7 Ways to Make Your Engagement Ring Look Bigger (2024)

When allocating your budget to design the engagement ring of your dreams, there are plenty of ways to increase the ring's wow-factor without going up in carat size (and subsequently, price). If you're wondering how to make your engagement ring look bigger, there are some expert tips and tricks to keep in mind when designing your ring. Choosing the right cut and setting can yield some impactful results, giving you an impressive ring well within your budget but looking like you splurged.

1. Opt for oval

If you want your diamond to appear larger—and simultaneously cut costs—an oval cut is your best bet. Ovals are less expensive than round diamonds, meaning you can increase the size of your stone (and get as much as 0.20 carats more) for the same price.

Shop our the best oval-cut engagement rings for every style.

2. Consider the spread, not just the carat

Not only are ovals less expensive than rounds, butthe shape of oval diamonds also gives the illusion of them being larger. An oval cut diamond will have a greater spread than a round cut diamond of the identical carat weight.

3. Choose a slim band

The wider the band of the engagement ring, the smaller the diamond will look. Conversely, the thinner the band, the larger and more impressive the diamond will appear. For that reason, one of our most popular styles is the Whisper Thin® engagement ring. A delicate band really lets your diamond's brilliance and sparkle take center stage, while also making it look bigger.

Shop our signature Whisper Thin™ setting.

4. Stick with platinum prongs

Even if you're choosing to go with a yellow gold band, you should go with platinum prongs if you want your diamond to appear larger. This is because the platinum color blends with the diamond rather than reflecting the gold color—a trick we use with our Whisper Thin® setting to maximize impact.

5. Four prongs are better than six

Fewer prongs mean less of the diamond is obstructed by the setting, allowing you to see more of the stone—making it appear larger—and also allowing more light to enter and enhance its sparkle. Traditionally, many rings featured six prongs, which had the tendency to overpower the diamond, but themore streamlined four-prongedsetting is coming into favor. Not only is the look cleaner and more modern, but itlets the diamond to be the star of the show.

6. Choose a halo setting

Opting for a halo can also make a diamond appear larger, as it increases the diameter and adds plenty of extra sparkle by way of pavé.

Shop the best halo engagement rings for unrivaled sparkle.

7. Keep it clean

A diamond's sparkle is a major contributor to not only how impressive it looks, but also how big it appears. Dirty diamonds look dull and consequently smaller and less radiant.Cleaning your engagement ring regularly is one of the easiest ways to ensure it looks beautiful—and as big as possible.

Interested in more engagement ring shopping advice? Here's how to save money on an engagement ring.

7 Ways to Make Your Engagement Ring Look Bigger (2024)

FAQs

What color nail polish makes your ring look bigger? ›

Bright colors like reds, hot pinks, and other loud hues compete with your diamond for attention - and they always win. Which means the louder your nails, the smaller your diamond. Soft, neutral colors enhance the overall size of your stone, and allow it's natural fire and brilliance to take center stage.

Does a thinner band make a diamond look bigger? ›

Lastly, the thinner the band on your setting, the larger the look for your diamond, as well! Our favorite solitaire settings that highlight the center stone and offer a thin but solid band (so you can wear your gorgeous ring everyday, stress-free!)

How to enlarge an engagement ring? ›

One method is to cut a small portion out of the band and then add a piece of metal to expand the circumference. This process is known as ring shanking and involves carefully fitting the new piece of metal to the existing band, soldering it in place, and then smoothing and polishing the surface to blend the seams.

Do 4 prongs or 6 prongs make diamonds look bigger? ›

A 6-prong setting can make a round diamond appear slightly larger from a distance due to the hexagonal shape formed by the prongs. However, this effect may be less noticeable with fancy-shaped diamonds. The size of the diamond itself is the main factor determining how big it will look.

What diamond cut makes it look bigger? ›

Best Diamond Shapes for a Big Look

Diamond shapes that carry more of their mass toward the table, or top, of the diamond will look much larger per carat when compared with other shapes that have the mass more evenly distributed. The ones that carry mass at the top are marquise, pear, and oval cut diamonds.

What color nails make a diamond pop? ›

To help your diamond appear whiter, brighter, and more brilliant, choose a white polish. This creates a clean, crisp look and draws attention to the quality and beauty of your center stone no matter the shape or setting style. Fiammaca's wedding white manicure makes her pear shape pop.

What nail color makes a ring pop? ›

Nude nail polish blends in with the rest of your skin tone, which, in turn, makes your engagement ring pop. However, other neutral colors like white, black, and taupe can also make your ring stand out.

What nail color looks best for engagement? ›

When it comes to engagement manicures, neutral shades are foolproof—they match everything. This creamy tan acrylic will make any engagement ring stand out. But as with any mani, good grooming is essential.

Is a 2 carat diamond considered to be big? ›

A 2-carat diamond is considered large compared to the average size of diamonds used for engagement rings. The average diamond size for engagement rings is around 1.0 to 1.5 carats. Therefore, a 2-carat diamond stands out significantly and offers a more pronounced appearance on the finger.

Which diamond shape sparkles the most? ›

Round Brilliant Cut

The round cut is the most brilliant or the most sparkling diamond cut. Fifty-eight facets (including the culet) are cut into brilliant round diamonds to allow light to pass through and reflect off each facet.

What is a good carat size for an engagement ring? ›

The average size for the US couple is one carat, while most European couples stay around 0.5-0.6 carat. Those in the Mid-Atlantic region will spend nearly $2,000 more than couples in the Midwest. Younger couples tend to choose between one and two carat diamonds, while older couples seem to opt for the higher end.

How to increase ring size at home? ›

One simple and home-made way to resize a gold ring is to use plastic ring adjusters. These products are often made of silicone and are placed between the finger and the ring.

What rings cannot be resized? ›

To be resized, your ring must be made of metal such as silver, gold, or platinum. Non-metal materials cannot be resized, including full eternity bands, tungsten rings, rose gold rings, titanium rings, or rings with tension settings. There also must be enough space around the ring for it to be made larger or smaller.

What do you do if your ring is too small? ›

If the ring is too small, the ring may be enlarged either by stretching (which will increase it by one quarter or one half of a ring size) or by cutting the band and adding more metal into the ring (which is usually necessary for enlargements of more than half a ring size).

How do you stretch a ring to make it bigger? ›

There are several ways to enlarge a ring. It can be done simply using a mallet and mandrel, a commercial ring stretching tool or by adding an extra piece of metal to the shank. The method you choose depends on the design of the ring itself but also the size of the alteration.

Why does my engagement ring look small? ›

A diamond with a shallow cut has a larger table (top surface), which makes the diamond appear larger, whereas a diamond with a deep cut appears smaller since a large portion of the weight is hidden in the body. However, it is important to know that carat weight and cut should always be considered hand-in-hand.

What to do if your engagement ring is slightly too big? ›

Typically, a ring can be resized by up to two sizes. You'll take it in to the jeweler, they'll measure your finger and probably ask some questions (how the ring currently fits, what you find comfortable, etc.), and you can decide together on the perfect size.

Do hidden halos make diamonds look bigger? ›

On average, a diamond set on a hidden halo engagement ring will look like it is . 5 karats larger. Some people might elect to go with a double halo, which can make your diamond actually look 1 karat larger than what it really is.

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