1.5 Carat Round Cathedral Solitaire Engagement Ring in 14K Gold
A 1.5ct round brilliant Lab-Grown Diamond, D–F color, VS+ clarity, IGI certified, lifted in four prongs on tapered cathedral arches in solid 14K gold. Yellow, white or rose, cut to your finger and made in 7 to 10 business days on my bench in Woodside, Queens. Here is what people ask me about cathedral settings before they order one.
What is a cathedral setting?
Two arches that rise from the shoulders of the band up to meet the head, the way flying buttresses rise to a cathedral roof — which is where the name comes from. Instead of the stone sitting on a basket perched on a flat shank, the metal sweeps up to carry it. It is the difference between a stone placed on a ring and a stone the ring is built around.
How big is a 1.5 carat round diamond?
About 7.4mm across. A 1 carat round is roughly 6.5mm, so you are getting nearly a millimeter more diameter and around 30% more face-up surface for the extra half carat. On a size 6 finger a 1.5ct covers close to 45% of the width — it is the weight where a round stops reading as classic and starts reading as substantial.
Why is the band tapered?
The shank narrows as it approaches the head. That is a deliberate optical trick and it works: less metal beside the stone makes the stone look wider by comparison, and the taper pulls your eye up the ring toward the center rather than letting it stop at the band. It also means the part of the ring against your palm stays comfortable while the visible part stays delicate.
Does a cathedral setting sit higher?
Slightly, and that is the trade. The arches lift the stone off the finger so light reaches it from the sides as well as the top, which is most of why cathedral rings look brighter than the same stone set flat. Yours is a low cathedral rather than a tall one — enough rise to catch light, not so much that the ring rocks on your hand or snags a sleeve. If you want it lower still, tell me and I will drop it.
Does the cathedral protect the diamond?
Yes, more than a plain basket does. The arches sit alongside the girdle, so a knock from the side hits gold before it hits the stone. On a 1.5ct that matters — a bigger stone stands taller and takes more hits, and the cathedral is the setting that quietly accounts for it.
What color and clarity is the diamond?
D through F, the colorless range, and VS+ clarity, which is eye-clean at any angle. At 1.5 carats both grades matter more than they do at half the weight — a larger stone has more surface to show tint and more room to show an inclusion. The IGI report ships with the ring.
Will a wedding band sit flush against it?
Close, but not perfectly, and I would rather tell you now. Cathedral arches come down to the shank at an angle, so a straight band meets the ring with a small gap under the head on most sizes. A gently contoured band solves it completely. Since I make both to order, say the word and I will cut the pair so they meet with no daylight.
Is the gold solid, or plated?
Solid 14K throughout — not plated over brass, not gold-filled. White gold is rhodium-finished the way every white gold ring is, and I re-finish yours whenever it needs it. Nickel-free in all three colors.
How long does it take, and can it be resized?
Made to order in 7 to 10 business days, sizes 4 through 9 including halves. Resizing is complimentary within 60 days of delivery, craftsmanship carries a lifetime warranty, and you have 14 days to return it if it is not right and you have not had it engraved. It ships fully insured in our signature suede pouch with the IGI report.
What if I want a plain band or a smaller stone?
The 1.5ct classic round solitaire is the same weight on a flat shank with no arches. At a carat there is a 1ct round solitaire, and for other shapes an oval or an emerald cut. Anything not on the site, I build custom.
Who makes it?
I do. One bench, one pair of hands, in a workshop in Woodside, Queens. A cathedral is more work than a plain shank — the arches have to be symmetrical from every angle and there is no faceting to hide a wobble in the line. Nothing here sits in a case waiting for a buyer. Yours is cast, set and finished after you order it.
