A halo is part of the top view
A halo surrounds the center stone, so it has to follow the stone’s outline and be built together with it. Stone size shapes its presence, and the center prongs and the halo stones have to be considered as one system.
A hidden halo works differently
A hidden halo sits below the main top view. It should support the center and the profile without becoming a frame that competes with the stone from above; seen from the top, it shouldn’t extend beyond the stone’s outline.
Side pavé belongs to the shank
Side pavé is part of the ring itself. The key questions are the width and structure of the shank, the length of the setting area, the flow of the stones and the metal required.
When they are combined
When all three appear in the same ring, they need to be designed as a system. The center has to stay clear, the profile has to work, and the transition into the shank has to be natural and right for production.