Regardless of your budget, you can make your diamond look bigger than it is without the cost of it going up in carat size. From strategically choosing cuts, shapes, and settings to choosing thin bands with fewer prongs, following are some tricks of the trade. We found these tips at Brides.com on how to make your engagement ring look larger than life.
GET THE BEST DIAMOND CUT YOU CAN
-The diamond cut determines how well the diamond will reflect light based on the way its angles and facets were cut. The Gemological Institute of America grades a diamonds cut as excellent, very good, good, and fair. The better the cut, the more light the diamond reflects and, hence, the larger it will look. A well-cut diamond with proper angles and facets will not only be beautiful and brilliant but will look larger. The carat weight will be in its proper place where it adds to the visual dimension of the stone.
ROUND DIAMONDS GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF A LARGER STONE
-Round diamonds look larger for their carat weight than many other diamond cuts,” Kwiat says. The circular cut is not as deep, so much of the weight is reflected in its size appearance on top.
OBLONG ELONGATED DIAMOND CUTS MAKE THE STONE LOOK LARGER
–Ovals tend to appear larger since they’re elongated and take up a lot of surface area over your ring finger. Similarly, the oblong shape of a marquise shape or an emerald shape also makes for a larger looking footprint for the stone. All three of these cuts look bigger than their actual carat weight.
SLENDER PRONGS ALLOW THE DIAMOND TO VISUALLY POP
-One smart way of maximizing the appearance of your center diamond stone is to minimize the appearance of everything else around the ring. Look for a setting that has more discreet or fewer prongs. You’ll see more of the diamond’s surface area, rather than having the stone be covered by larger multiple prongs.
CHOOSE A BRIGHT WHITE METAL BAND
-The pure white metal of a platinum setting will act as a mirror to reflect the diamond’s colorlessness for maximum brilliance and shine. This creates the optical illusion of a bigger stone. It’s the same reason that interior designers add a wall of mirrors into a small room—to make it look larger.
HAVE FLEXIBILITY WITH THE DIAMONDS COLOR AND CLARITY
-Every diamond is rated for clarity and color. If size is truly what you want, you can increase your ring budget by selecting a larger carat diamond with a lower clarity or color. The diamond will still be brilliant and eye catching.
CHOOSE A THIN DELICATE BAND
– A thin, delicate band will make the diamond appear larger in comparison. In addition to choosing a thin band, look for one that tapers in as it nears the center. This type of band is called a pinched shank and will emphasize the center stone.
CLEAN YOUR DIAMOND RING FREQUENTLY
-Keeping your diamond polished and clean will maximize the stone’s sparkle. The shinier it is the more eye-catching the diamond will be. If it’s dirty, it will look dull and small. A general rule of thumb is to have your ring professionally cleaned by a jeweler every six months. In between you can clean your ring at home with a few drops of dishwashing soap with warm water and let it soak for 20 minutes.
