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

A cushion cut laboratory grown diamond in four claws, ringed by a close set halo that follows the rounded square outline of the stone, on a plain polished band. All the added brightness is around the diamond and none of it is on the shank, which keeps the ring reading as one wide face above a clean line of metal.

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 matching cushion halo
• Accent stones: Round brilliant laboratory grown diamonds in the halo, E colour, VVS2
• Band: Plain polished shank, no accent stones
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

A halo that follows the stone

The halo is cut to the same rounded square outline as the cushion inside it rather than being set in a circle, so the two shapes read as one object. On a cushion this matters more than on other cuts, because the curved sides mean a mismatched halo leaves crescents of metal at the corners that are visible from a metre away.

How much bigger it looks

A close set halo extends the bright area outward, so the eye measures the whole square rather than the stone alone. On a 2 carat cushion the effect is roughly that of a stone a carat or more larger. It is the cheapest way to buy visual size, which is why the halo has never gone out of fashion.

Why the band is left plain

A halo already puts a ring of small stones around the centre. Adding pave to the shoulders as well gives you two bands of small diamonds and the centre stone starts to disappear between them. A polished shank lets the head be the only thing happening, and it makes the ring far easier to keep clean and to resize.

Why a cushion looks warm

Cushion cuts have larger facets and a deeper pavilion than a modern round, so they throw broad flashes of fire rather than fine glitter. It is the closest modern cut to the old mine cuts of the eighteen hundreds and it suits low light better than a round does.

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 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. Every halo accent is matched to the same E and VVS2 grade. This matters more on a halo than anywhere else, because a ring of slightly warm accents sitting against the centre makes a colourless diamond look grey.

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 built to the outline of the individual stone so the accents sit tight all the way round with no gap at the corners, and the head is soldered to the shank last so the square sits true to the finger. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. A halo has a lot of small gaps that trap hand cream, and a dull halo dulls the whole ring, so clean it more often than you would a plain solitaire. Take it off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

What colour and clarity are the diamonds? The centre cushion and every halo accent 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 stones are in addition.

Could I have pave on the band as well? Yes, we make that version too. Ask and we will quote it, or look at our cushion halo on a pave band.

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? Almost. The halo sits slightly proud of the shank, so a straight band leaves a small gap at the centre. A contoured band closes it, and we make those to match.

Can it be resized? Yes. The shank is plain all the way around, so one or two sizes either way is straightforward.

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