Halo vs No Halo Engagement Rings: Pros and Cons | What is a Halo Ring?

Here’s everything you need to know when comparing Halo vs No Halo Engagement Rings.

The halo engagement ring is the reigning queen of the bridal world. Engagement rings have, since their inception, captured the imagination and affection of designers and jewelry lovers (and brides to be, of course!) It’s no wonder. They’re beautiful and a symbol of romance. No matter which massive diamond company thunk up the idea in the 1920’s, there’s no denying that the vast majority of the Western world recognizes engagement rings as a symbol of love.

History of Engagement Rings

They’re an investment, no matter what your budget is. Furthermore, they’re something that a woman (and now men!) will wear for the rest of her life. They’re something that you’d better be somewhat certain the recipient will love. So it’s no wonder that today’s bride starts doing her research early. She’s eyeing rings that casually catch her eye on Pinterest. She might be window shopping, and she’s certainly started to pay attention to all those ads in Glamour.

How to Get the Exact Engagement Ring You Want

She may have even stopped be her favorite jeweler to play some dress up & drink champagne with Mom or her sister or girlfriends. She might even accompany her beloved to said jewelry store to either research or slide the perfect ring on her finger right then and there. She’s educated, she know what she wants, and in an increasing number of cases, what she wants is a halo engagement ring.

However, the exceptions are typically women who, ahem, decidedly want no halo engagement rings. It’s a pretty divisive matter of taste between the two camps. And, the number of women who don’t have an opinion either way about halo engagement rings are few and far between. If you’re one of the special ladies who are on the fence or, more likely, you’re a guy who’s decided to get down to the bottom of her repetition of “micropave” in her sleep, we’re here to help. Let’s jump into halo vs no halo engagement rings.

Before we start, let’s make it clear about what is a halo diamond ring and a non-halo diamond engagement ring.

What is a Halo Ring?

A halo diamond ring is a type of diamond setting that features a center stone surrounded by additional gemstones.

Halo settings can be a single or double halo. Furthermore, all types of diamond shapes can be given a halo setting.

Most common halo engagement ring shapes:

• Round brilliant diamond halo rings
• Oval diamond halo rings.
• Princess cut diamond halo rings.
• Cushion cut diamond halo rings.
• Radiant cut diamond halo rings.

The encircling diamonds, which are perfectly aligned around the center stone, are typically made up of small round brilliant diamonds, also known as accent diamonds.

Not only are halo rings gorgeous, but they also offer the ability to make the center diamond or gem appear larger. So a smaller carat centerpiece diamond engagement ring can have a lot more bang for its buck.

Below are some examples of halo diamond engagement rings.

What is a Non-Halo Engagement Ring?

No-Halo Engagement Rings refer to engagement rings without halo settings such as prong, channel tension bevel. In general terms, when we refer to No Halo Engagement Rings we mean solitaire setting engagement rings.

A solitaire setting is a type of prong setting. The most common are 4 or 6 prong settings. The prongs are strategically placed to hold the diamond in place.

Essentially any diamond shape can be given a solitaire setting. The solitaire setting is considered the most classic diamond setting of them all.

Below is an example of a solitaire setting engagement rings

Now that we made that crystal…or shall we say, diamond clear…let’s discuss both the pros and cons of halo vs no halo rings.

Pros and Cons of Halo Engagement Rings

Halo Ring PROS:

• Make the center stone look HUGE: like the halo adds an extra carat to the look of the stone.
• Add carat weight without sticker shock: lots of smaller diamonds are exponentially less expensive than one diamond weighing the same.
• Glamorous: halos are typically done in pavé, or micropavé. A setting technique that places small, round brilliant cut diamonds in a way that looks like the “pave” the metal in which they’re set.
• Beautifully modern: halo rings are this stunning combination of contemporary design, precise technology, the irreplaceable skill of an experienced jeweler, and the beauty that results from combining something millions of years old (diamonds) with current fashion.

Halo Ring CONS:

• Trendy: like we said, halos are hot hot hot right now. They won’t stop being as beautiful in 10 years, however, they will look like a ring from this era. This isn’t to say they’ll go the way of the marquise cut (which we adore) which basically announce to the world “Hello, I got engaged in the 80’s or early 90’s.” But they are trendy, and therefore they will represent this particular, fabulous moment in jewelry design.
• Trendy: it’s a two pronged con! The trend-factor means lots and lots of other women also have halo engagement rings. Luckily, the options to personalize and customize halo engagement rings are pretty much endless, so it’s unlikely that you’ll bump into your ring twin while registering at Crate & Barrel. That being said, it’s far from impossible. If you want a halo ring, think about ways to make it special, unique, and yours.
• Girly: some guys just are not into halo engagement rings. The top complaint? It looks like glitter. Glitter, to some men, might mean tacky or cheap. But as long as you’re using your budget wisely to get the best center stone you can afford, a halo will only enhance your ring, never make it look like a Cracker Jack prize. And sorry guys, some women just love glitter.

