Emerald and Half Moon Cut Lab Grown Diamond Toi et Moi Ring in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

An emerald cut laboratory grown diamond beside a half moon cut, the straight edge of the crescent turned in against the flank of the step cut so the two almost touch. A thin plain band carries them, and nothing else happens on the ring.

At a glance

• Centre stones: One emerald cut and one half moon cut laboratory grown diamond
• Carat options: 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat, the combined weight of the pair
• Colour and clarity: E colour, VVS2 clarity
• Certificate: IGI, included free
• Setting: Claw set side by side on a plain thin band
• Accent stones: None
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

What a toi et moi is

Two stones, one ring. The name is French for you and me, and the style is older than the solitaire by more than a century. Two diamonds side by side say something a single stone only implies, which is why the form keeps coming back.

Why a half moon beside a step cut

A half moon has one straight edge and one curve. Set with the straight edge against the emerald cut, the join between the two stones closes almost completely and the pair reads as a single wide shape with a flat side and a round side. A second rectangle would have been symmetrical and dull; a round would have left a gap. This is the shape that fits.

Cut to each other, not to a catalogue

The half moon is cut to the height of the emerald cut you choose, so the two finish level and the straight edges align. That is only possible when the pair is cut together, which is what we do rather than matching a stone from stock to a stone already in hand.

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. White gold is rhodium plated and will want replating every one to two years.

Every centre stone arrives IGI certified

Both diamonds are graded by IGI, the International Gemological Institute, and the certificates come with the ring at no extra charge. Each 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. Both are step cut in character and both are open to view, so the E and VVS2 grades matter here as much as anywhere.

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 two stones are set at slightly different angles so their tables finish level despite different depths, and the claws are placed to leave the join between them as clean as possible. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

About the photographs

The photographs on the hand show this ring worn with a second band. That band is a separate piece and is not included.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush, working into the narrow join between the two stones, which is the one place on this ring that collects anything. An emerald cut has open corners, so avoid knocking it against hard edges. Take it off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

What colour and clarity are the diamonds? Both stones are E colour and VVS2 clarity, on every metal and every carat weight.

How is the carat weight split? The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options are the combined weight of the two stones. The emerald cut takes the larger share, since a half moon set beside it should read as the smaller of the pair.

Is the certificate really free? Yes. IGI reports for both stones are included in the price on every variant.

Can I choose different shapes? Yes. A pear, an oval or a second step cut all work in this setting. Tell us what you want and we will lay it out before starting.

Will a wedding band sit flush? Yes. The band is plain and straight, so a straight band meets it cleanly.

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

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