Halo Engagement Rings - A Complete Guide
Picking the right ring for a romantic proposal is an incredibly exciting and monumental moment for any couple! A very important aspect in choosing the right ring is the setting, which should never be overlooked. The ring's setting refers to the style that which the chosen gemstone is mounted onto the band of the ring. A very luxurious and popular choice is Halo Engagement Rings, a great choice for your heavenly fiancé. Halo Engagement Rings are designed with the centre stone in mind, making it pop with a sweet halo, or circle, of smaller stones dancing around it. Halo Engagement Rings are a true statement, often making the centre gemstone appear even larger and ensuring the ring sparkles from every angle.
“Sooner or later, everything old is new again.”
There is nothing quite like wearing a ring with rich history, especially one with significant influence in fashion throughout the ages. Prior to being called 'Halo,' the rings were regarded as "Cluster" rings, and date back to the Georgian era (1714 – 1873). Halo settings transformed with the times and in the Victoria era, 1873 to 1901, the halos were floral shaped, with smaller, often triangle-shaped diamonds or pearls circling the central stone. The centre stones were often stunning colourful sapphires. The halo engagement rings, as we know them today, took shape in the roaring 1920s, known as the Art Deco movement. The Art Deco movement saw an influx in technological revolution resulting in new design, styles, and craftsmanship. Art Deco rings changed to focus on rounded, or cushion-cut centre stone, dotted with rounded diamonds for a chic, opulent look. The look is timeless.
Why choose a Halo Ring?
When it comes to an engagement ring, you will want to select a unique ring that tells a story. At Gemvy, we believe that story should be a fairy tale - because that’s what you deserve. Halo engagement rings are certainly for the lady who wishes to make a statement and bring the bling. Some other reasons include,
1. The Size: The way that the centre stone is set amongst the smaller stones, makes the centre stone appear larger, fuller, and more dazzling. From a distance, the stones look like one enormous ring. For example, if you select a 2-carat diamond centre stone, with a halo setting, the ring will appear to be a 3-carat engagement ring. Plus, due to its sparkle and size, it can cover more of your finger while complementing your hand wonderfully.
2. The Beauty: The unique accent of the smaller stones, makes the ring stand out. The rings have modern elements, and vintage elegance with stunning craftsmanship for an everlasting look you’ll always love.
3. They’re Fashion forward: With roots in the 1700s, it’s safe to say this ring will never go out of style! They have unmatched class, certainly when compared to a simpler style such as a solitaire engagement ring, which focuses on just one centre stone and showcases it with 4 prongs or 6 prongs. While solitaire engagement rings are lovely, they are much quieter, and less of a statement piece.
4. They’re Protective: If you are drawn to gorgeous pear, emerald or princess-cut gemstone engagement rings, Halo settings are the perfect protector. Due to these stones', “shaper” angles, the Halo serves as a buffer. We all wish our gemstones were indestructible, but that’s simply not the reality. Life happens! Even if we are extremely careful, we can’t always prevent accidentally bumping the precious ring or having something snag at it. The benefit of the Halo rings is that the accent diamonds will take the brunt of the damage, rather than your centre (and more expensive!) gemstone. In the instance, this does occur, you would only need to replace or re-adjust the Halo stones, rather than re-cutting the centre stone, which could result in a significant loss in size – which no one wants!
5. They’re Designer: With many interchangeable features, your sweetheart will surely get the ring of their dreams. For example, the ring could have a nod to the Victorian engagement ring's ‘floral’ era. If they love colourful gemstones such as Ruby, Sapphires or Emeralds, but still desire diamonds, the Halo engagement ring is a great choice, as when the centre gemstone and accent stones are different colours, the result is a gorgeous, artistic contrast.
Types of Halo Engagement Rings
Halo engagement rings come in a wide variety of stunning styles and designs. For example, your center stone can be round, diamond or square, and the gemstone itself can be whatever your heart desires! At Gemvy, you are always a center stage when it comes to design decisions, and we always work with you, our designers, and artists to craft up the perfect, enduring look.
Most popular types of Halo rings
1. Vintage Halo Engagement rings
Vintage usually refers to the elements and style rather than the age. Vintage style engagement rings can incorporate aspects from different eras, such as pearls or opals as the center stone, rose cut stone, and perhaps even a funky motif such as a heart, bows, birds, or even horseshoes. In keeping with tradition, the Halo would consist of small cut diamonds contrasted with a colorful Sapphire, Emerald, or Ruby.
2. Floral Halo Engagement rings
These sweet, nature-inspired engagement rings feature the Halo in a less perfect circle and are instead designed to represent a gorgeous, blossoming flower. Floral Halo engagement rings tend to be a popular choice for the modern bride, someone who loves traditional styles but with a modern, very feminine flair.
3. Double Halo Engagement rings
Double the Halo, double the drama! These rings are serious! This style of ravishing Halo rings consists of two halos, looping around the center stone. The result is a ring that appears very large in size, with an eye-catching shine. Want an expert hint? These are a great option for saving some money, while still having a jaw-dropping ring, as the collection of smaller Halos is less expensive than picking a high-carat gemstone! Plus, due to the size, this style is flattering on your hand, particularly for women with wider fingers.
4. Hidden Halos settings
Hidden Halos are charming and an innovative and modern approach to Halo Rings. The Halo in this design sits below the centre stone, making the Halo less noticeable from the top and is more visible from a side view. Because of the hidden element, some brides like to get creative, especially when mixing metals without it being an overwhelming or tacky look. For example, you could have both rose and white gold.
This to consider
Naturally, halo engagement rings may not be to your taste – and that's quite alright, there are other jaw-dropping styles we offer at Gemvy. Here are some reasons a Halo might not be the one for you:
• It just doesn’t match your style: Perhaps you enjoy a more subtle charm, depending on your personality or lifestyle. What's more, if you are splashing out on a 3-carat or above for the centre stone, the Halo setting will make the ring extremely large, which some women just don't want or like.
• Your budget: While the halo setting makes the centre stone appear bigger, allowing you to save a bit of buck, overall, they are not a budget-friendly design. This is because, with more metal and gems, it increases the cost significantly. Further, some women find that the smaller diamonds tend to fall out requiring more visits to the jeweller.
• Time-consuming: Picking a wedding band for your unique ring is all a part of the fun. However, the Halo ring creates a curve that can make the band selection more time-consuming and complicated. For context, there are five unique bands that would work with Halo rings: contoured, notched, guarded, straight, and custom.
o Contoured bands allow for the lovely flush look, as they mirror the curve of the Halo setting.
o Notched bands are a popular option for Halo, as they have a little divot in the band that allows for the Halo to sit in, like two pieces of a puzzle.
o Guarded bands are comprised of two bands rather than one, so one band will sit below the Halo while the other below, for a touch of uniqueness.
o Straight bands do not have any curve, they are a circle all the way around, so if you don’t want a flush look this works – or you can have your Halo suspended to create more of a flush illusion.
o Custom bands can be whatever you have in mind - straight, notched or curved.
At Gemvy, we will of course help you select the perfect band for your bride-to-be Halo, but some folks choose to forgo a Halo due to the time-consuming. band selection process.
In Conclusion
Halo engagement rings are without a doubt a more glamorous and eye-catching option, fit for a princess! They allow for enough input to make the ring stand out amongst the crowd while maintaining the subtle elegance of a classic piece. Will you mark your special moment with a Halo? Have a look at Gemvy’s Halo options available on our website or contact us today to start designing your special ring.
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