Your Ultimate Guide to Hidden Halos 

Halo settings are a popular ring embellishment. Crafted from a row of smaller diamonds or gemstones that encircle the center stone, traditional halos can add sparkle and interest to an engagement ring. In the past few years, a more modern and intriguing twist has been added: the hidden halo. 

Hidden halo engagement rings are growing in popularity, and for good reason. They’re unique and captivating, and they create sparkle from every angle. Much like a traditional halo, a hidden halo setting encircles the center stone, but not in the way you might think. Here’s everything you need to know about this mesmerizing setting. 

Understanding Hidden Halos

A halo is often created with pavé diamonds. In the case of a hidden halo, the row of diamonds is set beneath the ring’s center stone instead of around it. Additionally, the diamonds in the halo are set facing outward or sometimes at an angle. This allows them to be seen from the side. The halo is concealed when a hidden halo ring is looked at straight on. But don’t be dissuaded by its “hidden” characteristics. 

Hidden halos create the illusion that the center stone is floating and are a great way to add a bit of flair to minimalist engagement rings. They also allow the ring to sparkle when viewed from every angle, not just straight on. However, because of their concealment in certain perspectives, they still allow a ring to feel understated and elegant. 

Essentially, they’re the best of both worlds for those who want added brilliance without bulk around their center stone. 

How Hidden Halos Are Crafted

When jewelers craft hidden halo engagement rings, they have to put a lot of thought into where to set the diamonds of the halo. Accent stones are strategically placed below the center stone, usually at an angle, so they don’t block light from entering the ring’s main diamond. Hidden halos can be crafted to suit any style of ring or center diamond, including fancy shapes, vintage styles, and various sizes. The halo itself can also take on different forms, such as knife-edge, a double hidden halo, or incorporating colored accents.  Natural or gorgeous lab diamonds can be used to create these exquisite rings.  

Regardless of the style, great care is taken to ensure the hidden halo enhances the overall ring while also remaining secure and durable. 

The Design Appeal of Hidden Halos

Skillfully set hidden halos maximize sparkle while remaining tastefully discrete; the perfect way to upgrade your ring’s radiance and shine. But this is only one reason why hidden halo rings are so appealing. A hidden halo can: 

• Add Subtle Brilliance. Traditional halos frame the center stone, often making it look larger but sometimes concealing the main diamonds’ unique features. Hidden halos add sparkle without overtaking the center stone. They’re subtle yet impactful. 
• Enhance the Center Stone. While hidden halos don’t add to the perceived area of the stone, they can still complement it. A hidden halo usually requires a higher setting, making the center stone appear larger and more prominent. The optical illusion they create of a floating center stone is eye-catching and allows maximum light to enter the central diamond, which means increased sparkle and shine. 
• Be Versatile in Style. There are many types of hidden halos, including double hidden halos in which two rows of diamonds are stacked beneath the center stone. Hidden halo settings can be completed in a knife-edge style, set into a bezel, or feature encrusted prongs and fancy shanks. 

The Pros of Hidden Halos vs. Traditional Halos

The aesthetic differences between traditional and hidden halos aren’t the only thing to consider when comparing these ring styles. 

Pros of a Hidden Halo 

• Subtly add sparkle – A hidden halo is a tasteful way to upgrade the sparkle of your ring. Unlike adding obvious accents to the shoulders of the ring or around the center stone, hidden halos provide maximum scintillation with minimal changes to your ring’s elegant and demure appearance. 
• Ability to conform to any shape and style – Depending on the shape of your center stone, some accents may not make great additions to your ring. However, hidden halos can work with nearly any ring design despite its curves, angles, and contours. Because they sit below the center stone, they can complement everything from fancy-shaped diamonds like Marquise to impressively sized round brilliants. 
• It’s easy to mix metals – Hidden halos are a great opportunity for those who want a mixed aesthetic to use two different metals. While this can be considered a faux pas in other designs, mixed metals work perfectly with a hidden halo, which can be set in a different tone than the rest of the ring. You can also mix diamonds, opting for a natural center stone while selecting more uniform, affordable, and eco-friendly lab diamonds for the halo. 
• Enhanced centerstone. The iridescence and sparkle of the diamonds below the center stone give the illusion of a more prominent main diamond that is practically floating atop the shoulders of the ring. Not only does this add intrigue to the design, but the higher setting also allows for better light entry, adding scintillation and brilliance. 

