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

A round brilliant laboratory grown diamond inside a cushion shaped halo, on a shank that splits into two strands and crosses over itself. One strand is pave set, the other is left polished, so the band alternates diamond and plain metal as it winds toward the head.

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 on one strand of the band, E colour, VVS2
• Band: Twisted two strand shank, one pave and one polished
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

The twist

The shank divides at the back and the two halves wind around each other before meeting the head. Setting only one of them keeps the design legible. If both strands were pave the twist would disappear into a single bright rope; with one plain the eye follows the polished metal over and under the set one, and the crossover becomes the point of the ring.

A square halo around a round stone

The halo follows a cushion outline rather than the circle of the centre stone, so the face of the ring reads wider and squarer than the diamond inside it. A 2 carat round in this setting wears like a considerably larger stone, and the corners of the halo give the twisted shank something definite to run into.

Two things happening at once, which is the difficulty

A twisted shank and a halo are each straightforward on their own. Together they have to meet at exactly the right height or the head sits crooked on the twist. The strands are formed and soldered before the halo is built, then the whole head is aligned to the crossover by eye. It is the slowest part of making this 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. This design is photographed in white metal, yellow gold and rose gold, 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 cut grade, the measurements and the girdle inscription, and confirms in writing that the stone is laboratory grown. Every halo and band accent is matched to the same E and VVS2 grade. This matters more on a halo than anywhere else, because a ring of slightly warm 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 to the diameter of the individual stone, the strands are formed and crossed before the head is attached, and the pave is bead set by hand along the set strand only. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. A halo and a twisted shank both trap hand cream, and the gap between the two strands is the hardest place to reach, so brush from both sides and rinse thoroughly. Take the ring 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 band accent are E colour and VVS2 clarity, on all metals and all carat weights.

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

Why is the halo square if the stone is round? It makes the face of the ring wider, so the centre stone reads larger, and it suits the crossing lines of the twisted shank better than a round halo would.

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? No. A twisted shank does not meet a straight band anywhere along its length. We make a matching twisted band that nests into it, which is the usual answer, or a plain band worn on the other hand.

Can it be resized? One size either way at most, and it has to be done carefully because the twist has to be re formed. Tell us your size accurately when you order.

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