Pear and Princess Cut Lab Grown Diamond Toi et Moi Engagement Ring on a Plain Band in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

A pear cut and a princess cut laboratory grown diamond set beside each other on a closed, slim polished band. The pear tilts one way and the square sits square, so the two stones lean into each other rather than lining up. No halo, no pave, no accent stones anywhere.

At a glance

• Stones: One pear cut and one princess cut laboratory grown diamond
• Carat options: 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat total between the two stones
• Colour and clarity: E colour, VVS2 clarity
• Certificate: IGI, included free
• Setting: Two stone toi et moi, claw set side by side on a closed plain shank
• Accent stones: None, the two centre stones stand alone
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

Toi et moi

French for you and me. The design is usually traced to 1796, when Napoleon proposed to Josephine with a pear diamond set beside a pear sapphire. Two stones, two people, one ring. Unlike most engagement rings it says something specific, which is why it has come back so strongly in the last few years.

A curve against a square

Most toi et moi rings pair two of the same shape, or two shapes that echo each other. This one does the opposite: a pear is all curve and comes to a point, a princess is four straight sides and four corners. Set together the contrast is the whole design, and because a brilliant faceted square and a brilliant faceted pear scatter light differently, the two never flash at quite the same moment.

A closed band, not an open one

Many toi et moi rings are built on open shanks with the stones at the two ends. Here the band closes in the usual way and both stones sit together at the top. That makes the ring considerably easier to size, more comfortable for daily wear, and it lets a wedding band sit against it, none of which is true of the open versions.

The pear point is guarded

The tip of the pear sits in a v claw that wraps both edges meeting at the point rather than pressing down from above, and it is angled inward toward the princess so it stays within the profile of the ring.

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. On a band this narrow, 10K and 14K hold their shape better over the years than 18K. White gold is rhodium plated and will want replating every one to two years.

Both stones arrive IGI certified

Both diamonds are graded by IGI, the International Gemological Institute, and the certificates come with the ring at no extra charge. Each 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. On a two stone ring the diamonds are compared directly against each other in the same light, so they are matched for colour before they are set.

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 pair is chosen together, and the two heads are built at slightly different heights so the round shoulder of the pear and the flat edge of the princess sit level to the eye. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. Work into the join where the two stones meet, which is the tightest space on the ring, and underneath through both galleries. Take it off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

What colour and clarity are the diamonds? Both stones are E colour and VVS2 clarity, on every metal and every carat weight, and they are matched to each other.

Does the carat weight cover both stones? Yes. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options are the combined weight of the pear and the princess, split so the two read as a balanced pair.

Is the certificate really free? Yes. IGI reports for both stones are included in the price on every variant.

Will a wedding band sit flush against it? Yes. The band is closed and straight, so a plain or curved band sits neatly beside it.

Can it be resized? Yes, easily. The shank is plain all the way round, which is one of the advantages of a closed toi et moi over an open one.

Can I swap which stone sits on which side? Yes. Tell us when you order and we will set the pear on the other side.

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