Halo vs. No Halo Rings: The Boons and the Banes

Hey gents. Are you ready to pop the question, but you don’t know what options are available for the perfect ring? Then, the halo vs. no halo rings debate will help you make that informed choice. And for the beautiful ladies, did he say you can choose any ring you’d like? This comparison: halo vs. no halo will come in handy as well. 

It doesn’t matter if you are the man on the hunt for the perfect ring or you are the woman deciding whether you want a halo or no halo engagement ring. Regardless, this article will tell you everything you need to know.

Moreover, when buying an engagement ring, it’s best to make the purchase with all the knowledge. It becomes more important as this will be the most sentimental piece of jewelry you will ever buy.

Getting the Perfect Engagement Ring

She might have even stopped by her favorite jeweler to play some dress-up and drink champagne with mom, her sister, or girlfriends. She might even accompany her beloved to the said jewelry store to either research or slide the perfect ring on her finger right then and there. 

Overall, she’s informed, and she knows what she wants. Also, in an increasing number of cases, she wants either a halo or a no halo engagement ring.

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 is few and far between. Are you one of the special ladies who are on the fence? Or, more likely, are you 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 the halo vs. no halo rings debate. We will make it a clear comparison by considering what a halo ring is and what a no halo ring is. 

What is a Halo Ring?

A halo diamond ring is a setting for an engagement ring where a center diamond has a concentric circle or square of smaller accent diamonds around it. This “halo” of smaller diamonds around the centerpiece creates the illusion of a larger diamond.

Also, these halo rings make the engagement ring sparkle, shine and flash in an exquisitely lavish way, as light reflects off of many diamonds instead of a single centerpiece like a solitaire setting. In general, halo diamond rings offer a larger appearance and draw more attention to the ring finger.

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, obvious or hidden. 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.

• The Halo Ring Chronicles

Halo designs have been around for centuries; we are talking 300+ years. You can’t really call something a trend if it began in the 1700s and remains popular in the year 2019.

The first halo designs were produced in the early Georgian era of classic jewelry (1714-1837). Halo settings have been in fashion for every subsequent era since the Georgian era, including the Victorian and Art Deco eras, the two most popular eras to draw inspiration from for modern vintage style rings.

Halo diamond rings were super popular in Hollywood in the 1940s. The design fell out of favor when the Great Depression and WW2 hit due to halo diamond rings being “opulent” and costly to produce (compared to other setting styles).

As with many classic ring designs, the halo has been evolving every decade. Nowadays, halo engagement rings can be simple, ornate, or even made using gems like sapphires.

What is a No Halo Ring?

A no halo ring is as simple as it sounds, any ring that doesn’t use a halo setting. Besides a halo setting, the most popular engagement ring settings are:

• Solitaire (single diamond setting that uses 4 or 6 prongs to hold the diamond in place)
• Three Stone (one of our favorites and a classic style as well)
• Bezel Setting
• Cluster Setting
• Tension Setting

For the sake of keeping this article straightforward, we are going to consider the “no halo” as a solitaire (or prong) setting – Halo settings and Solitaire settings are two of the most classic and popular settings and styles, so it makes sense to do so when making this Halo vs. No Halo comparison.

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

Boons of Halo Rings

• Creates a Bigger and Shinier Visual Effect

Halo ring settings make the center diamond appear bigger. For those who are on a budget but still want a big visual impact, the halo setting is a great option. First of all, the setting creates a larger surface area, and since the smaller diamonds surrounding it have very little space in between them, the bling covers the entire surface area. 

halo ring with superior brilliance

Furthermore, with all those smaller diamonds surrounding your centerpiece, you will have a lot more light bouncing off your ring. Thus, a lot more sparkle. Bling, bling.

• Additional Carat Weight Without Breaking the Bank

In terms of budget, numerous smaller diamonds will be SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than a single diamond of the same weight. So, you get a greater total volume without breaking the bank.

• A Flawless Addition to Any Diamond Shape

Halo settings support and complement a number of diamond shapes, like round brilliant, princess, oval, heart, and cushion cut diamonds. Many of these diamond shapes won’t work for no halo engagement rings. Furthermore, you can get complex with the details of the halo due to the size of the ring. Pave set diamonds, migraine, filigree, and more. 

