Round Cut Lab Grown Diamond Four Claw Solitaire Ring on a Thin Band in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

A round brilliant laboratory grown diamond in four claws on a thin plain band. Nothing under it, nothing beside it, nothing on the shoulders. This is the ring everything else is a variation of, and it is harder to make well than any of them.

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 claws on a thin plain band
• Accent stones: None
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

Why plain is difficult

On a ring with pave and a halo, small imperfections disappear into the detail. On this one there is nothing to hide behind: if the claws are not evenly spaced, if the stone sits a degree off level, if the band is a fraction thicker on one side, you see it immediately. A plain solitaire is the honest test of a workshop.

Four claws, not six

Four claws show more of the stone's outline and make a round diamond read slightly squarer and larger. Six hold marginally more securely and suit stones above three carats or hands that take knocks. We make either; four is what is photographed, and if you would prefer six, tell us when you order and the price does not change.

The round brilliant

Fifty seven facets, arranged over a century of refinement to return as much light as possible through the top of the stone. No other cut is as bright, and none is as unforgiving of a poorly made one, which is why cut quality matters more than carat weight on this 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. This ring was photographed in yellow gold, but 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. On a ring with a single stone and no accents, that report describes the entire piece.

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 head is made to the measured stone rather than bought in a nearest size, the claws are filed to match each other, and the band is polished as one continuous surface. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush, brushing underneath the stone where hand cream collects behind the claws. A solitaire cleans in a minute and looks completely different afterwards. 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. We do not offer lower grades, because on a plain solitaire the stone is the entire ring.

Is the certificate really free? Yes. The IGI report is included in the price on every variant.

Will a wedding band sit flush? Yes. The band is plain and straight, which is exactly what a wedding band wants to sit against.

Can it be resized? Yes, at the back. One or two sizes either way is straightforward, and there is no pave to interrupt.

Can I have a thicker band? Yes, at no extra cost in silver, and for a small difference in the gold weight otherwise. Tell us when you order.

Can I add a hidden halo later? Yes. Send the ring back to us and we will fit one under the setting without disturbing the stone.

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