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

A round brilliant laboratory grown diamond in four claws, with a halo of small diamonds hidden in the basket beneath it and pave running down both shoulders. From above it reads as a clean solitaire on a lit band. From the side the hidden halo shows as a second line of light under the stone.

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 with a hidden halo in the basket
• Accent stones: Round brilliant laboratory grown diamonds in the hidden halo and pave band, E colour, VVS2
• Band: Pave set shoulders, plain at the back
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

Two lines of light, one above the other

The pave on the shoulders runs at the level of the finger. The hidden halo sits above it, tucked into the basket below the girdle of the centre stone. Seen from the side the ring reads as two parallel bands of small diamonds with the big stone floating above them, which is a far more interesting profile than a plain head on a pave shank.

Why a hidden halo brightens the centre

Light entering the pavilion from below bounces off the halo stones and back up through the table, so the diamond reads brighter than the same stone in a solid basket. It also lifts the centre a fraction higher, which stops the pave band from crowding it.

Pave that stops halfway

The shoulder stones run about halfway down each side and then the band goes plain. Pave all the way round photographs well and wears badly, because the stones under the finger take the abrasion and the ring cannot be resized without cutting through set metal. Stopping where it does keeps the sparkle where you see it.

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 here in yellow gold and in 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. The halo and pave accents are matched to the same E and VVS2 grade, which matters here because light from the hidden halo passes up through the centre stone.

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 hidden halo is set into the basket before the head is joined to the shank, since it cannot be reached afterwards, and the pave is bead set by hand with both shoulders matched before the band is closed. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush, brushing upward into the basket from underneath as well as along the pave. A hidden halo collects hand cream where you cannot see it, and when it is dirty the centre stone goes dull for no apparent reason. Take the ring off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

What colour and clarity are the diamonds? The centre round, the hidden halo and all the pave 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 shoulder stones are in addition.

Can you see the halo when you are wearing it? Not from directly above. You see it from the side and at an angle, and so does anyone looking at your hand across a table.

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 hidden halo lifts the stone slightly, so a straight band leaves a very small gap at the centre. A contoured band closes it, and we make those to match.

Can it be resized? Yes, at the back where the band is plain. One or two sizes either way is straightforward.

• All payments are processed securely through PayPal, one of the world's most trusted payment gateways
• Pay with your PayPal balance, or with any major credit or debit card through PayPal's secure checkout
• No PayPal account required — guest checkout available
• PayPal Purchase Protection applies to eligible orders