Is a Halo Engagement Ring Right for Me?

A halo surrounds the centre stone with a ring of small diamonds. From a distance, the eye reads the centre stone and its halo together, so the whole looks considerably larger than the centre stone alone.

A halo makes a modest centre stone look generous, and so offers a lot of presence for the budget. It adds sparkle from every angle. It can frame a coloured stone beautifully, a sapphire inside white diamonds, for example. And it offers some protection to the edge of the centre stone.

Many small stones mean more to look after: each is held by tiny beads or claws that need an occasional check. A halo makes the head wider, so a straight wedding band often will not sit flush and a shaped band may be needed. If the halo continues as pavé down the band, resizing becomes harder. And some people feel a halo is more tied to a particular era than a simple solitaire.

A hidden halo sets the small diamonds under the centre stone, visible from the side, so the ring looks like a clean solitaire from above. Pavé shoulders add sparkle without widening the head. A three stone design adds presence in a different way. And a larger, well-cut centre stone on its own can be the most timeless answer of all.