Marquise Cut Lab Grown Diamond Low Profile Solitaire Engagement Ring on a Flat Band in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

A marquise laboratory grown diamond set as close to the finger as the stone will allow, on a flat band with square edges. The claws are short and the basket is shallow. Nothing here is lifted, arched or raised, and the whole ring sits almost level with the hand.

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: Low set marquise in short claws with v claws at both points, on a flat band
• Accent stones: None, this is a true solitaire
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

Why low

A high setting is traditional because it lets light under the stone, but it also means the ring stands proud of the finger, where it catches on sleeves, gloves and hair and takes every knock. This one is built the other way. The basket is cut down to the minimum that will hold the pavilion clear of the skin, and the claws are shortened to match. The ring sits under a glove and passes through a coat pocket without snagging.

The flat band

Instead of a rounded shank, this band has flat faces and defined edges, like a length of ribbon rather than a wire. Flat bands sit still on the finger rather than rotating, they stack cleanly against a straight wedding ring, and their square edge gives a crisp line that suits the sharp outline of a marquise.

Both points guarded

A marquise has two tips, and they are the thinnest and most vulnerable part of the stone. Each sits inside a v claw that wraps the edges either side of the point rather than pressing on it. The remaining claws are kept narrow so nothing interrupts the long curve of the girdle.

The largest spread of any cut

Very little of a marquise's weight sits in depth, so almost all of it is visible from above. That gives it the largest face up area of any common cut at a given carat weight, and a low setting shows all of it. A 2 carat marquise covers noticeably more finger than a 2 carat round.

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. A flat band shows its edges, and the harder alloys, 10K and 14K, keep those edges crisp for longer than 18K will. 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.

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 depth of the basket is set from the actual pavilion of your stone, since a low setting has no margin for error. A marquise cut slightly deeper needs a slightly deeper seat, and the difference is a fraction of a millimetre. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. A low setting sits close to the skin, so brush underneath the stone regularly. Check both v claws now and then, as the points take the knocks.

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.

Does a low setting make the stone less bright? Slightly less light enters from below than in a high cathedral setting, but a marquise gets most of its brilliance through the table. The trade is a small one, and most people take it happily for the comfort.

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, unusually well. A flat band against a flat band with a low head is about the cleanest stack there is.

Can it be resized? Yes. The band carries no stones, so resizing does not touch the setting.

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