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

A marquise cut laboratory grown diamond held at both points, with a halo of small diamonds hidden in the basket beneath it and pave running down both shoulders. From above you see the marquise alone, its two points sharp against the metal. From the side the hidden halo shows as a band of light under the stone.

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: Six claw with V claws at both points, hidden halo in the basket
• Accent stones: Round brilliant laboratory grown diamonds in the hidden halo and pave band, E colour, VVS2
• Band: Pave set shoulders, plain at the back
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

Why a marquise should not wear a visible halo

The whole character of a marquise is its two sharp points and the long narrow curve between them. Ring it with stones and that outline disappears into a blob. Putting the halo underneath keeps the silhouette intact while still adding the light, which is the only way to get both on this shape.

Both points are protected

A marquise has two tips, each thin and each vulnerable, so it has twice the chip risk of a pear. Both are held in V claws that wrap the point from either side rather than sitting on top. This is not optional on a marquise, whatever a cheaper setting might suggest.

The longest looking shape there is

Carat for carat a marquise covers more finger than any other cut, because the weight is spread along a narrow outline rather than concentrated in depth. A 2 carat marquise looks larger than a 2 carat round by a clear margin, and it makes the finger look longer while doing it.

Pave that stops halfway

The shoulder stones run about halfway down each side and then the band goes plain. Stones set under the finger take the abrasion, wear loose first and make the ring impossible to size without cutting through set metal. Stopping the pave keeps the sparkle where you see it and leaves solid metal at the back.

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. 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. The hidden halo and pave are matched to the same E and VVS2 grade, which matters here because light from the halo passes up through the centre stone.

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 hidden halo goes into the basket before the head is joined to the shank, since it cannot be reached afterwards, and the V claws are formed to the individual stone's points. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush, brushing upward into the basket from underneath as well as along the pave. A hidden halo collects hand cream where you cannot see it, and when it is dirty the centre stone goes dull for no apparent reason. Check both V claws once a year. Take the ring off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

What colour and clarity are the diamonds? The centre marquise, the hidden halo and all the pave are E colour and VVS2 clarity, on all metals and all carat weights.

Does the carat weight include the halo and pave? No. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options refer to the centre marquise. Everything else is in addition.

Will the marquise have a bow tie? Every marquise has some dark band across the middle. It is more pronounced on this shape than on an oval, and ours are selected so it stays faint in normal light.

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? The hidden halo lifts the stone slightly and the points extend past the shank, so a straight band leaves a gap. A contoured band closes it, and we make those to match.

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

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