To Halo or NOT to Halo? & other musings....

[Vodka Martini]

This forum possesses a tough crowd! I'm here again as a re-registered member as I could not for the life of me remember my proper Username and password!

That being said, let me get to my point:

I recently upgraded my E-ring from an RB (0.65 cts) to a modern cushion (1.25 cts). While I LOVE it (and I believe I started a thread somewhere), I was playing with it one evening....you know....running my fingers over the edges and EEEEEK! I detected 2 scratches on the girdle (opposite sides). My evening was ruined. I barely had this ring for 3 weeks and suddenly scratches?? WTF?

I contacted my jeweller the next day following an evening of misery (I remember calling my DH to tell him and he initially thought someone died as I began the convo- he was actually relieved it only pertained to a scratch on the ring!) So, my jeweller was calm as could be and explained that my diamond had what are known as "surface naturals" or "trigons". NOT impressed, but he apologized for not telling me in advance- I do NOT think I would have taken this diamond knowing those facts.

Long story short, he agreed to replace the diamond with one flawless to the touch. Since good "quality" cushions are difficult to come by, I've decided to return to my first love.......the ROUND BRILLIANT.

Now, he's found one that's absolutely stunning.....even more expensive than my cushion, and because of the cut will look even larger. The RB is approx 1.25 cts and I have a dilemma of whether to "halo" or "NO-halo"

I LOVE the look of Leon's halo "Adrianna 811"...so elegant.....looks like a flower. But again, a simple setting (mine is currently a double-claw cathedral GORGE!) & I love the look. But then....the halo is faintly calling my name!

Thoughts?

I know it's a matter of personal preference and I cannot have both, but I'm really stuck. I feel I should set it in what I have & perhaps add a halo down the road.....dunno. AND I remember someone's post here where she/he stated that adding a halo is merely to try and make it appear larger....but you're fooling no one!!! I can't seem to get that out of my head!!!!!

 

[geckodani]

Halos are totally a personal preference thing. I think a lot of it depends on personality, job, lifestlye etc. I don't know many people that work primarily with their hands that have halos, but I'm sure they are out there! It really all depends on what look you are going for.

I know, I'm a lot of help.

ETA: As for a halo being "just to make it look larger" that's BS. Is that a happy side effect, and a reason that some people choose to halo? Of course. But it's not the only reason to do so. Halos, sidestones, pave etc. are all design choices.

 

[Vodka Martini]

Geckodani, I love your statement, "a halo is a happy side effect"!!!

That's perfect!

 

[texaskj]

Have you ever had a ring like a halo? Meaning lots of prongs? My second engagement ring was an oval sapphire surrounded with rounds and tapered baquettes and while I really loved it, I managed to snag it on everything. It was always full of fuzzies. Of course, you probably aren't the klutz I am. The ring in your avatar is lovely, btw.

 

[D&T]

such a personal decision, have you tried out a halo piece. Get one off of ebay or HSN or something, so at least you can test the waters out, vs, shelling out thousands on a Leon piece.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

such a personal decision, have you tried out a halo piece. Get one off of ebay or HSN or something, so at least you can test the waters out, vs, shelling out thousands on a Leon piece.

Ditto.

Also, I feel like it's easier to go from non-halo to halo for size, whereas if you get the halo now and then decide to go back to a solitaire later, the size diminishment will appear far more drastic.

 

[mommy2nk]

I

Halos are totally a personal preference thing. I think a lot of it depends on personality, job, lifestlye etc. I don't know many people that work primarily with their hands that have halos, but I'm sure they are out there! It really all depends on what look you are going for.

I know, I'm a lot of help.

ETA: As for a halo being "just to make it look larger" that's BS. Is that a happy side effect, and a reason that some people choose to halo? Of course. But it's not the only reason to do so. Halos, sidestones, pave etc. are all design choices.

