Elongated Cushion Cut Lab Grown Diamond Solitaire Ring on a Broad Band in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

A long elongated cushion cut laboratory grown diamond held in four claws on a broad, flat sided band. The stone is cut noticeably longer than a standard cushion, and the band is wider than a typical solitaire wire, so the ring reads as substantial rather than delicate.

At a glance

• Centre stone: Elongated 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 claws on a broad flat sided band
• Accent stones: None
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

A wider band under a long stone

Thin wire bands make a stone look larger by contrast, but under a long cushion at three carats and above they can look under built. This band is deliberately broader, with flat sides rather than a round profile, so it carries the weight of the stone visually and sits stable on the finger instead of rolling.

How elongated

The stone is cut long, closer to the proportions of an oval than a square cushion, while keeping the soft corners and large facets that make a cushion a cushion. On the hand it covers most of the width of the finger and reads considerably larger than its carat weight suggests.

Claws shaped to rounded corners

A cushion has no sharp corners to grip, so the claws are formed to the curve rather than clamped onto a point. Ours are filed to match the stone, which is why they look soft in the photographs and why they hold a rounded corner without stressing it.

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 yellow gold, but every metal is made to order and priced above. A broader band uses more metal, which is worth knowing if you are choosing 18K. 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. With no accents anywhere, that report describes the entire ring.

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 head is made to the measured stone, and the band is formed with true flat sides and crisp edges, which is harder to finish well than a round wire because any unevenness shows along the length. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

About the photographs

Several of the photographs on the hand show this ring worn with a diamond set band, and one shows it with a necklace. Those pieces are separate and are not included.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush, brushing underneath the stone from both ends. A cushion is cut deep, so there is more room behind it than you would expect for hand cream to collect. 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.

How long is the cushion? We cut this one long, towards 1.5 to 1, which is what gives it the presence in the photographs. If you prefer something closer to square, tell us and we will select for it.

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

Why choose this over a thin band solitaire? Comfort and stability, mostly. A broader flat band does not spin on the finger and supports a large stone better. A thin band makes the same stone look fractionally bigger. We make both.

Will a wedding band sit flush? Yes. The flat sides give a straight band a clean surface to meet.

Can it be resized? Yes, at the back. One or two sizes either way is straightforward, though a broad band takes a little more work than a wire.

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