When it comes to diamonds, bigger often seems better. Whether it's for an engagement ring, a special gift, or a personal indulgence, many people seek ways to make their diamonds look larger without necessarily increasing the carat weight. Fortunately, with the right combination of cut, shape, setting, colour, and clarity, you can enhance the appearance of your diamond, making it look more substantial and impressive. In this guide, we'll share five practical tips to help you achieve a bigger-looking diamond.
Opt for the Right Cut
The cut of a diamond significantly influences its overall appearance and brilliance. A well-proportioned cut can make a diamond appear larger by maximizing its surface area and enhancing its sparkle. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by opting for a shallow cut. Diamonds with a shallower cut have a larger surface area on top, which creates the illusion of a bigger diamond. However, it's crucial to ensure that the diamond is not too shallow, as this can reduce its brilliance. The key is to find a balance that enhances the diamond's size without compromising its sparkle.
- Round Cut: Known for its maximum brilliance, the round cut can make diamonds appear larger due to its excellent light performance.
- Oval Cut: The elongated shape of an oval cut diamond makes it look larger than a round diamond of the same carat weight.
- Marquise Cut: This football-shaped cut maximizes the carat weight and makes the diamond appear larger.
- Pear Cut: Combining the round and marquise cuts, the pear shape gives the impression of a larger diamond.
- Emerald and Asscher Cuts: These step cuts have larger facets but might appear smaller due to their less brilliant nature.
Choosing the right cut is the first step in making your diamond look bigger. By selecting a cut that maximizes surface area and enhances brilliance, you can significantly impact the perceived size of your diamond.
Choose Elongated Shapes
Another effective way to make a diamond look larger is by choosing an elongated shape. Shapes like oval, marquise, and pear tend to appear bigger because they stretch out the diamond's surface area, giving it a more substantial look. The oval cut, for instance, is popular for its elongated silhouette, which not only adds to the diamond's perceived size but also creates a graceful and elegant appearance. The marquise cut, with its distinctive pointed ends, maximizes the carat weight and elongates the finger, making the diamond look larger. The pear shape, which combines the best aspects of both the round and marquise cuts, provides an elongated look while maintaining a classic and timeless appeal.
Elongated shapes also have the advantage of being versatile and flattering on various ring settings. They can be set in a north-south orientation to accentuate the length or in an east-west orientation for a unique and modern twist. When choosing an elongated shape, it's essential to consider the diamond's length-to-width ratio, as this will affect its overall appearance. A higher ratio will result in a more elongated look, while a lower ratio will make the diamond appear rounder. By opting for an elongated shape, you can make your diamond look larger and more impressive without increasing the carat weight.
Select Enhancing Settings
The setting of a diamond plays a crucial role in how big it appears. Certain settings can enhance the diamond's size by allowing more light to enter and reflect off its facets, thereby maximizing its brilliance and sparkle. One of the most effective settings for this purpose is the prong setting. In a prong setting, the diamond is held in place by metal prongs, which lift it above the band and allow light to pass through it from various angles. This setting not only makes the diamond look larger but also highlights its brilliance and fire.
Another excellent option is the halo setting, which surrounds the centre diamond with a circle of smaller diamonds. This setting creates the illusion of a larger diamond by adding extra sparkle and increasing the overall surface area. The halo setting can be particularly effective when paired with a smaller centre diamond, as it makes the entire ring appear more substantial. Additionally, the bezel setting, which encircles the diamond with a thin metal rim, can also make the diamond look more substantial. Although it may slightly reduce the amount of light entering the diamond, the bezel setting offers a sleek and modern look that emphasizes the diamond's size and shape.
Focus on Color and Clarity
While the size and shape of a diamond are critical factors in its appearance, the colour and clarity of the diamond also play significant roles in making it look bigger. A diamond with a higher colour grade, such as D, E, or F, will appear whiter and brighter, enhancing its overall brilliance and making it look larger. Conversely, diamonds with lower colour grades may have a yellowish tint that can detract from their size and sparkle. Therefore, choosing a diamond with a higher colour grade can help maximize its visual impact.
Clarity is equally important, as it determines how free the diamond is from internal inclusions and external blemishes. A diamond with high clarity, such as those graded FL (Flawless) or IF (Internally Flawless), will have fewer imperfections that can obstruct light and diminish its brilliance. Even diamonds with slightly lower clarity grades, such as VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included) or VS (Very Slightly Included), can still appear incredibly clear and sparkly. By selecting a diamond with optimal colour and clarity, you can ensure that it catches and reflects light beautifully, making it look larger and more impressive.
Avoid Common Misconceptions
When trying to make a diamond look bigger, it's essential to avoid common misconceptions that can lead to disappointment. One of the most prevalent myths is that heavier diamonds always look bigger. While carat weight is a factor in a diamond's size, the cut, shape, and setting play more critical roles in its perceived size. A well-cut diamond with a lower carat weight can look larger than a poorly cut diamond with a higher carat weight. Therefore, focusing solely on carat weight can be misleading.
Another misconception is that deeper-cut diamonds will look bigger. While a deeper cut may retain more carat weight, it often results in a smaller surface area and reduced brilliance, making the diamond appear smaller from the top view. It's essential to strike a balance between depth and surface area to maximize the diamond's visual impact. Additionally, not all settings are created equal when it comes to enhancing a diamond's size. Some settings, like the bezel setting, can obscure parts of the diamond and make it look smaller, while others, like the prong and halo settings, enhance its size and brilliance.