Ultimately, hidden halos are ideal for those who prefer understated elegance and want to add a bit of sparkle to their ring without opting for the bold look of a classic halo. 

Choosing the Right Hidden Halo for You

One advantage of hidden halos is their versatility. However, when choosing the right hidden halo for you, you should carefully consider your ring’s aesthetic and style. 

The choice of metal can affect the ring’s overall appearance, including the hidden halo. Yellow gold has a more classic feel, while white gold and platinum give off modern vibes. In addition, yellow gold is warmer, while whiter metals tend to be cooler and icier. 

Diamond color is important, too, because diamonds tend to show more color when viewed from the side instead of the top. Therefore, it’s important to choose high-color diamonds, especially for your center stone, so that they won’t appear yellow next to one another and will retain consistency in coloring across all of the stones. Lab diamonds can be a fantastic way to ensure uniformity amongst color, carat, and clarity. 

The hidden halo setting you choose should match or complement the overall style of your ring. For example, bezel-set hidden halos have a very boho vibe that works well with nature-inspired engagement rings or even vintage styles but could look odd on a glamorous, modern ring. 

Alternatively, modern brides with a simple solitaire may opt for a fine-line hidden halo that sits like a petite choker beneath the claw setting of their central stone for a clean and polished look. Take care to balance proportions, too, making sure the size and arrangement of the halo and the center stone remain in harmony.  

Fortunately, almost every hidden halo engagement ring design can still be customized. Whether you choose unique stone shapes and settings or add additional design elements, With Clarity’s expert gemologists can help you create bespoke hidden halo pieces.

Why Lab Diamonds are Perfect for Hidden Halos 

Lab diamonds are a sustainable choice, aligning with many clients’ desire to live a more eco-friendly life. But this isn’t the only reason why these man made stones are ideal for a hidden halo. Unlike natural diamonds, they’re created under controlled conditions, ensuring uniformity in size, shape, and brilliance. This consistency is excellent for hidden halos in which a cohesive look and perfect alignment in an intricate setting are crucial. Plus, their affordability also makes them an attractive option, offering a stunning aesthetic appearance that is just as brilliant as natural diamonds but at a lower price point. If you’re looking for a breathtaking, ethical, and sustainable alternative to natural diamonds for your hidden halo, you can’t go wrong with lab diamonds. 

Popular Hidden Halo Jewelry Trends

Hidden halo engagement rings can be sleek and elegant or bold and glamorous. Here are a few of our favorites. 

Solitaire Classic Hidden Halo Engagement Ring 

A graceful, delicate shank set with a captivating center stone atop a sophisticated pavé set hidden halo nestled within the prongs. 

Pavé Diamond Double Hidden Halo Engagement Ring 

This gorgeous ring features two hidden halos that wrap around the prongs of the central diamond, doubling the sparkle factor and twice the intrigue. A simple diamond-set band complements the brilliance of the gallery on this elegant yet dazzling ring. 

Oval Modern Fine Line High Hidden Halo Solitaire 

Clean, simple, and modern, this classic solitaire engagement ring epitomizes fine lines with its sleek shoulders, petite claw setting, and graceful hidden halo, creating a luminous and chic ring. 

Hidden halos don’t just apply to engagement rings. Hidden halo jewelry can include diamond or gemstone earrings and pendant necklaces, too. For example, the Round Saphhire and Lab Diamond Classic Solitaire Under Halo Pendant features a rich, round sapphire on a polished bale atop a hidden halo of lab-grown diamonds for a sparkly and stylish accessory perfect for everyday wear. Or, the simple and tasteful Hidden Halo Round Solitaire Stud Earrings with their stunning round diamonds held within elegant claw prongs and finished with a hidden halo for extra sparkle. 

Embracing the Hidden Halo

Hidden halo engagement rings are a breathtaking choice for couples wanting something a little unexpected. They’re a tasteful twist on the traditional, ever-popular halo engagement ring. Hidden halos’ versatility and ability to add exquisite sparkle to any ring design make them the perfect way to capture your everlasting love and lifetime commitment in a one-of-a-kind engagement ring.