East West Elongated Cushion Cut Lab Grown Diamond Claw Set Solitaire Engagement Ring in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

An elongated cushion cut laboratory grown diamond turned on its side, so the long axis of the stone runs across the finger instead of along it. Four slim claws, one at each corner, and a straight band with nothing on it. The stone sits low and wide, like a bar of light laid across the hand.

At a glance

• Centre stone: Elongated cushion cut laboratory grown diamond, set east west
• Carat options: 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat
• Colour and clarity: E colour, VVS2 clarity
• Certificate: IGI, included free
• Setting: Four claw horizontal cushion on a thin plain band
• Accent stones: None, this is a true solitaire
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

What east west changes

Set the usual way, an elongated stone points along the finger and makes it look longer. Turned east west it spans the finger instead, and the ring reads wider, lower and distinctly more modern. It also sits closer to the hand, so it catches far less on cuffs and pockets. If you have looked at a lot of solitaires and found them all slightly the same, this is the setting that changes the silhouette without changing the stone.

Why a cushion suits it

Cushions have rounded corners and softly curved sides, so turned sideways there is no sharp point sticking out towards the knuckle. An east west marquise or pear can feel aggressive on a narrow hand. A cushion never does. It simply looks like a wide, soft rectangle of diamond.

The plain band

No pave, no halo, no shaping. With a stone set this way the outline is the whole idea, and any decoration on the shank would compete with it. A narrow polished band also makes the diamond read larger, because the eye has nothing to measure it against.

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. White gold and silver, as photographed, disappear into the stone for a purely icy look. Yellow and rose gold give a warm frame instead. 10K is the hardest alloy, 14K is the everyday balance, and 18K is the richest colour but the softest metal. 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.

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. An east west head has to be built to the exact length of the individual cushion, so this setting is made around your stone rather than before it. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. Brush underneath the stone through the open basket, where soap builds up and dulls the sparkle. 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.

Does an east west stone look smaller? No, it is the same diamond. It reads wider and slightly less long, which on a shorter finger is often more flattering.

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 against it? Yes, very well. The setting is low and the shank is straight, so a plain band sits right alongside.

Can it be resized? Yes, easily. The band is plain all the way round.

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