Round Cut Lab Grown Diamond Cushion Halo Ring with a Pave Band in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

A round brilliant laboratory grown diamond held in four claws, ringed by a halo that is cushion shaped rather than round, with pave running down both shoulders. The square outline of the halo around a round stone is the whole idea here. It gives the ring a wider, squarer face than a matching round halo would, and it makes the centre stone look larger without adding carat weight.

At a glance

• Centre stone: Round 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 centre inside a cushion shaped halo
• Accent stones: Round brilliant laboratory grown diamonds in the halo and pave shoulders, E colour, VVS2
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

A square halo around a round stone

Most halos follow the outline of the centre stone. This one does not. The accents are laid out in a cushion, a square with softened corners, so the ring reads wider across the finger than the diamond inside it. The effect is that a 2 carat round wears like a considerably bigger stone, and the ring has a face with corners rather than a circle, which suits a squarer hand.

Pave that stops where it should

The shoulder stones run about halfway down each side and then the band goes plain. Pave all the way around looks impressive in a photograph and is a nuisance in life, because the stones under the finger take the wear and the ring cannot be resized without cutting through set metal. Stopping the pave at the halfway point keeps the sparkle where you see it and leaves the back of the shank solid.

Four claws, kept low

The centre sits in four claws that are filed down close to the crown of the stone, so from above they barely interrupt the halo. Keeping them low also lets the centre stone sit just proud of the halo, which is what stops a halo ring from looking like one flat cluster.

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. This ring was photographed in white metal, and 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. Every halo and pave accent is matched to the same E and VVS2 grade, which matters more on a halo than anywhere else, because a ring of slightly yellow accents makes a colourless centre look grey.

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 is built as a cushion frame first and the corner stones are sized individually so the curve of each corner stays even. The pave is bead set by hand, one grain at a time, and the shoulders are matched to each other before the shank is closed. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. A halo has a lot of small gaps that trap hand cream and soap, and a dull halo dulls the whole ring, so clean it more often than you would a plain solitaire. Take it off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

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

Does the carat weight include the halo and the pave? No. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options refer to the centre round brilliant. The halo and shoulder stones are in addition.

How much bigger does the cushion halo make it look? Roughly a carat to a carat and a half larger by eye, depending on the centre size, because the halo adds a square outline rather than just a rim.

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? Almost. The halo sits slightly proud, so a straight band leaves a small gap at the centre. A contoured band closes it, and we make those to match.

Can it be resized? Yes. The pave stops halfway down the shoulders, so the back of the band is plain metal and one or two sizes either way is straightforward.

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