Custom Made Lab Diamond 9ct White Gold Hammered Engagement Ring

A Bespoke 9ct White Gold Engagement Ring with a Lab Grown Diamond

Some customers come to me with a very clear vision of what they want made for them. J was really drawn to my hammered sapphire engagement rings but had a few elements he wanted to change to suit his personal taste.

This would be the ring he was to propose to his sweetheart with. J knew he wanted a substantial oval diamond, a cool white metal, and a band with texture and character. I sourced a 0.75ct oval lab grown diamond set in a classic claw setting, mounted on one of my signature hammered bands in 9ct white gold.

Original inspiration

What is a Lab Grown Diamond?

Lab grown diamonds have become one of the most talked-about choices in the engagement ring world over the past few years. When you understand what they actually are, it's easy to see why.

A lab grown diamond is a real diamond. It has the same chemical composition, the same crystal structure, and the same optical properties as a diamond formed deep in the earth over millions of years. The only difference is where it was made. Lab grown diamonds are created using technology that replicates the natural conditions under which diamonds form. The result is physically and visually identical to a mined diamond.

You cannot tell the difference with the naked eye. A gemologist cannot tell the difference without specialist machine testing. The sparkle, the hardness and the clarity are all the same.

What is different is very different is the price.

Lab grown diamonds are significantly more affordable than natural diamonds of equivalent size and quality. For customers who want a larger, more brilliant stone without stretching their budget beyond what feels comfortable, a lab grown diamond can be genuinely transformative. A stone that would be out of reach in its mined form becomes very much within reach and it looks exactly the same on the hand.

For this commission, the 0.75ct oval lab grown diamond gave the ring a substantial, show-stopping presence that would have come at a considerably higher price in a natural stone. It's a choice that made complete sense for this customer and his dreams for the ring whilst fitting his budget too.

The final ring

A Claw Setting on a Hammered Band

Bezel settings are usually my goto in my work, I’m so in love with the border they form around a stone. But I love working with customers to make the piece they dream of, and this commission called for a claw setting instead.

The four-claw design lifts the oval diamond up and away from the band, allowing light to enter from every angle and maximising the stone's brilliance and fire. It shows off the diamond beautifully and gives the ring a more elevated, traditional engagement ring feel while still feeling modern.

The band itself is one of my signature hammered designs. It’s hand-textured to create that irregular, organic surface that catches the light in a completely different way to a smooth finish. It gives the ring warmth and individuality, and means no two bands are ever exactly alike.

A Bespoke Ring Built Around You

What I enjoy most about commissions like this is how collaborative the process is. J is not based in London so we hopped on a Zoom call to talk over design options, timescale and budget. I sourced a stone for his approval and we tweaked the design to get the ring he was looking for.

If you're drawn to a lab grown diamond engagement ring and would love a design that feels personal, considered, and made to last, I'd love to hear what you have in mind. Share a little about your ideas and we can start shaping something that's entirely yours. I offer a free 30 minute Zoom consultation or you are always welcome to visit me for an in person appointment in my London studio, close to Liverpool Street station.