I have an asscher set in a halo. When I set my diamond into a halo (6 years ago), I did it because I loved the look. I had seen several rings in bridal magazines, and an article in Instyle Wedding showing what they called Boxter rings.. I could not get over how beautiful those rings were to me, but I also had never seen one in person. I couldn't find one other then online and in pictures and so I ended up setting my diamond in a simple Tiffany style with baguette sides. I hated it, it was not me, and 2 weeks later I took pictures to my jeweler to reset my diamond into what I always wanted... a halo. I never even thought about it increasing the diamond because I had nothing to reference that thought, so for me it truly was a "happy side effect".
Now with that being said, I am currently working with a jeweler to upgrade my current setting (it was never quite perfect for me) and was struggling with whether to reset again with a halo or to not. I have seen so many asschers set without a halo that I love, but the coverage would be lost. Still working on ideas but I will stick with a halo. I digress...
I LOVE halo's but I would agree that you should go and look at halo's, try them on and make sure it is what you want. There are so many styles: bezel, prong, set high, set low, set round, set cushion shape, etc...Tacori 2620 is one that has been making an appearance and it is beautiful. Here is a link to just one post [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-tacori-2620-finally-arrived.144154/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-tacori-2620-finally-arrived.144154/[/URL]

Can't wait to see what you decide!

 

[Vodka Martini]

I'm very happy with the responses! Thanks a million.

I normally find this forum to be a tough crowd.......and selective as to what's read/responded to, so I truly appreciate the time to reply to my thread.

I have tried on Halos and they do look amazing on my finger (if I do say so!) Definitely more finger coverage and the overall look is very, very pretty. My jeweller showed me how my round would look in a "squared" halo & I admit that I was smitten. But even he said that I could set it as a solitaire for now and do the halo down the road. I do believe that if I went vice-versa, I might be disappointed with size/coverage having been used to a halo.

Let me see if I can post a pic of my RB with the proposed Halo. This is different from Leon's Adrianna (which also happens to be my daughter's name btw!), but he could also create something for me similarly with a round halo.

For the record......when it comes to making a decision....I'm TERRIBLE!!! I drive my DH insaneI

Here's the possible setting....Btw.....I was quoted $2400 CDN for this halo in platinum. Is this reasonable??

 

[risingsun]

I think that the price is reasonable and the setting is beautiful. I think that some halos can be overdone, but this one is a classic. I had my diamond reset in a halo over a year ago. I love this setting! It doesn't snag on anything and the prongs are practically invisible. If this is what you want, then go for it. I have never regretted my decision.

 

[Vodka Martini]

Texaskj, thank you for the compliment on my ring. My avatar shows my current cushion that will soon be transformed into a beautiful RB! (perhaps haloed!)

Risingsun, your ring looks like a flower! One of the reasons I also love the round halos as well as, the squared ones.

My dilemma is I LOVE my current setting so much, I don't want to lose the effect/look of the setting....it looks like a flower.

 

[periwinklegirl]

Have you ever had a ring like a halo? Meaning lots of prongs? My second engagement ring was an oval sapphire surrounded with rounds and tapered baquettes and while I really loved it, I managed to snag it on everything. It was always full of fuzzies. Of course, you probably aren't the klutz I am. The ring in your avatar is lovely, btw.

I was worried about that with my halo, and ended up getting one with a bezel outside edge and no pave on the band. It was a hard decision because I thought the other halo style (non-bevel) looked more like a flower. But I have no regrets. It doesn't snag on anything and I love the way it looks, kind of floating above the band.

And my halo clearly isn't trying to make the stone look larger!

 

[risingsun]

Texaskj, thank you for the compliment on my ring. My avatar shows my current cushion that will soon be transformed into a beautiful RB! (perhaps haloed!)

Risingsun, your ring looks like a flower! One of the reasons I also love the round halos as well as, the squared ones.

My dilemma is I LOVE my current setting so much, I don't want to lose the effect/look of the setting....it looks like a flower.

Then it would seem that you have your choice of flowers Which one makes your heart beat a little faster?

 

[stci]

Just think it's more difficult to find a wedding band for an halo. The plain and classic setting are really easy to fit and beautiful anyway!

 

[risingsun]

Just think it's more difficult to find a wedding band for an halo. The plain and classic setting are really easy to fit and beautiful anyway!

I had my wedding band custom made to fit my halo e-ring. It doesn't need to be a problem