8 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING LOOK LARGER

When it comes to selecting an engagement ring, size matters. But if having the biggest diamond isn't in your budget, there are ways you can still make your stone look larger than life. Read on for 8 tips for making your stone look bigger without breaking the bank! 

If you're shopping for a diamond engagement ring and want the center stone to appear as large as possible, don't disregard the cut grade. Many buyers believe that increasing the carat weight of a diamond is the only way to make a center stone appear larger. That, however, is not the case. Several factors influence a diamond's size, including how skillfully it is cut.

So, how does the cut of a diamond affect how large it appears? A diamond with high brilliance (sparkle) seems larger to the naked eye. A diamond must have an excellent cut in order to have maximum brightness. Therefore, we recommend choosing a diamond with a Very Good or Excellent cut rating to ensure premium shine.

Cut grade is so important for how large a diamond appears that a poor cut grade can actually make a large diamond look considerably smaller. Hence, while a higher carat weight will result in a technically larger diamond, a very low cut grade can nullify all of that costly extra carat weight.

Another factor that influences the size of a diamond is its shape. Diamonds can be cut into a variety of shapes, including round, princess, and oval. But each diamond shape has its mass distributed differently. Some diamond shapes have more mass on their table (the top of the diamond), giving them the appearance of being larger per carat.

Do you want to know which diamond shapes appear to be the largest per carat?The four shapes that look the largest per carat are (in order of which looks the largest): marquise, pear, oval, and emerald-cut diamonds. Oval diamonds are a popular choice among those looking for a classic-style engagement ring while also maximizing the size of the central diamond. Oval cut diamonds appear larger per carat than round diamonds, although they have a similar classic appearance. 

Some diamond shapes appear larger per carat, while others appear lower per carat. Avoid asscher cut and princess diamonds if you want the largest-looking diamond you can fit into your budget. Because of how these stone shapes are carved, both shapes hide a lot of their weight beneath their tables.

Round diamonds are another shape to avoid if you want to get a larger-looking diamond while staying within your budget. Round diamonds appear smaller per carat than marquise, pear, oval, and emerald diamonds. They are also significantly more expensive. Round diamonds are by far the most expensive diamond form, partly due to demand (round is the most popular diamond shape) and partly because there is more raw diamond waste during the round diamond-cutting process. 

Diamond color and clarity, unlike diamond cut, have little influence on how massive a diamond seems. If size is your main goal, you can maximize your center stone budget by lowering the diamond color and clarity. Being flexible with your color and clarity ratings makes room in your budget for a larger-carat weight diamond with a Very Good or Excellent cut.

If you want your engagement ring to look as beautiful and substantial as possible, halo engagement ring settings are a fantastic choice. Your central stone is encircled by a glittering ring of smaller accent diamonds in a halo setting. Its sparkling halo optically enlarges your core diamond, making it appear much larger. This look is enhanced by the additional shimmer created by the diamonds in a halo setting.

If you're looking for an engagement ring for the first time, halo settings are a terrific way to add drama and impact to your ring. They're also an excellent choice if you want to replace your existing engagement ring. You can replace your present engagement ring setting with a halo setting and receive a much larger-looking band for a fraction of the cost of updating your existing center diamond.

Another approach to making your center diamond appear larger is to opt for a slim, delicate setting. If you select a setting with a slim band and slim prongs, your center diamond will look larger in comparison. In contrast, If you choose a wide band with chunky prongs, your diamond will appear smaller. So if you want your center stone to look as large as possible, always select a slim, delicate setting.

Like our last suggestion, you can utilize this approach on a new or existing engagement ring. If your engagement ring has a large, bulky setting that overwhelms your diamond, you can easily (and inexpensively) replace it with a smaller setting.

Certain precious metals have the ability to make your engagement ring appear larger than others. Platinum and white gold, in particular 18k white gold. A gleaming white metal will reflect the main diamond of your engagement ring like a mirror, making it appear larger. Because it is plated in rhodium, 18k white gold is exceptionally good at reflecting light. As an extra advantage, 18k white gold is more reflective than platinum and less expensive, allowing you to allocate more funds to a larger center diamond.

Our final recommendation is possibly the simplest to adopt on this list. Keep your engagement ring clean if you want it to look as big as possible year after year. As we've said throughout this post, the more brilliant your engagement ring is, the larger it appears. Diamonds and precious metals collect oil and dirt over time, dulling their radiance. Hence, to keep your engagement ring gleaming, clean it on a regular basis.

Do you know how frequently you should clean your engagement ring? We recommend that you have your ring professionally cleaned every six months. So, in between professional cleanings, just clean your ring at home with warm water, dish soap, and a soft toothbrush anytime it appears dull.

Now that you’ve read our tips, it’s time to put them into action and find an engagement ring that will make your center stone look as large as possible. Keep in mind all of the factors we discussed—carat weight, cut grade, halo settings, slim settings, white gold, or platinum metals—to get the most dramatic, sizable look for your engagement ring. Good luck!