1.5 Carat Marquise Hidden Halo Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring
A 1.5ct marquise cut Lab-Grown Diamond, D–F color, VS+ clarity, IGI certified, held in six prongs, one seated over each point above a hidden halo of pavé diamonds, on a slim tapered band in solid 14K gold. Made to order in 7 to 10 business days on my bench in Woodside, Queens.
What is a hidden halo?
A ring of small diamonds set around the outside of the basket, below the center stone, facing outward rather than up. From directly above you do not see it — the ring reads as a clean solitaire. From the side, and every time her hand moves, a band of light appears underneath the stone. It is a detail for the wearer rather than something announced across a room.
Why is this the hardest shape to set a hidden halo on?
Because it tapers to a point at both ends rather than one. The halo has to narrow twice, symmetrically, and stop clear of both tip prongs — and any difference between the two ends is obvious because the eye can compare them in a single glance. On a pear you only have to get one run-out right. On a marquise you have to get two right and get them to match.
Does it make the diamond look bigger?
No. A traditional halo surrounds the stone face-up and enlarges the outline. A hidden halo sits underneath, so face-up you see exactly what this marquise gives you — about 12mm by 6mm. What it adds is depth in the side profile.
How many diamonds are in the halo?
Eighteen to twenty-two round accents depending on basket size, each matched to the center for color. Bead-set by hand rather than channel-set, so each sits individually and catches light on its own.
Does it sit higher than a solitaire?
Slightly. The halo needs room beneath the stone, so the head sits a touch taller than the plain marquise solitaire. On most hands the difference is not noticeable in wear. If she works with her hands or has asked for a low profile, the plain solitaire is the better ring.
What color and clarity is the center diamond?
D through F, the colorless range, and VS+ clarity, eye-clean at any angle. Color matching matters more here than on a solitaire because the halo sits directly against the center. A warm halo under a colorless stone is the most common tell of a cheaply built hidden halo, and it shows from the side where the halo is meant to be seen. The IGI report for the center stone ships with the ring.
Which wedding band fits it?
A contoured band. There is a second gallery under the head — an extra rail of gold beneath the basket that carries the stone’s weight and stops the prongs flexing over years of wear — and the hidden halo sits on top of it. A straight band meets the gallery rather than the shank and stands off. A curved band dips at the center, clears both and nests flush. I make both to order — or start with the plain contour band or the pavé contour.
How long does it take, and can it be resized?
Made to order in 7 to 10 business days, sizes 4 through 9 including halves. Resizing is complimentary within 60 days of delivery, craftsmanship carries a lifetime warranty, and you have 14 days to return it if it is not right and you have not had it engraved. It ships fully insured in our signature suede pouch with the IGI report.
Want a different weight or shape?
The same hidden halo runs at 2ct, 2.5ct, and in every shape I cut. To compare shapes, start with the diamond shape guide. Anything not on the site, I build custom.
Who makes it?
I do. One bench, one pair of hands, in a workshop in Woodside, Queens. Nothing here sits in a case waiting for a buyer — yours is cast, set and finished after you order it.