Pros and Cons of No Halo Engagement Rings

No Halo Ring PROS:

• Timeless: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? The ring that usually comes to mind when you say “engagement” is a round brilliant solitaire. It’s classic, it will never age, it will never lose its beauty, value or appeal.
• Limitless: If the solitaire is the jumping off point for no halo engagement rings, the horizons beyond it are endless. From Harry Winston style three stone settings, to Art Deco and Victorian ornate creations, to the modern fabulousness of a cushion cut on a diamond band, the variety of no halo rings is enormous.
• More unique (maybe): The aforementioned round brilliant is far from rare, though it will stand out in a sea of Verragio rings. However a rose cut champagne diamond with fancy yellow accent stones? That will be one in a million.

No Halo Ring CONS:

• More expensive (sometimes). We hesitate to even say this one. This is because there are tons of halo engagement ring settings alone that cost triple what a vintage oval diamond ring does. So let’s limit this point to the center stone. Without that halo carat-boost – both perceived and real – you’ll need a bigger diamond to achieve the same presence on the hand. Those extra little fractions of carats add up – fast. So a non halo engagement ring that looks the same size as a halo engagement ring with comparable quality of color, cut and clarity, will be exponentially more expensive.
• “Boring”: again, this is a difference of opinion between the shopper & the recipient. If she has repeatedly told her boyfriend how much she adores the clean simplicity of a great quality emerald cut solitaire in a plain platinum band, she means it. Even if that means he needs to pass on the Venetian style rose gold, pink diamond and white gold dazzler he’s eyeing in the showcase across from her dream ring.

Are Halo Engagement Rings Tacky?

We definitely wouldn’t call a halo ring “tacky”. A halo ring is lavish and more eye-catching, but we would never use the word “tacky” as that has a negative connotation, and there is nothing negative about a halo setting. It is a classic design that has been around for a century. It’s a staple setting in the world of diamonds engagement rings.

Are Halo rings more expensive?

This really depends on the size of the center stone. If you were to get a halo setting that has a total volume (including accent diamonds) that is the same size a non-halo, solitaire ring, it would be cheaper than the solitaire. That is because a larger carat diamond cost significantly more than many accent diamonds that equal to the same weight. So, if you want a diamond ring that is a total width of say 1cm, a solitaire engagement ring will cost much more than the halo engagement ring, as the halo diamond ring will have a smaller center stone.

More Examples of Halo Engagement Rings

Henri Daussi AMDM850OA 0.51ct Halo Diamond Engagement Ring

18k White Gold 1.22ctw Diamond Halo Engagement Ring

Henri Daussi AFL10 Victorian 0.79ct Diamond Engagement Ring

Related: Top 10 Halo Engagement Rings of 2015

More Examples of Non Halo Engagement Rings

INSIGNIA-7060 0.35CTW Diamond Engagement Ring Setting

Halo vs No Halo – Final Verdict

No matter which style you prefer, keep this in mind: at the end of the day, this ring belongs to you – not your fiance’s hand or that of your sister or mom or an old college roommate or teammate or even just some random stranger from social media! What matters is whether or not a certain style speaks to you; whether its timeless beauty has held up through 15 years or whether its plainness was declared by an experienced hair stylist is irrelevant – your style and your ring alone will determine its success!

New: What is a Halo Ring? Pros and Cons of Halo Engagement Rings

Looking to Buy Halo or Non Halo Engagement Rings?

We are Raymond Lee Jewelers, a high-end jewelry store located in Boca Raton. We are South Florida’s best diamond retailer. Diamonds by Raymond Lee offers an upscale and unique buying experience at our state of the art showroom in Boca Raton, Florida. At Diamonds by Raymond Lee, you will find mostly all of the top engagement ring brands. We also do incredible custom work!

8 Big Beautiful Diamond Engagement Rings by Raymond Lee Jeweler

All of the rings featured in this article, plus many more, can be bought at our showroom or online via Diamonds By Raymond Lee.