Are you looking for an eye-catching engagement ring with a large central feature stone? An effective way to make the centre stone appear larger and maximise its sparkle is with a halo setting. This ring style is one of the most popular choices thanks to its ability to enhance the central diamonds appearance, here we are breaking down how and why this setting is so spectacular.
The Optical Illusion of Size
The design of a halo ring involves the central stone, either a classic diamond or another gemstone being encircled by smaller diamonds or gemstones in a “halo”. This increases the diameter of the ring thus making it appear larger, even though the main stone is still the same carat weight. Pavé-set halos have the surrounding diamonds set very close to create a seamless blend with the main gemstone. You can save additional cost of getting a larger diamond carat by opting for a halo setting as a 1 carat diamond ring with a halo will look a similar size to a 1.5 carat diamond ring without a halo.
Amplified Sparkle and Light Reflection
More stones equal more sparkle and the additional diamonds in the halo gives more opportunity for sparkle. These extra gems catching and reflecting the light gives the ring an overall brighter appearance and draw the eye to the main stone more. Sparkle can mask minor inclusions; therefore, a ring with extra stones shining can create the impression the stone is of a higher clarity which saves buying a better clarity graded diamond.
A More Defined Diamond Shape
By outlining the ring’s main stone, the halo setting can accentuate the shape of your centre diamond. It works if you have opted for a more circular shape like a classic round cut or cushion cut ring and can balance the proportions on a pear cut diamond ring or marquise cut diamond ring. Either way the added stones will make the ring appear more substantial on your finger.
A Cost-Effective Alternative to a Larger Diamond
It can be expensive finding the high carat and clarity graded diamond engagement rings and if you’re looking for ways to achieve the fabulous visual effects but save on costs it is worth looking at the setting design. As mentioned above the halo setting can amplify sparkle and hide minor inclusions and give the ring an overall larger and brighter finish without including the best quality diamond. Halo rings provide maximum beauty and good value.
Customisation Options for Extra Drama
Another positive thing about halo settings is how customisable they are. You can enhance the ring even more and to your design preference. Popular variations include:
Double halo settings – Just as it sounds, this involves there being two layers of surrounding diamonds giving even more sparkle and size increase.
Coloured gemstone halos – Rather than using smaller diamonds in the halo you can use other gemstones such as sapphires, rubies or emeralds to create a striking contrast between the centre stone and add a pop of colour.
Hidden halos – This sees the supporting diamonds underneath the setting to provide sparkle from a different angle.
Is a Halo Setting Right for You?
For a diamond ring with extra luxury, sparkle and size without a big budget increase, a halo engagement ring is an excellent choice. A popular design that can be adapted to suit your personal taste, shop all our halo engagement rings to find a stunning and timeless design.
