Proposing with engagement rings has been a practice for decades.
While some cynics say it’s just the result of a very successful advertising campaign by De Beers in the 1930s, we believe that there is a much more symbolic and emotional meaning behind it as well.
Engagement rings are more than just jewelry. They are a reminder, a promise of everlasting love.
Choosing the right engagement ring style shows that you’ve put a lot of thought and care into the proposal.
One of the most popular and stunning styles is the halo engagement ring. This jaw-dropping setting is sure to turn heads.
What Is A Halo Engagement Ring?
A halo ring features a large center stone, usually a diamond or other precious gem, surrounded by smaller stones (known as a pavé).
The pavé frames the center stone, enhancing the overall visual appeal and brightness of the ring.
There are many different kinds of halo engagement rings for women. Some are set with only colorless stones while others come in multiple, flashy colors.
There are also double or even triple halo rings that have multiple rows of pavés around the center stone.
The History Of The Halo Setting
The halo ring has seen a resurgence in popularity today, but it has a long and colorful history.
This ring style has been around since at least the Georgian Era in the 1700s when pearls were commonly used as the prominent center stone. Since then, it has undergone many changes and variations.
The Victorian Era halo ring was very elaborate, often containing large colored gemstones. This was done to mimic a flower-like look.
Decades later, the Art Deco movement of the 1920s inspired a new twist on the halo ring design.
Simpler and more sophisticated, these modern halo rings used symmetrical, geometric patterns to create an elegant yet bold ring.
Throughout the years, the halo ring has come in and out of style. It was extremely popular in the Golden Age of old Hollywood glamor but was much less sought after during World War II.
There was a resurgence of the Art Deco movement in the 1960s that saw the halo ring’s comeback for a short period of time.
Today, the halo engagement ring enjoys the #2 spot on the most popular engagement ring styles, second only to the solitaire ring.
Its timeless look makes it a great choice for the modern woman.
Why You Should Get A Halo Ring
It’s Popular
If you’re the type who wants to stay on trend, then you can’t go wrong with a halo ring. It’s currently one of the most popular styles in the world. But just because it’s trendy, it doesn’t mean that it will soon go out of style.
This design has been around for centuries, and it will surely be fashion-forward for centuries to come.
It’s Attention-Catching
Do you want to feel like a celebrity or member of the royal family? A halo rim captures the glitz and glam of an expensive ring—a ring that is worthy of a queen.
The smaller stones draw the gaze towards the center stone, making it look bigger, brighter, and more “wow”. With all eyes on your halo ring, you’re guaranteed to make a flashy statement wherever you go.
It Makes Your Center Stone Look Bigger
Whether you want to emphasize a 3-carat stone or make a 1-carat diamond ring look more extravagant, a halo ring will do the trick. Because of the surrounding pavé, any center stone will look much bigger in a halo setting.
This makes it a great choice if you want to save money on a smaller center diamond but still want to amaze and impress.
It’s Affordable Without Sacrificing Beauty
A smaller budget doesn’t mean you have to downsize on impact. Halo rings can look flashy without breaking the bank.
If you don’t want to splurge on a large high-carat stone, you can still get a bedazzled, sparkling ring with multiple micro-pavés.
You can even get the same carat level but for a much cheaper price. Our selection of halo engagement rings for women start from as low as $939.
It’s Customizable
One of the best things about halo rings is that it appeals to a wide range of women. It can look classic, trendy, modern, or vintage depending on how you style it.
You can create a truly unique halo engagement ring just by changing the center stone, cut, metal, or the number of halos.
You can also embellish the band or use colored gemstones if you want your ring to really stand out.
Things To Look Out For
It’s Easy To Lose A Stone
While the large center stone is secured by the smaller pavé stones around it, it can be easy to lose one of the little diamonds in the setting.
Some retailers and jewelers will have warranties in the event that you lose a stone while others won’t cover the cost of replacing and resetting the stone.
It Can Snag
Because of the way it’s designed, the halo ring is prone to catching on clothing or hosiery. Be careful around delicate fabrics so that you don’t accidentally pull out one of the threads. You can smoothen out the ring by adding a bezel around it, making it less scratchy.
It’s A Little Too Popular
You can expect that many people have this particular ring style. Everybody from celebrities to royalty to your friends and family can be sporting the halo ring.
So if you want yours to be more one-of-a-kind you’ll definitely need to customize it yourself.
The Classic Halo Ring
The iconic halo ring design puts a large stone front and center, surrounded by smaller pavé stones.
The shank or ring band can be left bare to evoke a minimalist elegance or it can be decorated with tiny little diamonds or gems to really make it shine.
Common cuts include the classic round cut, a princess cut or cushion-cut center stone.
How To Customize Your Halo Ring Setting
Center Stone
As the biggest and most prominent part of the setting, the center stone can completely change the look and feel of your halo ring.
While many opt for a large, high-carat colorless diamond, your options are virtually limitless.
Other precious gemstones like sapphires, emeralds, and even pearls look great on a halo ring.
Cut
The halo ring is special in that it works with all kinds of cuts and shapes. The cut of the stone is like its personality.
It can be serious and sophisticated, fun and playful, vintage and classy, or modern and bold.
Round halo rings are by far the most popular, but you can get it in virtually any cut you desire.
Pavé
While the center stone is usually the focal point, the pavé gemstones are what makes a halo ring…well, a halo ring.
Complement the center stone by using similarly-colored stones or contrast it with a completely different hue.
Halo
The single halo ring is, of course, the most iconic and simple design you can go for. But if you want to amp up the extravagance, don’t be shy to get a double or even triple halo ring.
The more halo rings, the bigger your center stone will look. Put a unique twist on it by getting a floating center stone, where the diamond is raised slightly above the halo ring.
Ring Band
One of the questions you’ll have to answer is if you want a plain shank or a bejeweled one. A ring band without any pavés looks simpler and cleaner while a decorated shank will look much more extravagant.
You can also get split shank designs that add a little more character to your halo ring.
Metal
To enhance a colorless, clear diamond, white gold engagement rings are a classic option. If you want something slightly different, there are other color choices available.
We recommend yellow gold if your stone has a yellowish tint to it or if you want to evoke a more vintage feel.
Rose gold is also gaining in popularity these days thanks to its soft, feminine vibe. You can also get two-tone rings if you like the contrast.
Conclusion
Ultimately, your personality and your style will determine what kind of engagement ring is right for you. The halo ring is versatile, chic, stunning, all at a more affordable price tag than you’d think.