Halo engagement rings

Everything you need to know about halo diamond rings

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Halo engagement rings feature a circle of smaller stones in a, er, halo-style circle around the center stone of a ring.

Ritani halo e1479367064942

Although diamonds are often used for the halo, other precious gems like emerald, rubies or sapphires can be used too, to provide an interesting and unusual contrast effect.

Ritani sapphire

Halo settings are among the most popular styles at the moment, with a range of different looks available, depending on the design of the ring – everything from classic art deco style retro styles to blinged-up double-halo rings which could probably be seen from space.

On this page we’re going to look at:

  • What’s good about halo setting engagement rings
  • What’s not so good
  • A range of halo diamond engagement ring setting styles

At the end of the page you should have a really good idea of what to look for with a halo engagement ring and hopefully have some great inspiration for choosing your ring too.

What’s good about halo diamond rings?

Halos make a diamond ring look more impressive

Choosing a halo diamond engagement ring is a great way to make a center stone look larger than it really is without the costs involved in actually splashing out on a larger stone.

The price of diamonds doesn’t increase linearly – a two carat stone isn’t twice as expensive as a one carat stone, it’s more like 8 times the price. Conversely, the small stones used in halo settings might only weight about 1/50th of a carat, but actually cost 1/1000th of the price of a 1 carat stone.

So, a halo setting can be a great way of adding extra bling to a ring without the need to splash the big bucks on a rare and pricy center stone.

Halo vs. Solitaire:

A quick comparison of a halo vs. a solitaire with the same quality of diamond, but different center stone carat weights:

double halo
18k white gold setting:$1,299
0.6 carat VS1 Excellent cut G diamond:$1,308
Total:$2,607
Solitiare diamond ring
18k white gold setting:$599
1 carat VS1 Excellent cut G diamond:$5,347
Total:$5,946

The halo setting has 71 small diamonds in the halo setting and pave band, which add up to 0.5 carats. With the addition of the 0.6 carat center stone, that’s a total carat weight of 1.1 carats and with the double-halo surrounding the center stone, the ring will look extremely substantial.

The one carat solitaire ring will cost over twice as much and will look much smaller on the finger.

Halo settings offer the diamond protection

Halo settings can offer a center stone protection and prevent it from getting damaged. Although diamonds are the hardest naturally-occuring material out there, they can be vulnerable to damage along their thin outside edge, which is known as the ‘girdle’.

On a ring where the girdle is exposed, chips or even cracks can develop if the diamond is hit against a hard surface. However, the metal edges of a halo setting will bravely throw it’s body on the line and take the hits for the team, protecting the center stone.

What’s bad about halo engagement rings?

Halo settings can be expensive

While halo engagement rings can be a great way to boost the bling of a ring, it doesn’t come without a price tag attached.

Due to the number of small diamonds involved and the extra workmanship required to cut the diamonds and fix them into the setting, the cost of a halo setting can creep up. And the more complex and flashy a halo setting is, the more expensive it will be.

masterwork

So, although they are less expensive than a hefty center stone, halo settings can still be firmly at the pricier end of the engagement ring cost spectrum.

Halo diamond rings can need maintenance

Halo engagement rings can require that a little more care is taken over them than simpler styles due to the sheer number of small stones that are used in the ring setting.

The stones used in halo settings are usually extremely small and each needs to be attached to the ring individually by a jeweler with tiny prongs.

Over time, some of these tiny prongs may get bent out of position slightly and it doesn’t take much for one of the tiny diamonds to become loose or even fall out. This issue is compounded if a halo setting is paired with a pave band, increasing the number of diamonds used even further.

They should be checked regularly and taken into a jewelers to be checked and fixed if there is any possibility that any of the halo stones are loose.

Halo engagement ring settings

There is a huge amount of choice when it comes to halo engagement ring settings out there. From mixing up the metal used to the precious stones on the halo itself, there is almost an infinite number of combinations available.

I’ve selected a few examples below to give you an idea of what is out there, but it is by no means a definitive list. Click through on any of the rings to find out more about it and to see more halo engagement ring options.


Pavé halo diamond ring

halo diamond engagement ring

The straightforward halo setting features a ring of small diamonds surrounding one central diamond. The simplicity of this setting means that it’s the least expensive, and the halo setting will add around 0.3 carats of diamond onto the weight of the center stone.

Click here to find out more information about this halo engagement ring at my #1 recommended retailer, James Allen.


Mixed gold halo diamond ring

ML rose gold halo

Subtle differences to a halo engagement ring can make a big difference to its appearance. This ring adds pavé diamonds to the ring band, but also mixes it up with a rose gold halo to bring a distinctive and modern twist.

Learn more about this white and rose gold halo ring and find out the price here.


Vintage halo engagement ring

overlapping swirl JA e1428565936643

Halo settings are also a great way to channel a vintage feel. This ring has 102 miniature diamonds set into the halo and the band with a carat weight of 0.79 carats, and an ornate twisted theme throughout.

Click here to find out more about this vintage halo engagement ring.


Twisted shank halo engagement ring

twisted Halo

Pushing the design envelope a bit further, this ring drapes ribbons of diamonds around the center stone to make an unusual but striking ring setting.

Click here to learn more about this ring.


Bezel halo diamond ring

split shank bezel halo e1486514683525

‘Bezel’ rings have a band of metal around the center diamond to protect it and keep it safe and this bezel halo engagement ring employs the same trick. With 63 diamonds set into the halo setting and band and a clean, modern design though, you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for practicality.

Find out more about this bezel halo diamond ring here


Asscher cut halo diamond ring

Asscher halo

Other diamond shapes can also make for a great choice for halo engagement rings. This Asscher cut halo ring allows you to take advantage of the competitive prices that Asscher cuts offers, to score a more ornate ring setting.

Click here to learn more about this ring.


Twisted shank halo engagement ring

Spiral halo

A modern ‘twist’ on the halo (sorry!), this ring’s band spirals around the center diamond in an elegant and unique design.

Find out more about this ring here.


Octagon halo diamond ring

Hexagonal halo1

Changing the shape of the halo itself is another way to differentiate your ring. The straight lines of this hexagonal halo setting give it a vintage feel – bringing to mind the geometric shapes of the Art Deco period.

Click here to learn more about this vintage-inspired halo engagement ring.


Gemstone halo diamond rings

Changing up the stones in the halo can bring a fresh look to a ring. Whether its rubies, sapphires or any other precious stone, it’s a great way of adding some character to your halo engagement ring.