All in all, this adds beauty and interest to your engagement ring. There are many unique ways to choose a halo setting, especially for a custom design. Not to mention, many women consider the halo setting to be the most romantic.

• Fitting Setting for the Center Diamond

The halo of diamonds better secures the centerpiece diamond. Moreover, it protects the centerpiece’s vulnerable points from bumps, bangs, and other accidents. Now, you might be thinking that diamonds are the hardest materials and can’t be damaged. 

Unfortunately, that’s a misconception. They can be scratched if hit hard enough, and this WILL diminish the value of the stone. A halo ring setting shields the centerpiece from any harmful objects.

Banes of Halo Rings

• Reduces Diamond’s Brightness From Its Profile

On many Halo rings, from the side, you can’t see your diamond or the sparkle in your rock which otherwise would scream “look at me.” It’s very challenging to make a halo ring bling from the side, which, unfortunately, is an angle many people will be looking at it from. 

With that being said, there are many different halo settings and styles, so you can find one that blings from all angles. So if you are looking at a halo ring, check to see if the shine is obscured from its flanks.

• The Accents Wear Off

As beneficial as those tiny diamonds can be for protecting the center stone, they are like pawns on a chessboard, and sometimes they can be sacrificed. It’s likely that you can expect to replace a few of those small diamonds over your ring’s lifetime. This is because the tiny prongs that hold the diamonds in place get loose over time. 

Therefore, the diamonds fall out. The more diamonds surrounding your ring and on the band, the greater the chance of some falling out over time. The cost isn’t significant, but no one wants to spend time going back to the jeweler to replace their diamonds, even if it happens only once and a while. Moreover, even though the cost is nominal, it can still cost more than its worth.

• Resizing Issues

Many halo rings have diamonds around the band, as the concept of the halo is about making the ring more lavish. Resizing a halo engagement ring with diamonds in the band is a challenging task for any jeweler. 

So, if you do decide to go for a halo engagement ring and you are worried that you may have to resize it in the future, make sure you get a band without diamonds covering the entire band.

Boons of No Halo Rings

• The Center Diamond Remains the Main Focus

For prong setting engagement rings, which are easily the most classic engagement ring setting (the one you can’t go wrong with), the centerpiece is not hidden by the setting. You and others will be able to see its brilliance from all angles.

• They Defy Trends and Time

The Solitaire setting is easily the most classic and timeless setting. A round, brilliant diamond set in a 4 or 6-prong setting will never go out of style, not even for a moment. It’s a beautiful and sophisticated look that all women will appreciate.

• Commands More Value in the Resale Market

One stone that is bigger will cost more than smaller diamonds that equal the same carat weight, but the resale value will be much better as well.

Banes of No Halo Rings

• Costs More

If you want a diamond that’s worthy of flaunting, it’s going to cost you more. So, as stated above, the resale value will be better, but then again, the initial cost will be greater as well. 

For example, a 2-carat single diamond will cost exponentially more than a .9 carat centerpiece diamond with many smaller diamonds surrounding it that make the ring a total of 2 carats in weight. Moreover, if the diamond isn’t of a good grade, it’ll be much more recognizable in a solitaire setting than in a halo.

• Catches Clothing And Other Materials

Many prong setting and solitaire setting engagement rings are high-set, which means they can easily snag on certain materials like clothing. Thus, you will want to take your ring off on certain occasions. For those with an active lifestyle, a low-set prong setting will be a good way to avoid this issue.

Halo vs. No Halo Rings: What Do We Say? 

Regardless of which style you prefer, remember this: at the end of the day, it’s your ring. It’s in your hand. Not your fiancé’s, not your sister’s, not your Mom’s, your old college roommate, your high school basketball teammate, or your dog walker’s Facebook acquaintance. 

If you love a particular style, that’s it. If you still love it in 10 years, who cares if it announces you got married in 2016?  And if it’s the timeless beauty you’ve loved since you were 15 years old, who cares that your hair stylist thinks it’s plain? It’s your ring, your style, and that alone will make it the right one for you.

Where Can I Buy Halo or No Halo Rings?

We are Diamonds By Raymond Lee, 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!

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