Emerald Cut Lab Grown Diamond Five Stone Step Cut Ring in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

An emerald cut laboratory grown diamond with two step cut diamonds stepping down on each side, five stones in all, set in a straight line on a thin plain band. Every stone in the row is a step cut, so the whole top of the ring is made of parallel lines running the same direction.

At a glance

• Centre stone: Emerald cut laboratory grown diamond
• Carat options: 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat
• Colour and clarity: E colour, VVS2 clarity
• Certificate: IGI, included free
• Setting: Five stone row, claw set, on a thin plain band
• Side stones: Four step cut laboratory grown diamonds, graduated, E colour, VVS2
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

Five stones, all step cut

Most rings with side stones mix a brilliant centre with brilliant accents, and the sparkle blurs them together. Here every stone is cut the same way, in rows of long flat facets, so each one flashes slowly and separately. The result is architectural rather than glittery, and it is unmistakably art deco in feeling.

The graduation does the work

The stones step down twice on each side, which stretches the row across the finger and keeps the centre stone clearly the centre. Set at equal sizes it would read as a band; graduated, it reads as one ring with a beginning, a middle and an end.

Why the band is thin

The shank stays narrow and plain the whole way round, so the five stones sit on an almost invisible line. There is no pave, no milgrain and no shaping at the shoulders to distract from the row.

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

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. All four side stones are matched to the same E and VVS2 grade, which matters more than usual here because step cuts hide nothing.

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 four side stones are cut to proportions that suit the centre rather than picked from stock, since a graduated row only works if the steps between sizes are even. All five are set together so the tops finish level and the edges stay parallel. 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 curved diamond set band. That band is a separate piece and is not included. We make one shaped to sit against this ring, so ask us if you would like the pair.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush, brushing behind all five stones. Step cuts have open corners, so avoid knocking the ring against hard edges. Take it off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

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

Does the carat weight include the side stones? No. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options refer to the centre emerald cut. The four side stones are in addition and are scaled to suit it.

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? A straight band sits against the thin shank, though the outer stones overhang a little. A shaped band tucks under the row, and we will make one to match.

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

Can I have a different centre shape? Yes. An asscher or a radiant sits well in a step cut row. Tell us when you order.

• All payments are processed securely through PayPal, one of the world's most trusted payment gateways
• Pay with your PayPal balance, or with any major credit or debit card through PayPal's secure checkout
• No PayPal account required — guest checkout available
• PayPal Purchase Protection applies to eligible orders