Avoid These Mistakes When Buying a Halo Diamond Ring
By Gary A.
Edited by Brian M.
Published Aug 17, 2021
Edited on Oct 17, 2024
If you are seeking maximum sparkle, a halo diamond ring offers a dazzling frame of brilliance around the center stone, creating a look that’s as timeless as it is breathtaking.
- Introduction to Halo Diamond Ring Settings
- 9 Practical Tips for Buying Halo Diamond Engagement Ring Settings
- Advantages of Choosing a Halo Setting:
- Exploring Popular Halo Types
- Unique Halo Settings: Hidden and Double Halos
- Material Matters: Gold and Platinum Options
- Cost Considerations for Halo Diamond Ring Settings
- Practical Considerations
- Conclusion
- 10 FAQs
Introduction to Halo Diamond Ring Settings
There aren’t many ring settings as quickly recognizable as the halo. Similarly, for anyone just setting out on the road to finding the perfect engagement ring, there aren’t many ring settings that will pop up at the top of the search results as frequently as the halo.
Bold without feeling unnatural, luxurious within feeling like ‘too much’, halo engagement rings embody one of those classic styles that will look at home on the finger of the most traditional bride-to-be, or the most contemporary.
From its favor among celebrities to its top billing at jewelry stores across the country, the halo is one setting any savvy ring shopper will know all about by the time their consultation rolls around.
Overview of Halo Settings
The halo is a setting, crafted from a number of very small diamonds, and designed to follow the edge of the diamond.
Since the round cut remains the most popular diamond cut of all, this particular setting is named after the circular shape those diamonds are set into – highly evocative of a shimmering halo.
Still, that’s not to say that the round diamond is your only option. The halo can be used to frame any diamond shape, like this Pear Halo Engagement Ring.
Popularity in Modern Jewelry
In an engagement ring, the center diamond is perfectly complemented by the halo, creating a stunning light performance that can’t be replicated by any other setting.
Take a look at a few halo diamond ring settings in person, and you’ll quickly notice that they interact with the light in a totally different way to the center stone. While the diamond will sparkle in flashes of brilliance and fire (white and colored light), the halo will appear to twinkle and glimmer much faster, and at even the slightest movement of the hand.
Even better? Jewelers can also create a double halo. As the name suggests, this setting means double the number of accent diamonds wrapped around the center diamond – which means twice as much sparkle. We would, however, recommend you invest in a slightly larger diamond for this design to work, or it could be overwhelming by the double halo.
What’s more, halo set diamonds are a common sight in the celebrity world. You’ll spot plenty of halos – the very unique, and the classic – among Natural Diamonds’ 17 Best Celebrity Engagement Rings. Heidi Klum, Louise Roe and Alison Brie also sport this style – so it’s safe to say it’s not only popular, but absolutely here to stay.
Before we dive deeper into the specifics, here are some practical tips to help guide your decision-making process:
9 Practical Tips for Buying Halo Diamond Engagement Ring Settings
Tip 1: Examine Halo and Center Stone Harmony
- Proportion Balance: Ensure the halo complements rather than overpowers the center diamond. The halo should enhance the center stone’s size and shape without overwhelming it.
- Consistency in Quality: The quality of the halo diamonds should match the center stone in terms of color and clarity to ensure a uniform and dazzling appearance.
Tip 2: Assess Setting Durability and Design
- Setting Craftsmanship: Check the quality of the halo setting, ensuring that the prongs holding both the center stone and halo diamonds are secure and well-crafted.
- Under-Halo Inspection: If the ring has an under-halo or gallery design, examine it for both aesthetic appeal and potential cleaning challenges.
Tip 3: Understand Ring Material Implications
- Metal Type Consideration: Different metals offer varying looks and durability. Platinum is robust, while gold offers a more classic appeal. Consider your lifestyle and how the metal type will age over time.
