Lab-Grown Diamond Wedding Bands, 14K Gold
Product code: NC-012
Material
Ring size (Vietnamese sizing)
Not sure of your size? Order anyway — we will help you measure when we contact you to confirm. Free lifetime resizing.
Quantity
A pair of matching 14K yellow gold wedding bands: a princess-cut lab-grown diamond recessed in a square cell in the middle, flanked by strips of round stones with milgrain edges. His band wide, hers slim, 34 stones for the pair.
Jewelry details
A pair of 14K yellow gold wedding bands set with lab-grown diamonds, both in the same style, differing only in width and stone size. Each has a square princess-cut stone set in its own cell in the middle, flanked by two strips of round stones edged with tiny metal beads. His band is wide with larger stones; hers is slimmer with smaller stones — side by side, they're clearly a pair.
A pair alike in style but different in proportion is the oldest way of making wedding bands: each fits its wearer's hand, yet anyone can see they belong to one set.
Design: a central square cell, two milgrain-edged strips of stones
Both bands share the same composition. The princess stone is recessed in a square cell with metal walls around all four sides, its face level with the face of the ring. From both sides of the cell, a row of 8 round stones runs on each side in a recessed strip, each stone surrounded by small metal beads holding it, with an extra row of tiny beads running straight along both edges of the strip. The rest of the band is plain and polished, flat with square edges.
His band is wider, using a larger princess stone and larger round stones, so the proportion of stones on the face balances with a man's hand. Hers scales everything down in the same proportion, so it stays slender on the finger. 17 stones on each band, 34 for the pair.
In the workshop, the hardest part is keeping the two bands in sync: the milgrain on his and hers must share the same rhythm and the same relief, even though their sizes differ. The beads are made with a concave-tipped tool, rolled and pressed along the metal edge; the jeweler makes both bands in the same batch, by the same hand, so the milgrain doesn't differ between them. The round stones are set and held by metal beads pushed up around their edges, while the princess stone's cell is ground to fit snugly and then pressed to grip all four sides.
Three things to check when you hold them
The honest trade-offs. First, the stones on both bands are all small, with no large standout stone; anyone wanting wedding bands that sparkle from afar will find this pair gentler than expected. Second, milgrain is a raised detail and wears down gradually with daily wear — his band usually wears faster because it takes more knocks; after a few years it's worth having a jeweler redo it. Third, the strips of stones have many small crevices, so dust, lotion and skin oils collect quickly. Fourth, both bands are flat with flat insides, so they feel tighter than comfort-fit rings of the same size, especially his wide band.
Metal: 14K yellow gold and lab-grown diamonds
14K gold is harder than 18K thanks to its higher alloy content — for wedding bands worn every day with as many stone-holding beads as this pair, harder metal means the beads wear more slowly and the stones hold more firmly. The 14K yellow is warm, a little softer than 18K, making the white stone strips stand out clearly. When re-polishing, do both bands at the same time so their color always matches.
Lab-grown diamonds — also known as lab diamonds, lab-grown, CVD diamonds (after one growing method) or man-made diamonds — have the same carbon structure, hardness and brilliance as mined diamonds, differing in origin. A pair of bands with 34 stones needs uniform color and clarity across both bands; lab-grown stones make matching much easier, and the price of the pair is also considerably gentler than with natural stones.
Who they suit, sizing notes and keeping them bright
This pair suits couples who love yellow gold and a classic touch but want neat rings to wear to work every day. The stones sit almost flush with the band, so they rarely catch on clothing, hair or gloves. Each band can also be ordered separately if only one is needed.
On sizing: measure both people at the end of the day, when hands are slightly expanded. Since the bands are flat with flat insides, if you're torn between two sizes, choose the larger — especially for his. The lower part of both bands is plain, so they can be enlarged or reduced later within a moderate range.
On keeping them bright: each week, soak both bands in warm water with a little dish soap for about ten minutes, brush along the strips of stones and the milgrain with a soft brush, then dry. Take the rings off for the gym, heavy lifting and housework with cleaning chemicals. Store each band separately in a compartmented box. Every six months to a year, bring the pair to the workshop to check the stone-holding beads and re-polish.
Wedding band advice at Thảo Linh Jewelry
You can both try them on in person at the Thảo Linh Jewelry showroom, 120 Pham Thi Tanh, Chanh Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, or call 0945 006 001 for sizing advice for both bands.
