Cushion Cut Lab Grown Diamond Ring with a Marquise and Round Band in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

A cushion cut laboratory grown diamond in four claws, on a band that alternates marquise and round accents all the way down each shoulder. The marquises lie end to end along the shank with a round between each pair, so the band reads as a chain rather than a row.

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 on an alternating accent band
• Accent stones: Marquise and round brilliant laboratory grown diamonds, E colour, VVS2
• Band: Alternating marquise and round accents, plain at the back
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

A band with a rhythm

Marquise, round, marquise, round. The marquises run lengthways along the shank and the rounds fill the gaps between their points, which produces a repeating pattern of long and short shapes. It is more interesting to look at than a plain pave line and it suits a curved centre stone like a cushion, because the marquise outlines echo the curve.

Set individually, not channelled

Each accent has its own claws. A channel would be faster and would hold the stones in a straight rail, but it would also flatten the alternating rhythm into a single band of light. Setting them one at a time keeps each marquise readable as a marquise.

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. On a colourless E stone that fire reads white rather than tinted.

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 white metal, 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 marquise and round accent is matched to the same E and VVS2 grade.

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 accent positions are marked out before any seat is cut so the pattern matches exactly on both shoulders, and each marquise is set with its points covered by metal. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush, working along the band from both sides. The junctions where the marquises meet the rounds hold hand cream, so brush rather than rinse. The marquise points are the vulnerable parts, so take the ring off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

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

Does the carat weight include the band accents? No. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options refer to the centre cushion. The marquise and round accents are in addition.

Is a cushion cut as bright as a round? Not in the same way. Fewer, larger facets mean broad flashes of fire rather than fine sparkle. Many people prefer it for exactly that reason.

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? Yes, close to it. The accents sit level with the shank, so a straight band meets the ring cleanly.

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

• All payments are processed securely through PayPal, one of the world's most trusted payment gateways
• Pay with your PayPal balance, or with any major credit or debit card through PayPal's secure checkout
• No PayPal account required — guest checkout available
• PayPal Purchase Protection applies to eligible orders