- Metal Color Impact: The color of the metal can affect the ring’s overall appearance. White metals, like platinum and white gold, can enhance the brilliance of diamonds, while yellow and rose gold create a warmer look.
Tip 4: Contemplate Long-Term Ring Maintenance
- Maintenance Requirements: Halo settings, particularly with pavé diamonds, need regular maintenance. Ensure you’re aware of the upkeep and check the jeweler’s policies on repairs and maintenance.
- Longevity and Upkeep: Discuss the longevity of the setting and how frequently it may require professional check-ups to maintain its beauty and integrity.
Tip 5: Consider Resizing and Future Modifications
- Resizing Challenges: Halo settings can be complex to resize. Understand the limitations and possibilities of resizing the ring in the future.
- Modification Limitations: Be aware of the challenges in modifying halo settings, especially if future alterations are anticipated.
Tip 6: Matching Engagement Ring with Wedding Band
- Wedding Band Compatibility: Consider how a wedding band will pair with the halo engagement ring. Look for sets or custom solutions that ensure a seamless fit.
Tip 7: Evaluate Halo Style Variations
- Single vs. Double Halo: Choose between a single or double halo based on desired appearance and practicality. A double halo offers more sparkle but may make the ring bulkier.
- Hidden Halo Insights: For a subtler look, consider a hidden halo, which offers elegance without prominently altering the ring’s profile.
Tip 8: Ethical Considerations and Sourcing
- Ethical Sourcing Verification: Ensure the diamonds, including those in the halo, are ethically sourced. Reputable jewelers should provide certification and transparency about the diamonds’ origins.
Tip 9: Halo Height and Daily Comfort
- Lifestyle Compatibility: Halo rings can sit high on the finger, potentially causing snagging issues. Consider your daily activities and comfort when choosing the halo height.
Now that you’ve got these practical tips, use Jeweler AI below to find the perfect engagement ring that suits your style and budget:
Advantages of Choosing a Halo Setting:
Halos don’t just look good – they can also help to make your engagement ring look all the more impressive…
Enhancement and Versatility
The extra brilliance and fire created by the small accent stones that comprise the halo can give the illusion of the center diamond being just a little larger than it really is.
Diamonds have the power to use more space than they actually fill, since they are constantly sending those brilliant flashes and sparks out into the air around them. The extra sparkle created by the halo can ‘blur the lines’, so to speak, and make the center stone appear to fill more space.
It can also help to pick a white gold or platinum setting for your halo, in order to ‘blend’ the edges of the diamond with the halo. We’d never tell you to rule out contrasting metals like yellow and rose gold but, if you’re after that illusion of size, stick to something more cohesive.
Still, as we mentioned above, proportion is still integral to the effect of the halo. Try to stay realistic, and avoid overwhelming a relatively small center stone with a double halo – or it may start to look like a cluster set ring instead.
Added Size
A typical halo adds a couple millimeters all the way around – although you could go larger, provided you don’t start to drown the center stone. Most jewelers recommend a maximum size of 15% of the center diamond for accent stones.
So, if you were creating a halo for a respectable 1 carat diamond, then, ideally, your accent stones would be no bigger than 0.15 carats. Generally, though, it’s recommended that you go smaller than that. Smaller diamonds create a more intricate, vintage look featuring as much sparkle as possible.
Remember that the center diamond is still the main feature. A halo can create an impression of a larger diamond from a distance, but channeling a little more of your investment into the diamond itself is the best case scenario if you’re looking to ‘go big or go home’.
Exploring Popular Halo Types
Like the black cocktail dress or the Rolex, there are some things that will never go out of style, no matter how many new styles come and go. The attention the halo ring is garnering from celebrities and regular folk alike right now stands as testament to this style’s enduring popularity, rather than any short-lived trend cycle.
