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Halo Engagement Ring
Last updated:
79 / 100
ProductScore
Materials: 14K or 18K white, yellow, or rose gold; pavé-set round brilliant diamond halo and band (approximately 0.40ct total; center diamond sold separately)
View on James Allen →The Verdict
James Allen's Halo Engagement Ring earns a B ProductScore of 79/100 — a well-executed halo setting that makes center diamonds appear larger and more brilliant than their carat weight suggests. The pavé halo and band deliver serious sparkle for the money, and the 360-degree viewer lets you pair it with the perfect diamond. A strong contender in the increasingly competitive online engagement ring space.
Score Breakdown
What Customers Say
Based on 3,900 mentions across social media and review platforms
The James Allen Halo setting is a perennial favorite in Reddit engagement ring discussions, frequently recommended for buyers who want to maximize the visual impact of a smaller center diamond. Reviewers praise the way the halo makes sub-1ct diamonds look significantly larger. Some purists argue that halos are becoming dated, and a few reviews note the halo can trap dirt, but the style remains enormously popular.
"My 0.70ct diamond looks like a full carat in this halo setting. The visual upgrade is incredible. My fiancée's friends all thought it was a much bigger stone."
Reddit r/engagementrings
"The sparkle is almost overwhelming in direct sunlight — in the best way possible. Between the halo and pavé band, there's so much diamond surface catching light."
Google Reviews
"I love the ring but the halo gets dirty fast. The tiny diamonds trap lotion, soap, and dirt between them. I need to clean it every few days to keep it looking its best."
Reddit r/weddingplanning
"Some people say halos are going out of style. I don't care — this ring is gorgeous and my fiancée loves it. That's all that matters."
Google Reviews
"The setting quality is good. The pavé stones are evenly set and the halo is symmetrical. Not quite Tiffany-level refinement but very solid for the price."
Reddit r/jewelry
"Compared this to the Blue Nile halo. James Allen's was slightly less expensive and the 360-degree viewer made selecting the center diamond much easier."
Trustpilot
Pros & Cons
Strengths
- + Halo design makes center diamonds appear 20-30% larger than their actual carat weight
- + Combined pavé halo and band deliver maximum sparkle from multiple diamond surfaces
- + 360-degree Super Zoom viewer ensures perfect center diamond pairing
- + Competitively priced compared to traditional jeweler halo settings
- + Available in multiple metals and compatible with various center diamond shapes
Trade-offs
- − Halo setting traps dirt, lotion, and debris, requiring frequent cleaning
- − Some style-conscious buyers consider halos an increasingly dated trend
- − Complex setting makes resizing more difficult and expensive than simple solitaires
- − Center diamond is sold separately, so total ring cost can be significantly higher than the setting price
Specifications
| Accent Diamonds | Approximately 0.40 total carat weight, round brilliant pavé |
| Metal Options | 14K or 18K gold (white, yellow, or rose); platinum available |
| Halo Style | Round pavé halo with pavé band |
| Band Width | 2.2mm |
| Compatible Center | Round brilliant, 0.50ct–2.50ct |
| Sizes | 3–13 (half sizes available) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much bigger does a halo make a diamond look?
Are halo engagement rings going out of style?
How do you clean a halo engagement ring?
Does the James Allen Halo include the center diamond?
Full Review
The halo engagement ring is jewelry’s version of a visual cheat code — by surrounding a center diamond with a frame of smaller stones, the overall diamond surface area increases dramatically without a proportional increase in cost. James Allen’s version of this crowd-pleasing design is well-executed, competitively priced, and backed by the brand’s standout diamond selection technology.
The Halo Effect
The fundamental appeal of James Allen’s Halo Ring is mathematical: the pavé diamond halo adds approximately 0.40 carats of total diamond surface around the center stone, creating the visual illusion of a significantly larger diamond. A 0.75ct center stone in this setting has the visual presence of approximately a 1.00ct solitaire — a meaningful upgrade in perceived size that costs far less than simply buying a larger center diamond.
The round pavé halo is precisely set, with small diamonds arranged in a symmetrical circle that frames the center stone cleanly. The pavé work extends down the band, adding continuous sparkle that makes the entire ring shimmer.
Technology-Driven Buying
James Allen’s 360-degree Super Zoom viewer is particularly valuable for halo rings. Because the halo interacts visually with the center stone, being able to see exactly how a specific diamond looks in the setting before purchasing is enormously helpful. The viewer allows you to evaluate whether a particular diamond’s color and brilliance harmonize with the pavé surround.
Daily Wear Considerations
Halo rings require more maintenance than solitaires. The small space between the halo and center stone is a magnet for lotions, soaps, and daily debris. Without regular cleaning (a weekly soak and brush), the accumulated grime dulls the sparkle that makes the halo design effective. This is true of all halo rings, not specific to James Allen.
The additional complexity of the setting also makes future resizing more expensive and limited compared to a simple solitaire band.
The Style Conversation
Halos remain enormously popular, but the style conversation has shifted. Some buyers feel halos are becoming associated with a specific era (mid-2010s). Whether this matters is entirely personal — a beautiful ring is a beautiful ring regardless of trend cycles. The James Allen Halo is well-made enough to age gracefully.
Who Should Buy This
The Halo Ring is ideal for buyers who want maximum visual impact per dollar spent, who prefer brilliance over minimalism, and who don’t mind the slightly higher maintenance requirements. It’s particularly smart for buyers working with sub-1ct center diamonds who want the visual presence of a larger stone.
