Halo setting
A setting in which a ring of small stones surrounds a larger centre stone.
Halo styles
- Single halo, one ring of pavé or micro pavé around the centre stone.
- Double halo, two rings for extra size and sparkle.
- Hidden halo, stones set around the base of the head, visible mainly from the side.
- Shaped halos, cushion, oval, pear or floral outlines that change the silhouette.
Why designers use halos
A halo adds light return around the centre stone and visually adds millimetres to its spread. It can also protect the girdle of the centre stone, and it suits coloured centre stones, where a white diamond halo adds contrast.
Rendering a halo ring
Put the halo stones on a separate layer and name it Halo or Pavé, so they get their own gem material. In RenderMyJewels those names are recognised as stones automatically. Keep the centre stone on its own layer too, so you can change its colour without touching the halo.
Halo rings need two kinds of images. A top view shows the outline and the size effect, and a three quarter view shows the gallery and how high the head sits. For coloured centre stones, try a slightly darker background so the white halo does not wash out.
A 360° video is especially valuable for halos, because the small stones flash one after another as the ring turns, which a still image cannot show.