The halo offers a classic alternative to the more solitaire diamond, and plenty of versatility – whether you’d like to stick to that classic, ornate look, pursue a more modern look vibe with it. In fact, the halo doesn’t even need to sit around the center diamond…
Round Halo Diamond Ring Settings: Timeless Elegance
This is the classic choice. The ultimate option for sparkle and flair, a Round Diamond surrounded by a halo of melee stones is just a breathtaking sight to see.
Princess and Cushion Cut Halos: Modern Flair
While a square halo may sound like something of a contradiction, don’t make your mind up just yet – the Princess and Cushion shapes are great for pairing with a halo. The look is more contemporary, which is perfect for a modern-loving bride.
Unique Halo Settings: Hidden and Double Halos
While the hidden halo still features a circle of accent diamonds, it is placed around the base of the central setting (where the cutlet meets with the shank) so that it is only visible from the side profile.
This style is particularly popular when it’s used alongside the cathedral setting, which lifts the central setting higher and creates the perfect pocket of space in which to hide this extra detail.
This is a great feature to choose if you’re not feeling sold on the more elaborate halo setting engagement ring, but still want to build upon the traditional silhouette of the solitaire diamond ring. Not only does it ensure the ring looks beautiful from every angle, but it also adds extra sparkle without encroaching on the elegance of a lone diamond.
Double halos are much more obvious. As the name implies, these halos feature two distinct layers of melee diamonds. It’s also possible to find halo diamond ring settings with more than two halos.
Does a Hidden Halo Make a Ring Look Bigger?
Yes, though its eye-bending effect will be more subtle than the effect of a full halo setting.
Diamonds don’t only draw in light from above. The more opportunities it has to refract light, the more magnificent its performance will be when it sits on the hand.
From below, the diamonds of the hidden halo capture and emit light, meaning that the center stone is able to ‘borrow’ light from these smaller stones and sparkle even more brilliantly.
So, from above, the hidden halo will be invisible – but its effects on the center stone’s light performance will be clear to see from any angle. It’s a much subtler way of playing with the shape and proportions of the diamond, but, in person, it’s highly effective.
Material Matters: Gold and Platinum Options
Designing Your Halo Ring: Understanding Total Carat Weight
Each diamond used within a halo setting will generally be less than 0.1 carats in weight, so the total carat weight of your halo depends on the number of accent diamonds contained within your halo, and their size.
While each of those accent diamonds will have its own carat weight, a halo’s value is determined by its total carat weight, rather than by calculating the individual costs of each diamond used within it. Since they aren’t much use to jewelers on their own, these accent diamonds hold much more value when combined together – although still considerably less than a single diamond of the same weight.
For this reason, if your center diamond is 1 carat and your halo has a total carat weight of 0.5, the setting will likely cost less than half the cost of your diamond. In other words, the total carat weight of the completed ring will be 1.5 carats, with most of the value stemming from the center diamond.
Cost Considerations for Halo Diamond Ring Settings
A well-made halo diamond ring featuring a quality diamond at its center will cost anywhere from $5,000+, with the price increasing considerably with the size of the center diamond.
As always, we’d recommend setting aside more of your budget for the diamond than for the setting – while, obviously, keeping in mind the fact that you don’t want to entrust your diamond to a cheap setting.
Aim to spend at least $1,500 on the setting alone, then let the rest of your budget find the perfect diamond to tie it all together.
Practical Considerations
More diamonds means more maintenance – and a bulkier ring to get used to…
Durability
Any good jeweler will work very hard to keep the engineering behind a diamond ring secret. The prongs holding your halo’s diamonds in place will be incredibly small – almost like an intricate pattern within the metalwork itself – but they will be doing more than enough to keep everything secure, even with daily wear.
Sure, you will want to get it checked over at the jewelry store every six to eight months or so, but that’s par for the course with any piece of fine jewelry.
