1ct Princess Lab Grown Diamond Ring | 14K Gold

Four sharp corners are the entire engineering problem of a princess cut. A corner is the thinnest and least supported part of a square stone, with none of the bulk of the crystal behind it, and it is where damage begins. That is why the prongs on a ring like this are structural rather than ornamental. Each one closes over a corner and absorbs the impact that would otherwise reach the diamond.

Beneath that straight outline sits brilliant-style faceting, which is unusual company. Most straight-edged cuts are step cuts and behave like mirrors; the princess borrows the light engine of a round and puts a hard edge around it. Flash arrives in flat planes rather than a fine scatter, and the outline stays crisp instead of dissolving into the light it makes.

It also costs less per carat than a round of matching grade, for a reason worth knowing. Far more of the original crystal survives the cutting wheel when the finished shape is square. Less waste at the bench is less waste in the price, and none of that shows in the stone you end up with.

1.00 carat, IGI certified, CVD grown, G–H in color and VS1–VS2 in clarity, Excellent in polish and symmetry, four prongs on a 1.50mm band. 2.6 grams of solid 14K gold in white or yellow, with a lifetime warranty.