Round Cut Lab Grown Diamond Ring on a Heavy Split Shank in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

A round brilliant laboratory grown diamond held between two heavy arms of gold that split from the band, curve around the stone and rejoin behind it. No claws are visible from above: the metal itself grips the girdle from opposite sides, and the two arms stay separate all the way round the finger.

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: Held between the arms of a heavy split shank
• Accent stones: None
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

The shank is the setting

There is no head sitting on a band. Two substantial arms rise from the shank, sweep around the stone and grip it directly, which is why the profile is so low and why the ring reads as a single piece of gold rather than a diamond mounted on something.

Weight you can feel

Arms this heavy take a real quantity of metal, particularly in 18K. The ring sits flat and does not spin on the finger, and it has presence on the hand that a fine wire solitaire does not. If you have always found engagement rings too delicate, this is the answer.

Low enough to live with

Nothing stands proud of the metal. The ring slides under a glove, does not catch on knitwear, and can be worn on the hand you actually use. That is unusual for a solitaire at three carats and above.

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, which suits the weight of the arms, 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. With no accents anywhere, that report describes the whole ring.

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. Both arms are formed from the shank itself and filed until they mirror each other, since on a symmetrical split any difference between the two sides shows immediately. The stone is set last, between them. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush, working between the two arms and under the stone. With no basket beneath it, this rinses clean easily. 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.

Is a two point grip secure at four or five carats? Yes. The arms hold along opposite sides of the girdle rather than at small points, and they brace each other through the shank. We thicken them slightly on the larger weights.

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

Will a wedding band sit flush? Close. The two arms run the whole way round, so a straight band sits against them rather than into a single shank. Many people wear this ring alone, which is how it was designed.

Can it be resized? Within a size either way. Both arms have to be cut and rejoined together, so please order your correct size and ask us for a free sizer if you are unsure.

Can I have a different stone shape? An oval, an emerald cut or a cushion all suit this setting. Tell us when you order.

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