Comfort
The added weight of the halo, while not an issue in and of itself, could mean that an ill-fitting ring routinely finds itself ‘upside down’, and pointing into the palm, rather than staying put on top of the hand. It’s pretty obvious when a ring doesn’t fit; its wearer will likely spend plenty of time absentmindedly twisting the ring right way up again.
After just a couple hours, this can start to wear pretty thin, so make sure that you’ve got your bride-to-be’s finger size memorized by the time your consultation comes around.
Also, one other issue many new brides run into is finding suitable wedding bands for halo engagement rings, since the halo can cause a not insignificant overhang that clashes with many wedding band designs.
It is absolutely possible to find a band that fits comfortably alongside this setting, but you should always keep in the back of your mind the importance of double and triple checking before you drop another thousand dollars on your wedding rings.
Cleaning
Keeping a halo looking good is easy if you keep up with a regular cleaning schedule, although you’ll need to pay close attention to any nooks or crannies.
Maintaining a diamond ring, however simple or intricate, means carving out a few minutes each week to ensure no dust, dirt or grease is building up around the more intricate parts of the setting – particularly around the prongs or the space between accent stones.
Halo rings are a little fiddlier than some designs, but shouldn’t require any special care or maintenance outside of a regular soak and gentle rub down.
Conclusion
Whatever shape diamond you want, whatever metal or band style, we’d always recommend considering your ideal ring with the addition of a halo.
A diamond ring is more than capable of ‘doing all the talking’ without any help from additional embellishments, but there is something about the halo setting that we can’t seem to turn down. The intricate sparkles created by these tiny accent diamonds work their magic alongside the fieriest of round cuts to the most elegant of step cuts.
Yes, it’s a pretty traditional choice, and a common sight at any jewelers, but we’d never mark down a ring setting just because it’s popular. There’s still plenty of ways to add your own customizations to this shape, and to make it your own.
As ever, you’ve got to see it to believe it – or, more specifically, decide whether or not it’s the design for you – but, if you’re like the 99% of us, you’ll find it hard to turn this elegant setting down.
10 FAQs
- Q: What is a Halo Setting in a Diamond Ring?
A: A halo setting features a central diamond surrounded by a circle (halo) of smaller diamonds or gemstones, enhancing the ring’s overall brilliance and making the center stone appear larger. - Q: Does a Halo Setting Make the Diamond Look Bigger?
A: Yes, a halo setting can make the center diamond appear larger due to the additional sparkle and coverage provided by the surrounding diamonds. - Q: What are the Differences Between a Single and Double Halo Setting?
A: A single halo has one circle of diamonds around the center stone, while a double halo has two concentric circles, offering more sparkle but a larger overall appearance. - Q: Are Halo Diamond Rings More Expensive?
A: Halo rings can be more expensive than simple solitaire settings due to the additional diamonds in the halo, but they can offer a bigger look for a smaller center diamond, balancing the cost. - Q: Is a Halo Ring Suitable for Everyday Wear?
A: Yes, halo rings are suitable for daily wear, but they require regular maintenance and care, especially for the smaller diamonds in the halo. - Q: Can Halo Rings Be Resized?
A: Halo rings can be resized, but it can be more complex than resizing a solitaire due to the additional diamonds and design elements. - Q: How Do I Match a Wedding Band with a Halo Engagement Ring?
A: Look for a wedding band that complements the shape and style of the halo setting. Some halo rings may require a custom band for a flush fit. - Q: What Types of Diamonds Work Best with Halo Settings?
A: Most diamond shapes work well with halo settings. Popular choices include round, princess, cushion, and oval diamonds. - Q: What Should I Consider When Choosing the Metal for a Halo Ring?
A: Consider durability, appearance, and skin sensitivity. Platinum and white gold are popular for their strength and color, which enhance the diamonds’ sparkle. - Q: How Do I Maintain and Care for a Halo Diamond Ring?
A: Regular cleaning and check-ups are important. Avoid harsh chemicals and physical impacts, and have a jeweler inspect the ring periodically for loose stones.
