The Halo Effect

Brides and fashionistas are not just putting a "ring on it," they are putting a "ring around it." The "halo" jewelry trend, which is small side stones encircling a center stone, is ringing all kinds of style bells. Stunning halos provide an angelic appeal to jewelry and protect the main stones from everyday wear and tear, knocking or scratching against surfaces. In this look, the center stones are typically adorned with diamonds or cubic zirconia, but other stones or colored CZs can also be used.

This fashion-forward, vintage-inspired look is sweeping the jewelry industry. Originating in the 1920s, halo-style jewelry has been a re-emerging trend over the past few years and is now hotter than ever. Today, the halo setting can be spotted in more than just rings, including statement necklaces, elegant bracelets and iconic earrings. In fact, this style is so popular that jewelers have started designing double halo jewelry.

Celebrities, royals and red carpets are dripping in halo jewelry. The Duchess of Cambridge's Cartier halo tiara and engagement ring are forever memorable. Kate Middleton's engagement ring features a deep blue sapphire surrounded by a halo of diamond accents set on a platinum band. More recently, Megan Markle, the now Duchess of Sussex, debuted a pair of Cartier halo diamond earrings.

Halos can be any shape and size and magically make any center stone appear larger than it would in other jewelry styles. For example, the smaller diamonds in the halo maximize the brilliance of a diamond center stone, magnifying what many refer to as a diamond's sparkle. This gives customers more bang for their buck, as the center stone appears larger and more dazzling.

Create this trendy look, and designs inspired by this jewelry craze, with Fire Mountain Gems and Beads' Almost Instant Jewelry® collection. Shop a wide selection of ring, drop, link, bracelet and earring settings to make your own halo jewelry. These metal settings are perfectly calibrated to fit Crystal Passions fancy stones for show-stopping halo designs.

Jewelry-makers are giving a halo effect to gemstone cabochons and half-drilled Crystal Passions pearls with seed beads for an eye-catching statement. Cupchain can be adhered to bails to create the appearance of an individual prong-set halo around stones, and rhinestones can be set in Apoxie® Sculpt for a beautiful pavé halo around any stone. Jewelry can also include halo-like elements to represent this sought-after trend, such as chain links and other circular-shaped components.

Put a ring around it--a halo that is--to create one of the top jewelry trends in bridal, fashion and fine jewelry for an angelic effect. Ring in this style today with FREE halo jewelry design inspirations for jewelry-making success.