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

An elongated cushion cut laboratory grown diamond in four slim claws, with a row of small round diamonds hidden in the basket beneath it, set on a band so thin it almost disappears against the finger. Everything that could compete with the stone has been taken away, and the only ornament is the one you cannot see from above.

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 claw with a hidden halo under the basket, on a thin plain shank
• Accent stones: Round laboratory grown diamonds in the hidden halo, E colour, VVS2
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

Why the band is this thin

A narrow shank makes the centre stone look larger, for the simple reason that the eye judges size by comparison. On a 2 millimetre band a 3 carat cushion reads as enormous. The trade is that a thin band flexes more over years of wear, which is why we make this one in a heavier gauge than it looks and do not recommend it in silver for someone who works with their hands all day.

What the hidden halo adds

The halo sits in the gallery beneath the girdle, facing outward rather than upward. It does not widen the outline of the stone, so the cushion keeps its own soft shape. What it does is fill the shadow under the basket with light, so from the side the diamond looks lifted rather than seated, and from above the stone appears to sit on nothing at all.

The elongated cushion

A cushion is a square or rectangular cut with rounded corners, faceted as a brilliant underneath. The elongated version stretches that outline so it runs along the finger, which flatters the hand the way an oval does but keeps the softer, more antique edges. Cushions were the standard diamond shape for most of the nineteenth century, and the modern version still has some of that candlelit, less clinical character.

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. Yellow gold is photographed here, and a thin warm band against a colourless stone is the whole point of this design. For a band this narrow, 10K and 14K hold their shape better over time than 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. The hidden halo diamonds are 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 hidden halo is set from underneath before the centre stone goes in, and the claws are drawn down to the cushion by hand so they follow its rounded corners rather than sitting square on them. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. Brush up into the gallery from below, because the hidden halo is where dust settles and it is the one part you will not notice going dull. 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. The hidden halo stones are matched to the same grade.

Does the carat weight include the hidden halo? No. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options refer to the centre cushion. The halo is in addition.

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 thin, so a matching narrow band sits neatly beside it with no gap.

Can it be resized? Yes, easily, since the whole band is plain metal. One or two sizes either way is straightforward.

Is a thin band strong enough for a large stone? Yes, when it is made properly. We use a thicker gauge than the width suggests and the setting itself braces the top of the ring. For daily wear with a 4 or 5 carat stone we would steer you toward 10K or 14K rather than silver.

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