Oval Cut Lab Grown Diamond Hidden Halo Solitaire Engagement Ring on a Plain Band in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

From the front this is as plain as an oval solitaire gets. Four claws, one diamond, a band with nothing on it. Tilt your hand and a row of small diamonds appears in the collar beneath the stone, running right around the basket. The sparkle comes from a place nobody expects, which is the whole point of a hidden halo.

At a glance

• Centre stone: Oval brilliant laboratory grown diamond
• Carat options: 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat
• Colour and clarity: E colour, VVS2 clarity
• Certificate: IGI, included free
• Setting: Four claw oval with a full hidden halo, plain polished 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

Hidden halo, plain band

Most hidden halo rings also carry pave along the shoulders. This one does not. Keeping the band completely plain means the only diamonds on the ring are the oval and the concealed row underneath it, so the profile stays crisp and the band is easy to keep clean. It is the version to choose if you want the hidden halo detail without the ring reading as busy.

What the halo does to the look

Because the halo sits below the girdle rather than around it, the oval keeps its own outline from above. What the halo changes is height. The centre stone is lifted clear of the finger and light gets underneath it from every side, which makes the diamond look brighter and very slightly larger without widening its shape.

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. On a plain band the metal carries the whole design, so the colour choice matters. Yellow gold, as photographed, gives the strongest contrast against the stone. 10K is the hardest alloy, 14K is the everyday balance, and 18K is the richest colour but the softest metal. 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 halo stones are set into the vertical wall of the basket, one at a time, under a microscope, before the centre stone ever goes in. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. The hidden halo is the one place dirt collects unseen, so turn the ring over and brush the underside properly. Take it off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

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 halo stones are matched to the same grade.

Does a hidden halo make the ring sit higher? Slightly, yes. That is what lets light under the stone. If you want the lowest possible profile, a plain basket suits you better.

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? Very nearly. The band is straight and plain, so a matching straight band sits close. A slim band suits it best.

Can it be resized? Yes, easily. There are no stones anywhere on the shank.

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