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Halo
A halo is a ring of small diamonds set tightly around the center stone. It makes the center look larger and brighter, and it is the classic way to let a modest stone carry a big look.
What it is
The small stones, called melee, sit in a thin metal frame around the girdle of the center stone, held by tiny shared prongs or beads. Face-up, the halo reads as part of the stone, so a one-carat center in a halo can look like a stone half a carat larger. Halos follow the shape of the center: round, oval, cushion, pear or anything else.
Halo
A ring of small stones around the center stone.
Why people love it
More sparkle, a larger look, and a frame that makes the center stone the clear focus. A halo also lets you put the budget into a cleaner, smaller center stone and still have presence on the hand.
- Makes the center look larger and brighter.
- Lets a smaller center stone carry a big look.
Trade-offs
More tiny stones to keep clean and to have checked. A halo also adds width, so a straight wedding band usually needs a gentle contour to sit under it, and the ring is a little more to catch on sleeves than a plain solitaire. A halo set in a different metal than the band is a style choice to make deliberately.
- More tiny stones to keep clean and to check.
- The wedding band has to be contoured or sit a little away from it.
Who it suits
Someone who wants the biggest look for the budget, loves sparkle, and is happy to have the ring checked now and then. It suits pears and cushions beautifully and gives a round a vintage air.
Sizes
| Length × width | Depth | Diamond · approx. |
|---|---|---|
| 7.0 × 4.5 mm | 2.7 mm | 0.51 ct |
| 8.0 × 5.2 mm | 3.1 mm | 0.76 ct |
| 9.0 × 5.8 mm | 3.5 mm | 1.09 ct |
| 10.0 × 6.5 mm | 3.9 mm | 1.49 ct |
| 11.0 × 7.1 mm | 4.3 mm | 1.98 ct |
Pear center stones with their approximate diamond weight; a halo of about 1.3 mm stones adds roughly 1.5 mm to each side of the outline. Natural and lab-grown diamonds weigh the same. All figures approx.
What affects the cost
The center stone first. Then the melee: a halo is twenty or more small diamonds, matched for color and size, and the hand-setting time to seat each one. The frame adds a little metal. The wedding band, if it needs a contour, is designed with it.
Every custom piece is quoted after a consultation; there are no posted prices for custom work.
Care
A soak in warm soapy water and a soft brush around the halo keeps the small stones bright. Have the halo prongs and beads checked at every cleaning; a small stone can work loose over years of wear.
Clean it at home in warm water with a drop of dish soap and a soft toothbrush, rinse, and dry with a lint-free cloth. Once a year or so, have the prongs checked. Pacific Jewel rings come back to Sara for a clean and an inspection whenever you like.
Questions
How much bigger does a halo make the stone look?
Face-up, a halo adds roughly 1.5 mm each side, which can read like half a carat or more. It depends on the center shape and the melee size.
Will a straight wedding band fit against a halo?
Usually it needs a gentle contour to tuck under the halo. Sara designs the band to the ring in CAD.
Can the halo be a different metal from the band?
Yes. A white-metal halo around a diamond keeps it bright; a yellow halo warms it. Both are easy in CAD.
Halo or hidden halo?
A halo shows from above and adds size; a hidden halo shows from the side and keeps the top clean. Many rings combine a hidden halo with pavé instead.