Marquise Cut Lab Grown Diamond Hidden Halo Engagement Ring on a Tapered Whisper Thin Band in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

The point of this ring is proportion. A marquise laboratory grown diamond, a hidden halo tucked under the basket, and then a band that narrows to a whisper as it travels round the finger. The thinner the shank, the larger the stone appears, and this shank is about as thin as gold can sensibly be made.

At a glance

• Centre stone: Marquise cut laboratory grown diamond
• Carat options: 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat
• Colour and clarity: E colour, VVS2 clarity
• Certificate: IGI, included free
• Setting: Claw set marquise with a hidden halo, on a tapered whisper thin band
• 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 a thin band makes a stone look bigger

The eye judges size by comparison, and the only thing next to your diamond is the metal holding it. A wide shank gives the stone something substantial to be measured against and it shrinks. A shank that narrows to barely more than a line gives it nothing, and the stone appears to float. On a 2 carat marquise the difference is noticeable. On a 5 carat it is dramatic.

The taper

The band is at its widest where it meets the setting and thins steadily towards the back of the finger. That is partly visual and partly structural: the metal is where the stress is and absent where it is not, so a band this fine still holds its shape.

The hidden halo

Small round diamonds are set around the outside of the basket, below the girdle and facing outward. They are invisible from directly above, which leaves the marquise outline clean, and they fill the space beneath the stone with light when seen from any other angle. On a thin band this matters twice over, because there is nothing else at that level to catch the eye.

Both points guarded

A marquise has two tips, the most fragile part of the stone. Each sits inside a v claw that wraps around the edges either side of the point rather than pressing on it.

A note on metal choice

We would steer you towards 10K or 14K on this design rather than 18K. A whisper thin shank in a softer alloy will go out of round faster, particularly if you wear it every day and particularly at 4 or 5 carat where the head is heavier. 10K is the hardest of the three.

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 fine warm line under a large colourless stone is exactly the contrast this design is built on. 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 taper is calculated from your finger size and the weight of the head, so a 5 carat ring gets slightly more metal at the shoulders than a 2 carat one. 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 basket to keep the hidden halo bright. Avoid pulling the ring off by gripping the shank, since a fine band will distort over time if you do; take it off from the head instead.

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.

Is a band this thin strong enough? In 10K or 14K, yes, for normal wear. It is not a ring to wear while lifting weights or moving furniture, but no engagement ring is.

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 stone runs along the finger and the shank is plain, so a straight band tucks in close beneath the halo.

Can it be resized? Yes, though we would rather build it to your size from the start, since a very fine tapered shank is easier to make correctly than to alter.

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