Two Oval Cut Lab Grown Diamond Toi et Moi Bypass Ring in Silver, 10K, 14K and 18K Gold

Two oval cut laboratory grown diamonds set side by side and slightly offset, on a band that crosses over itself behind them. One stone sits a little higher than the other, the way a toi et moi is meant to, so the pair reads as two people standing together rather than as a matched set.

At a glance

• Centre stones: Two oval cut laboratory grown diamonds
• Carat options: 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat, the combined weight of the pair
• Colour and clarity: E colour, VVS2 clarity
• Certificate: IGI, included free
• Setting: Claw set, offset, on a crossover bypass band
• Accent stones: None
• Metals: 925 silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, rose and white
• Made: To order in Surat, India

What a toi et moi is

Two stones, one ring. The name is French for you and me, and the style goes back to the eighteenth century, worn as an engagement ring long before the single solitaire became the default. Napoleon gave Josephine one. It is the oldest way of saying with a ring what a solitaire only implies.

Why the stones are offset

Set level and touching, two ovals look like a mistake at the bench. Offset, with one lifted and turned slightly against the other, they gain a relationship. The bypass band does the same work: it separates below and brings the two ends past each other rather than butting them together.

The oval cut

A brilliant cut stretched into an ellipse, chosen here because two long stones lying at an angle fill the finger without stacking height. Ovals also forgive the slight difference in size that gives a toi et moi its character.

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 its antique origins, 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

Both oval diamonds are graded by IGI, the International Gemological Institute, and the certificates come with the ring at no extra charge. Each 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.

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 two ends of the band are shaped so they pass each other cleanly, and the stones are set one at a time, since each sits at its own angle. Allow two to three weeks for making, plus shipping.

Looking after it

Warm water, mild washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush, working the brush into the gap between the two stones and along the crossover. Take it off for the gym, gardening and swimming.

Questions we are asked

What colour and clarity are the diamonds? Both ovals are E colour and VVS2 clarity, on every metal and every carat weight.

How is the carat weight split? The 2, 3, 4 and 5 carat options are the combined weight of the two ovals, divided evenly between them. Many people prefer one slightly larger than the other, which is the traditional way. Tell us when you order and it costs nothing extra.

Is the certificate really free? Yes. IGI reports for both stones are included in the price on every variant.

Can I have two different shapes? Yes, and it is a common request. A pear with an oval, or an oval with an emerald cut, both work in this setting.

Will a wedding band sit flush? Not quite, since the band crosses over. A shaped band follows the line, and we will make one to match if you ask.

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

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