Cushion Cut Lab Grown Diamond Halo Ring on a Pave Band in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

A cushion cut laboratory grown diamond ringed by a close halo of small round diamonds, with more diamonds bead set along both shoulders. The halo follows the soft square outline of the cushion rather than rounding it off, so the shape of the centre stone still reads clearly from above. The effect is a wider, brighter top with the cushion silhouette intact.

At a glance

• Centre stone: Cushion 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 claw centre inside a cushion shaped halo
• Accent stones: Round brilliant laboratory grown diamonds in the halo and pave band, E colour, VVS2
• Band: Pave set shoulders, plain at the back
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

A halo cut to the shape of the stone

Halos are often built round regardless of what sits inside them, which blunts the corners of a cushion and makes the ring read as a generic cluster. This halo is laid out to the cushion outline, so the soft corners stay where they belong. The centre stone looks bigger without looking like a different shape.

What the halo adds

The ring of small stones puts a bright edge right against the girdle of the cushion, which makes the whole head read one size larger and catches light from angles the centre stone alone would miss. On a cushion, which is a softer and more romantic cut than a round brilliant, the halo sharpens the outline just enough to give it definition.

Pave that stops halfway

The shoulder stones run about halfway down each side and then the band goes plain. Stones set under the finger take the wear, loosen first and make sizing impossible without cutting through set metal. Stopping the pave keeps the sparkle where it is seen and leaves solid metal at the back.

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. The design is photographed in white metal, yellow gold and rose gold, and 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. The halo and shoulder diamonds are matched to the same E and VVS2 grade, which matters more on a halo design than anywhere else, because the small stones sit directly against the centre and any colour difference would show.

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 halo is laid out to the cushion before a single stone is set, then bead set by hand so the outline stays even all the way round, and both shoulders are matched before the band is closed. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. Brush up under the halo from beneath as well as across the top, since that is where hand cream collects and it will dull the whole head before you notice any single stone. Take the ring off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

What colour and clarity are the diamonds? The centre cushion, the halo and all the pave are E colour and VVS2 clarity, on all metals and all carat weights.

Does the carat weight include the halo? No. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options refer to the centre cushion. The halo and shoulder diamonds are in addition.

How much bigger does the halo make it look? Roughly a carat step up in apparent size, depending on the metal colour, because a white metal halo blends into the centre stone more than a yellow one does.

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

Will a wedding band sit flush? A straight band leaves a small gap where the halo overhangs. A contoured band closes it, and we make those to match.

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

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