Princess Cut Lab Grown Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring with Pave Band in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

A princess cut laboratory grown diamond held at its four corners, raised on a slim cathedral shoulder, with round diamonds set in a single line down each side of the band. A square stone on a narrow band is one of the cleanest outlines in engagement jewellery, and the pave is there to give the metal a little light without softening the edges.

At a glance

• Centre stone: Princess cut laboratory grown diamond
• Carat options: 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat
• Colour and clarity: E colour, VVS2 clarity
• Certificate: IGI, included free
• Setting: Four corner claws on a cathedral shoulder, with a pave band
• Accent stones: Round laboratory grown diamonds, E colour, VVS2
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

Why the corners are the whole question

A princess cut is a square brilliant, and its four corners are the thinnest, most exposed points on the stone. This setting answers that directly: each corner sits inside a claw shaped to wrap around two faces of the stone at once, so the metal takes any knock before the diamond does. It is the reason a well made princess ring wears as calmly as a round solitaire.

The cut

Underneath, a princess is faceted like a round brilliant, which is why it sparkles the way it does rather than flashing in broad planes like an emerald cut. It also wastes less of the rough crystal than almost any other shape, so at the same carat weight it tends to sit deeper and spread a little narrower across the finger than an oval or a radiant. A 2 carat princess here measures roughly 7 millimetres square.

The pave and the cathedral rise

Round diamonds are set in a shared claw along the top of each shoulder, stopping where the band lifts into the cathedral. That rise does two things: it holds the square stone a little clear of the finger so light can enter from the sides, and it gives the ring a visible arch from the side view rather than a flat profile.

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. White gold is photographed here because a colourless setting keeps the square outline crisp. 10K is the hardest alloy, 14K the everyday balance, 18K 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. The pave 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. Corner claws are shaped to the individual stone rather than cast to a standard size, and each pave diamond is set by hand under a microscope. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. Brush underneath the stone through the open gallery, and along the two pave lines. 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 pave stones are matched to the same grade.

Does the carat weight include the pave? No. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options refer to the centre princess cut stone. The pave is in addition.

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 shank is straight and the cathedral rise happens above the band line, so a straight wedding ring sits close on both sides.

Can it be resized? The pave stops part way round, leaving plain metal at the back. One or two sizes either way is straightforward.

Are princess cuts fragile? Not when the corners are covered. The stone itself is a 10 on the Mohs scale like any diamond. What matters is the setting, and every corner on this ring sits inside metal.

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