Emerald and Pear Cut Lab Grown Diamond Open Toi et Moi Engagement Ring with Pave in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

Two laboratory grown diamonds, a pear and an emerald cut, set at the two ends of a band that does not close. They face each other across a small gap, each on its own paved arm, so the ring reads as two stones in conversation rather than one stone with company.

At a glance

• Stones: One pear cut and one emerald cut laboratory grown diamond
• Carat options: 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat total between the two stones
• Colour and clarity: E colour, VVS2 clarity
• Certificate: IGI, included free
• Setting: Open ended toi et moi, one stone on each arm, with pave shoulders
• Accent stones: Round laboratory grown diamonds, E colour, VVS2
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

Toi et moi

The name is French for you and me, and the design goes back at least to 1796, when Napoleon proposed to Josephine with a ring holding a pear diamond beside a pear sapphire. Two stones, two people, one ring. It has come back into fashion in the last few years because it is the rare engagement ring that says something specific rather than just expensive.

Why this pairing works

A pear is all curve and comes to a point. An emerald cut is all straight lines and flat planes. Setting them opposite each other makes each one look more like itself, and because the two cuts catch light in completely different ways, one flashing in broad mirrors and one sparkling, the ring changes character depending on which stone the light finds first.

The open band

Rather than meeting at the top, the two arms stop short and leave a gap. That gap is what lets each stone sit on its own and keeps the ring from looking like a two stone cluster. It also means the ring is slightly adjustable at the fitting stage, though it is still built to your finger size, and it sits differently on the hand from a closed shank, tilting toward whichever side is heavier.

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 is photographed here, and a colourless metal keeps both stones reading as their own colour rather than picking up a tint from the setting. 10K is the hardest alloy, which suits an open band, 14K is the everyday balance, and 18K is the richest colour. White gold is rhodium plated and will want replating every one to two years.

Both stones arrive 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. On a two stone ring matching the grade matters more than usual, because the stones are seen side by side and any difference in colour would be obvious. The pave accents are matched to the same E and VVS2 grade.

The pear point is guarded

The tip of the pear sits in a v claw that wraps around both edges of the point rather than pressing down on it, and it is angled inward toward the emerald cut so it sits within the profile of the ring instead of standing out over the edge.

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 chosen as a pair, matched for colour, and the arms are shaped so they sit at the same height and the gap between them is even. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. Clean both baskets from underneath and along the pave on each arm. An open band should not be squeezed or pulled to adjust it, so bring it back to us if it ever needs resizing.

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, and they are matched to each other. The pave is the same grade.

Does the carat weight cover both stones? Yes. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options are the combined weight of the pear and the emerald cut, split between them so the two read as a balanced pair.

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

Will a wedding band sit flush against it? Not flat, because the two arms sit at different heights. Most people wear this ring alone or on a different finger from their wedding band.

Can it be resized? Only by us, and only slightly, because the open ends are set to a specific gap. Please measure carefully and we will build to your size.

Can I swap which stone sits on which side? Yes. Tell us when you order and we will set the pear on the other arm.

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