When you begin exploring a diamond engagement ring or other diamond jewelry, you’ll realize very quickly how expensive diamonds can be. A diamond’s cut, shape, and setting all contribute towards its appearance. However, there are some legit tweaks to use these and get more diamond in your budget. Use the following to help you buy a diamond that looks larger than it really is:
Shape is Key
Fancy-shaped diamonds generally look larger than round diamonds of equal weight. This is especially true of diamonds with elongated shapes, such as marquise, oval, and pear-shaped diamonds.
You might be leaning on buying an engagement ring set with diamonds that are cut shallow. This means they are not as deep as they ideally should be. Shallow cut diamonds do appear larger than the same size stones with a more proportional cut, but what you gain in size you could lose in brilliance.
Light traveling through a shallow cut tends to go out the back instead of bouncing off of the sides of the stone and back into your vision.
Princess cut diamonds are pressure set together so tightly that they appear to be one larger diamond. If you fancy this look then by all means, go for it, but keep in mind that these can be quite costly to repair if you lose a stone.
Think Diamond Accents
You can opt to add accent stones to enhance your ring’s size. One accent diamond on either side of a center diamond makes a beautiful engagement ring. If you want the main stone to appear larger in a three stone ring, have the accent stones be half the size of the main stone.
Proper Setting
A halo setting or bezel setting both add an extra layer of surface for diamond placements around your center diamond. These small diamonds expand the overall diameter of your ring and make your diamond appear larger. It’s difficult to make out these small individual stones, so a halo setting makes you think the jewelry has more, and larger, diamonds than it truly does.
Keep in mind, however that the diamond rings with intricate pavé halo settings can be expensive, so sometimes it’s may be just cheaper to buy a larger diamond.
Another option is a vintage ring setting. A lot of vintage diamond rings are set in an illusion setting. Metal prongs are built up in a square shape to make round diamonds appear square in shape and larger than they really are. Side stones, like small diamonds set into the band on either side of a center stone, will make the focal diamond look larger than if the diamond was set in solitaire. Make sure the accent diamonds are small in scale for the best visual impact.
Prongs should work to enhance your diamond’s size, not take away from it. Six prong crown settings can make a diamond appear smaller. Opt for four prongs instead.
The Metal Band
The right metal makes all the difference.
- Platinum or white gold will blend with and enhance a white diamond, making it appear larger.
- A yellow gold setting can throw a yellowish tint back onto the diamond.
If your diamond is on the smaller side, make sure your ring doesn’t have a very thick band. The thinner and more dainty the band, the more your center diamond will be the focal point. Keep your setting in proportion to the size of your diamond.
Diamond enhancers are pieces of jewelry sold separately from your diamond ring or earrings.
Diamond Enhancers
- The earring enhancer is a thin halo setting that slides underneath your solitaire diamond earrings.
- Diamond enhancers for rings are essentially a cradle that you set your solitaire diamond ring into. It adds top and bottom interest to the solitaire, making the overall ring appear larger.
Keep Your Diamond Shiny
A clean diamond shines brighter and appears larger than a dirty, chipped one. Regular cleanings at home and an occasional deep clean at a jewelry store will make a huge difference in the sparkle and shine of your diamond. It’s an easy way to make the ring look bigger (and brand new).
Always shop for diamonds from Kanjimull where you can always find a trusted expert who can answer your questions about the diamonds you are considering.
