2cttw Cushion-Shaped Diamond Cluster Halo Engagement Ring in 10k White Gold

Two carats of diamonds, total weight, built into a cushion-shaped head. At the centre, seven round diamonds — one surrounded by six — sit in raised prong heads on a milgrain-edged illusion plate, so that together they read as one large soft-cornered square. A halo of bead set round diamonds follows that outline. Each shoulder carries a channel of baguette diamonds running between two rows of bead set rounds, so the light continues down both sides of the finger. 6.20 grams of 10k white gold.

This is the honest way to get a big engagement ring. A single two-carat stone costs what a car costs; two carats spread across a hundred well-matched small ones costs what a ring should, and from across a table the eye cannot tell the difference in size — the seven-stone centre on its illusion plate reads as one cushion, the halo makes that cushion wider, and the baguettes keep it going past the head. Nothing about the design is trying to hide how it was done; the milgrain and the channels are there to be looked at up close. It is white gold set with white stones and it does one thing, which is light. Set it on the table in front of you and see if you can look away — you can't, can you?