At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo?

[iluvdiamonds2]

I was looking at settings and was just wondering, at what carat weight or mm size is it too big for a halo without it looking too gawdy?? Do you decide how big you want the overall look?

 

[distracts]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

I would say it depends on your finger size. I have little fingers, so a 1.5ct with a halo would be huge, but if you had size 7 or 8 fingers, it would look really nice, and it would look downright tiny on my fiance's size 13.5 finger.

 

[mandarinmom9]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

I think it also would depend on shape of stone? Mark Broumand (Sp?) has some rings on their website, that have halos. I don't care for any of the rings for value (I would rather have better stone) but I do like that you can see the size. I have seen an 8 carat cushion cut with a halo in a local jewelry store that I drooled over and I would give a kidney for... It was too expensive but I still can't stop thiking about it...

 

[iluvdiamonds2]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

I am debating a halo or no halo. I love the levi royal charm, 4 prong though..... think it's kind of still too simple from top view though,,, how can it be jazzed up? Any ideas?????

 

[Laila619]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

I think when you get to about 2 + carats and up, it starts to look a bit more like a cocktail ring. Don't get me wrong, it's still gorgeous! I haloed my 1.8 carat, but it's definitely a big bling look. Depends on how comfortable you are wearing something like that. It's really just personal preference though--you can halo a 10 carat if you want!

 

[LLCALI]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

I have many friends with halos around stones that are 2ct and larger, and they are beautiful. Opinions on this will most likely differ depending on personal preference as well as what "the norm" is where a person lives, so I would suggest that you try some different ring styles on and go with what YOU love and feel comfortable with!

 

[MissStepcut]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

My personal rule is that a ring starts to look like a cocktail ring when the stone is 50% of the diameter of the finger, and I think that still applies for haloing. So, for example, I wear a 4.5, which is ~15.25 mm in diameter, so I wouldn't want a stone + halo to be more than ~7.5mm across. I suppose that means, for a 4.5, I wouldn't want a halo on a stone any bigger than a carat (6.5 mm).

 

[ZahraLeyla]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

I think you're going to get a lot of very different responses to this question. For instance, I'm putting my 4.09ct OMC in a double halo. The stone is roughly 10mm, and the halo will add 3mm or so to each side, for a total diameter of around 16mm. It will be a large ring, but for my lifestyle, not too large. I'm a pretty outgoing person, I wear a lot of colourful clothes and sparkly shoes, and I think (hope!) this ring will suit me perfectly. I suspect many people would never think to wear it as an engagement ring, but that doesn't bother me at all.

So, to answer your original question: a stone is too big for a halo when you feel ridiculous, out of place or uncomfortable wearing it that way

 

[Gypsy]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

I think that's a question of personal taste. I think that there are people that can carry off a 5 carat with a halo. And there are people who feel a one carat with one is too cocktail ring-ish.

 

[MissStepcut]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

My personal rule is that a ring starts to look like a cocktail ring when the stone is 50% of the diameter of the finger, and I think that still applies for haloing. So, for example, I wear a 4.5, which is ~15.25 mm in diameter, so I wouldn't want a stone + halo to be more than ~7.5mm across. I suppose that means, for a 4.5, I wouldn't want a halo on a stone any bigger than a carat (6.5 mm).

I'll clarify that this applies to an engagement ring. I would (and do) definitely wear bigger rings for evening!

 

[Rhea]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

I prefer the look of halos on smaller and medium sized stones. Over about 2 carats it starts to look a bit like a diner ring to me. Of course, this depends on how the halo is done, the size of the stone, the size of the halo, etc.

 

[mrssalvo]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

I think it's total personal preference...

 

[vinjewels]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

It is a personal thing...IMHO, is it depends on the setting (for me). I am a size 5 and had an almost 2.5 ct. in a halo. It was beautiful, very delicate in contrast. Downside was that my fingers are skinny and knuckles are not. Didn't work comfort wise and lifestyle wise.
It didn't look gawdy at all! I think it does depends on the stone and your taste. I also think a halo also extends/blends the perimeter of a diamond, giving a smaller diamond more "size."

The best way to see is to try some different sizes on in a store.

 

[Haven]

Re: At what carat weight or mm is a stone too big for a halo

I agree that it's all personal preference.

To me, a halo starts to look like a cocktail ring when the center stone is larger than a carat, especially if it's set in a blingy band. I love them, and don't think there's anything wrong with a big halo for an engagement ring, of course. It just gives a wedding set that cocktail look.

The only time I don't like the look of a haloed diamond is when the diamond is so large that, with the halo, it's wider than the width of the wearer's finger. But again, personal preference.