There are many different engagement ring designs on the market, which can make it difficult to choose just one design that you like the most. However, if you really want an engagement ring that sparkles and looks larger than life, you can’t go wrong with a halo engagement ring. It is a classic design that has remained consistently popular for decades, and for good reason.

But if you’re not familiar with the halo engagement ring design, you probably have a lot of questions. For instance, what is a halo ring? How does an under-halo ring differ from a classic halo ring? How long has the halo ring design been around? Is the halo ring design still popular? Finally, where can you buy or sell beautiful, pre-owned halo engagement rings online?

In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and more, so let’s get started!

What Is A Halo Ring?

A halo engagement ring is aptly named, as it features a central gemstone (typically a diamond) that is surrounded by a “halo” of smaller gemstones. If you’re unsure whether or not you’re looking at a halo ring, just look out for the following features:

• Central Gemstone - Many engagement rings feature multiple gemstones of the same size in varying arrangements, but a halo ring is not among them. With a halo ring, there is always a large central gemstone. As previously mentioned, it is most often a diamond, but it could be any number of precious gemstones like sapphires, emeralds, or rubies. It’s important to note that there are no “rules” for how the central stone of a halo ring should be cut. Some halo rings have cushion, oval, round, emerald, or princess cuts (just to name a few). That said, round and princess cuts tend to be the most common options.
• Halo - Even though the central gemstone is the focal point of a halo ring, it is the actual halo that truly makes the design. The halo is comprised of small gemstones (once again, usually diamonds). These stones are much smaller than the central stone and completely surround it. You will usually see little to no spacing between each gemstone, as well as minimal spacing between the halo stones and the central gemstone. This “tight” arrangement can make for a more substantial and brilliant-looking engagement ring.
• Pavé Setting - While not all halo rings utilize pavé gemstone settings, many do. The pavé setting refers to small stones placed along the band of the ring. On a halo ring, you will always have the central gemstone and the halo stones, and in most cases, you will also have small stones leading away from the central stone along the band.

Hidden Halo Rings

Hidden halo rings, also known as under-halo rings, offer an interesting variation of the traditional halo ring. With hidden halo rings, the halo stones are positioned underneath the central stone, though still in the same halo-shaped setting. In essence, a classic halo ring features the halo stones so that they are slightly above, slightly below, or at the same level as the central gemstone. With a hidden halo ring, the halo stones are substantially lower than the central gemstone, often so that there is a visible separation between the larger stone and the smaller stones.

You might be wondering why people would choose hidden halo rings over classic halo rings. It all comes down to personal preference, but here are a few reasons that people may like the hidden halo ring design just a bit more:

• Modern Aesthetic - The under-halo ring is like a deconstructed version of the classic halo ring. It can give an engagement ring a more modern look, as opposed to the classic halo ring, which has been popular and commonplace for decades.
• Understated Design - Some people simply prefer a simple, understated look. Halo rings can often be extremely brilliant, as the smaller stones make the central gemstone look even larger than it really is. Alternatively, the hidden halo ring is much more understated, with small stones that are not readily visible from every angle. With a hidden halo ring, you don’t have to worry about the halo stones taking away attention from the central gemstone.
• Unconventional Look - One reason hidden halo rings can be preferable is simply that they are less common. With so many people choosing halo engagement rings, it can be tempting to choose a look that is unconventional and different from everyone else. While there are tens of thousands of under-halo rings out there, they are much less common and, therefore, rarer than halo rings.

The History Of Halo Rings

Halo rings, in the modern sense, are a relatively recent innovation in engagement ring designs. However, halo rings have been around in one form or another (to a certain degree) for centuries. Here are a few important stages in the history and evolution of the halo ring:

• Ancient Origins - In a very basic form, some rings from Ancient Greece and Rome shared characteristics with modern-day halo rings, insofar as they utilized smaller stones to accompany a single larger stone. However, these rings were often made of very different materials, so they bore very little resemblance to the halo rings of today. Nonetheless, these designs helped pave the way for the halo ring aesthetics of the modern era.
• Georgian Era - In the 18th and early 19th centuries, jewelers experimented much more with engagement ring designs. Some of the earliest versions of the modern-day halo ring emerged during this period.
• Victorian Era - The romanticism of the Victorian Era (mid-19th to early 20th century) influenced many jewelers to create more intricate designs. The cluster-style rings of this era often resembled the halo ring designs that you can find today.
• Edwardian Era - In the first decade of the 20th century, platinum became a more common component in engagement rings. Due to its strength and durability, it allowed for more intricate halo settings and delicate designs.
• Mid-20th Century - By the mid-to-late 20th century, the halo setting had become a well-established engagement ring design, but it saw a substantial resurgence in popularity during this period nonetheless. This was likely due to nostalgia for designs and fashions from earlier periods.

Are Halo Rings Out Of Style?

No! On the contrary, halo rings are just as popular today as they were in the 1950s and 60s — if not more so. Many people appreciate the halo ring because it offers one of the easiest ways to increase the brilliance of a ring without substantially increasing the size of the central gemstone. It can make diamonds (or other precious gemstones) appear larger and more substantial, often at a reduced cost.

How To Buy Or Sell A Used Halo Engagement Ring

Fortunately, it is easier than ever to sell or acquire a pre-owned halo engagement ring. At HYSTR, we offer a marketplace where sellers can easily upload pictures of their halo engagement rings and negotiate with potential buyers. At the same time, buyers can shop from a wide array of options, and rest easy knowing that every ring is authenticated by a certified gemologist before the sale is finalized. It has truly never been easier to buy or sell beautiful halo engagement rings!

We hope you enjoyed our halo engagement ring guide! Are you currently trying to buy or sell a used engagement ring? If so, be sure to contact HYSTR today!