Affordable Statement Engagement Rings: Fancy & Decorative Halos

Are classic engagement rings with simple and sleek silhouettes not exciting enough for you? Do statement engagement rings with intricate details and designs cost far more than you can reasonably afford? Then your dream engagement ring likely has a fancy, decorative halo! This dazzling yet affordable bridal look is perfect for anybody with extravagant tastes but restricted budgets, making fancy halo engagement rings the best of both worlds.

Within this category of fancy halo engagement rings, you will find floral and star-inspired halos, vintage halos with milgrain-beading and baguette diamonds, as well as modern halos featuring different-sized and shaped diamonds. Additionally, these fancy halos typically rest on a classic gold band or on a one-row diamond band. Therefore, the halo makes up the “statement” portion of the ring’s design while the band brings down the ring’s overall price.

R1153W-SR

To help you find statement rings at lower price points, we’ll explore fancy halo engagement rings that cost between $1,000-$3,000 (not including the center stone). These rings are significantly more affordable than traditional statement engagement rings that generally cost between $4,000-$8,000.

Alternating Diamond Halo Engagement Ring,

Statement engagement rings are known for having standout decorative designs. An increasingly popular technique to make fancy halo engagement rings stand out is by featuring different-sized diamonds in the ring’s halo. These accent diamonds often graduate from small to large or alternate between the two sizes, creating a distinct yet delicate halo design. For example, R1153W-SR’s halo features six sparkling segments, each highlighted by two petite diamonds with a larger diamond between them. By alternating between small and large stones, the halo’s segments are curved and look like flower petals, upgrading this design from a classic halo engagement ring into a fancy floral halo engagement ring.

R1115W-SR

Besides transforming a halo into a flower, alternating diamonds also add a greater depth of sparkle to an engagement ring’s design. Smaller diamonds’ sparkle is more concentrated which appears whiter, whereas you can see more of the colorful fire within larger diamonds. When placed side by side, these small and large stones’ sparkle playfully dance around the center stone like on R1115W-SR. Unlike a classic uniform halo, this fancy halo has an artistic flare and personality. The alternative diamond halo makes a statement to the world that you are unique, modern, and stylish! Very few rings can compete against this fancy halo engagement ring’s simplistic yet bold look.

Fancy-Cut Diamond Halo Engagement Ring

R1114W

What is bolder and fancier than a fancy halo engagement ring? A fancy-cut diamond halo engagement ring! We are not talking about rings with a fancy cut center stone and a classic halo. Instead, we are talking about rings whose halos feature fancy-cut diamonds along with classic round diamonds, adding greater visual intrigue to the halo designs. The most common fancy-cuts you will find in an engagement ring’s halo include baguette diamonds, marquise diamonds, and pear-cut diamonds.

Marquise and pear diamonds have a sleeker look that often elongates a ring’s halo, creating a bigger, more modern look to the engagement ring’s design. R1114W is a perfect example. Two long pear-cut accent diamonds rest at the east and west ends of this engagement ring’s halo, merging with the shank. Round diamonds fill the spaces between the pear stones, completing the halo. Each of these round accents are large with dominant prong tips, mimicking the pear-cut shape while expanding the halo’s entire circumference. When combined, the round and pear-cut diamonds strengthen this engagement ring’s stylized, star-inspired design. Unfortunately, using larger diamonds doesn’t just increase the size of the halo, it also increases the price of the ring, making this the most expensive fancy halo engagement ring we will discuss.

R1105W

Fancy-cut diamonds look so stunning in halos because their cuts contrast significantly to classic round diamonds. Each diamond shape’s cut has unique angles that capture the light differently, resulting in a signature sparkle pattern – round and oval diamonds are radiant cut, pear and marquise diamonds are bow-tie cut, while emeralds and baguettes are step cut.

Step cuts are made of parallel straight facets that imitate stairsteps. This unique square facet is optimal for showcasing a diamond’s clarity. Hence, step cuts diamonds look like glass compared to a radiant round diamond’s explosion of sparkling facets. We optimize the bold contrast between these two distinct diamond cuts by accenting the center stone with a baguette diamond halo like with R1105W. The fire within these baguettes produces striking lines of color within the diamonds, forming a striking barrier around the center stone. These baguette diamonds might be small, but their impact is large, transforming an otherwise normal straight halo engagement ring into a vintage halo engagement ring.

R1090W

Small Center Stone & Big Halo Engagement Rings

As we have seen, a fancy halo can easily transform a basic engagement ring into a statement engagement ring by enlarging the halo and by adding decorative details. Fancy halos are also useful if you plan on saving money with a smaller center stone (0.75 carat or smaller). When a small diamond is framed by a large and elaborate halo, you can barely notice that the center stone is petite. Also, since center stones can easily cost more than the ring setting itself, by decreasing the center size, you can literally save hundreds or even thousands of dollars!

What should you do with the money you save by getting a smaller center stone? We suggest using that extra money on a more show-stopping ring mounting – on the engagement ring of your dreams! For example, R1090W is fairly expensive because the ring showcases an impressive 0.61-carat halo. Yet, this nearly $3,000 price tag is counteracted by the ring’s 1/3-carat center stone. A 1/3-carat center stone often costs only 1/10th the price of a 1-carat diamond with the same color and clarity! That is a lot of savings! So, instead of spending all your money on the center stone, you will be paying for this floral engagement ring’s stunning diamond halo or another ring’s decorative and wide shoulders.

RQ9601W

If you desire a decorative design over a big diamond look, a vintage engagement ring like RQ9601W is a great option! This cushion-shaped halo ring makes up for its conservative use of accent diamonds with shimmering polished milgrain beading along its halo and shoulders. A stream of this milgrain detailing even forms a floral motif on top of the halo, framing its ½-carat center stone. A 1/2-carat center stone often costs only 1/5th the price of a 1-carat diamond with the same color and clarity! Therefore, intricate engagement ring like this art-deco design can save you money on the setting and the center stone, all while giving you an undeniably bold statement design.

Other Affordable Statement Bridal Looks

Fancy halos are just one way you can get an affordable statement engagement ring when shopping with or for the one you love. Generally speaking, if you buy any bridal set that is different than the most popular engagement ring styles, you will be making a bold statement. Just make sure that statement is something you are sure to love forever and always.

Here are some other affordable ways you can make a bold look with your bridal set:

• Fancy-cut center stones mounted on straight or split shank bands – fancy diamonds are typically less expensive than round diamonds while adding a bold shape and silhouette to your ring
  
  Learn more about diamond shapes in our blog Stone Cut Guide for Engagement Rings
• Classic vintage engagement rings with 0.50-carrat mounting or less – retro gold details like milgrain, filigree, and hand engraving replace expensive accent diamonds while adding intricate shapes and sparkle to your ring
• Gemstone engagement rings – gemstone center stones and shoulder accents instantly add a pop of color to your ring
  
  Learn more about gemstones in our blog The Rise of Gemstone Engagement Rings
• Pair a simple engagement ring with an intricate ring guard or bold chevron band – these extravagant wedding band alternatives instantly elongate and elevate your entire bridal look