cushion. Instead of pointing along the finger, the elongated cushion is turned to sit across it. That makes a modest-length stone look wider and more unexpected.
2. A Georgian-style closed back. In eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century jewellery, stones were often set in a closed collet β metal surrounding the stone and covering its back. McCormackβs βbutton backβ style takes that idea and makes it modern.
3. Two golds. A white metal around the stone and a warm band below it.
The original compared with our inspired version
| Zendayaβs ring (as reported) | Mapple Gems inspired version | |
|---|---|---|
| Centre stone | Cushion diamond, about 5ct | Cushion moissanite or lab grown diamond, 2β5ct |
| Orientation | East-west | Ask about orientation before ordering |
| Setting | Georgian-style closed βbutton backβ | Sculpted bezel |
| Metal | White and yellow gold | White gold bezel on a yellow gold band, or a single metal |
| Paperwork | Not public | IGI certificate with lab grown; moissanite is not graded |
Why two metals is an optical choice, not only a style
A white bezel reflects neutral light into the stone, while a yellow band keeps the warmth of gold on the finger. That lets the centre read crisply white without the whole ring being white metal. For lab grown diamond, it means you can often choose a slightly warmer colour grade without it showing. For moissanite, a white head keeps the stone bright while the yellow band gives the vintage feel of the original.
Moissanite or lab grown diamond for this look?
Lab grown diamond (Mohs 10, dispersion 0.044) is the closer match to the calm, glowing look of the original, and includes an IGI certificate β though, as with all cushions, no laboratory grades its cut, so judge it on video. Moissanite (silicon carbide, Mohs 9.25, dispersion 0.104) shows more coloured fire, which increases with size. A bezel softens that a little, because it frames the stone rather than letting light in from the sides.
From the workshop
A fully closed back is beautiful and historically honest, but it has a practical cost: the underside of the stone β the pavilion β is where hand cream, soap and sunscreen collect, and a stone returns its light through that underside. When the back is closed you cannot brush it clean, and the stone slowly looks duller. That is why our bezel keeps an open gallery underneath. You get the framed, Georgian-flavoured look from above, and a soft toothbrush can still reach the back of the stone in five minutes.
Before you order
- Decide on orientation. If you want east-west like the original, raise it before the CAD stage β it changes the head, not just the angle of the stone.
- Choose two-tone or single metal. Two-tone is closest to the original; all-yellow is warmer; all-white is icier.
- Ask for face-up millimetres and compare on the moissanite size chart or lab grown diamond size chart.
- Plan the wedding band. An east-west stone and a bezel both sit low and wide, so a straight band usually sits flush.
Frequently asked questions
What is Zendayaβs engagement ring?
It is widely reported to be a Jessica McCormack east-west cushion diamond button-back ring, with a stone of about five carats set in white and yellow gold. Zendaya has not confirmed the details herself.
What is a button back setting?
It is Jessica McCormackβs modern take on a Georgian-era closed setting, where metal surrounds the stone and covers its back rather than leaving the underside open.
What does east-west mean on an engagement ring?
An east-west ring sets an elongated stone horizontally, across the finger, instead of pointing along it.
Is a closed-back setting harder to clean?
Yes. The underside of the stone collects film from creams and soap, and a closed back cannot be brushed. An open gallery keeps the look from above while letting you clean the stone at home.
Can I get the Zendaya look in moissanite?
Yes. Moissanite is Mohs 9.25 and suits daily wear, but it is not a diamond and shows more coloured fire, especially at larger sizes. For the calmer look of the original and an IGI certificate, choose lab grown diamond.
The cushion bezel look, made to order in Surat
2 to 5 carats, two-tone or single metal, open gallery for easy cleaning.
In moissanite In lab grown diamondMapple Gems is an independent workshop in Surat, India, and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Zendaya, Tom Holland or Jessica McCormack. βInspiredβ describes a design reference, not a copy of any designerβs work. Details of the original ring come from published reporting; carat and price figures in the press are estimates.
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