East West Oval Cut Lab Grown Diamond Cathedral Solitaire Engagement Ring in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

An oval laboratory grown diamond turned on its side, so the long axis of the stone runs across the finger rather than along it. Four slim claws hold it above a cathedral shank that rises in two clean arches to meet the basket. Nothing else. No pave, no halo, no engraving.

At a glance

• Centre stone: Oval brilliant 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 oval on a plain cathedral 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 actually changes

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

The cathedral shank

Instead of meeting the basket at a right angle, the band sweeps upward in two arches, the way the vaulting rises in a cathedral. It lifts the stone very slightly, adds strength where the ring takes the most pressure, and puts a little shadow under the diamond that makes the outline crisper.

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. With no accent stones the metal is half the design, so pick the colour you actually wear. White gold and silver disappear into the stone for a purely icy look. Yellow gold gives the warm, gallery like contrast shown in several of these photographs. 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 basket has to be built to the exact length of the individual oval, so this setting is made around your stone, not 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 oval look smaller? No, it is the same stone. It reads wider and slightly less long, which on a shorter finger can actually be 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. The shank is straight and the cathedral arches start above band height, so a plain straight band sits neatly alongside.

Can it be resized? Yes. The band is plain all the way round, which makes it one of the easiest designs to resize.

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