Asscher Cut Lab Grown Diamond Solitaire Ring on a Plain Band in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

An asscher cut laboratory grown diamond in four corner claws on a plain round band. A square step cut, set square, with nothing else on the ring: no halo, no accents, no shaping at the shoulders.

At a glance

• Centre stone: Asscher cut laboratory grown diamond
• Carat options: 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat
• Colour and clarity: E colour, VVS2 clarity
• Certificate: IGI, included free
• Setting: Four corner claws on a plain round band
• Accent stones: None
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

The hardest stone to set plainly

An asscher has eight sides and deep step facets that draw the eye straight down into the middle of the stone. Nothing is concealed: not colour, not inclusions, not a claw sitting a degree out of line. It is the cut that shows most clearly whether a ring was made carefully, which is why we only set E colour, VVS2 stones in it.

Corner claws

The claws grip the four cropped corners, which are the strongest points of the stone and the least interesting to look at. Every flat edge is left clear, so the square outline reads uninterrupted from above.

The asscher cut

A step cut square with cropped corners and deep parallel facets, the effect often called a hall of mirrors: concentric squares receding into the stone. It was patented in 1902 and is the most art deco shape there is, but set plainly on a round band it reads as modern rather than period.

What laboratory grown means here

A laboratory grown diamond is a diamond. It is crystallised carbon with the same cubic structure, the same 10 on the Mohs scale, the same refractive index of 2.42 and the same dispersion as a mined stone. Ours are grown by chemical vapour deposition and high pressure high temperature methods, then cut and polished by hand. This is not moissanite, not cubic zirconia and not a simulant. A gemmologist testing it will read diamond, because it is diamond.

Metals

Choose 925 sterling silver, or 10K, 14K or 18K gold in yellow, rose or white. This ring was photographed in yellow gold, but every metal is made to order and priced above. White gold is rhodium plated and will want replating every one to two years.

Every centre stone arrives IGI certified

The centre diamond is graded by IGI, the International Gemological Institute, and the certificate comes with the ring at no extra charge. It states the carat weight, the E colour grade, the VVS2 clarity grade, the measurements and the girdle inscription, and confirms in writing that the stone is laboratory grown. With no accents anywhere, that report describes the entire ring.

Made to order in our own workshop

Mapple Gems is a family run workshop in Surat, India, where most of the world's diamonds are cut and polished. The head is made to the measured stone so the claws sit exactly on the corners, and the band is polished as one continuous surface. On a ring with no detail, that polish is most of the work. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

About the photographs

Some photographs show this ring with stacking bands or worn alongside another ring. Those pieces are separate and are not included.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush, brushing underneath the stone. A large open table shows dust and hand cream faster than a brilliant does, so this is a ring worth cleaning weekly. Step cuts have open corners, so avoid knocking it against hard edges. Take it off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

What colour and clarity is the diamond? Every centre stone is E colour and VVS2 clarity, on every metal and every carat weight, and on this cut we would not recommend anything less.

Does an asscher sparkle? Not like a brilliant. It gives broad, slow flashes and a sense of depth rather than fine glitter. If you want sparkle above all, a radiant in the same outline is the better choice.

Is the certificate really free? Yes. The IGI report is included in the price on every variant.

Will a wedding band sit flush? Yes. The band is plain and round and the stone sits above it.

Can it be resized? Yes, at the back. One or two sizes either way is straightforward.

Can I add a hidden halo later? Yes. Send the ring back and we will fit one beneath the setting without disturbing the stone.

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