For most people, the diamond is the main attraction of an engagement ring. Sure, the band may have a unique style and there may be other gemstones that make it more colorful and flattering, but the center diamond is what most people focus on. As a result, one of the most common concerns among engagement ring shoppers is the size of the center diamond.

Unfortunately, buying a huge diamond isn’t always an option. You may have your eyes set on a 5-carat diamond engagement ring, but your budget may be closer to a 1.5-carat diamond. The good news is that you can find larger diamonds at more affordable prices (if you know where to look). Plus, even if you opt for a smaller diamond, certain characteristics can give a diamond a larger appearance — the most important being the cut of the diamond.

This begs a few important questions, like: What are the largest diamond cuts? What are some ways to make a diamond look bigger? Which is bigger, a round cut or a square cut? Finally, where can you find diamond engagement rings of all sizes at affordable prices?

In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and more, so let’s get started!

What Makes a Diamond Look Bigger?

Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of ways to make a diamond look bigger and more luxurious. So, how can you make a 2-carat diamond look bigger? Or a 1-carat diamond? Or a 0.2-carat diamond? It’s not as easy once you’ve already bought a ring, but if you’re still shopping for a diamond engagement ring, here are the factors that can affect the real and perceived size of the central diamond:

• Carat - Carat is the measurement of the weight of a diamond, and this correlates to the real size of the gemstone. A 4-carat diamond is literally twice as big as a 2-carat diamond, and this is indisputable. However, there are ways to make a 4-carat diamond look smaller, or make a 2-carat diamond look larger. That said, if you want to guarantee that the diamond will look big, you should first consider the carat count.
• Cut - Cut is the most important factor when determining the perceived (not actual) size of your diamond. Certain cuts simply look larger than others, even among diamonds that weigh the exact same amount. We’ll get into the largest diamond cuts a little later on.
• Clarity - Surprisingly, the clarity of your diamond can have a small effect on its perceived size. This is because higher-clarity diamonds have more “sparkle,” which can make them appear larger because they reflect a lot more light. However, even a completely flawless stone won’t be able to completely obfuscate a smaller size.
• Color - Like the color of paint used for a room in your home, the color of a diamond can also affect its perceived size. Fancy colors like pink, green, yellow, and blue may appear slightly larger than standard white or colorless diamonds. However, like clarity, color will not have a huge impact on the visual size of a diamond.
• Setting - Setting is surprisingly important when it comes to making a diamond look bigger on an engagement ring. As a general rule, settings that place the diamond higher up on the band will show off more of the diamond. Four-pronged solitaire settings are a popular option, as they make nearly all of the center diamond visible from multiple directions. Alternatively, if you want to “hide” the true size of your ring, a bezel setting may be more effective.
• Band Size - It’s true that things can look larger when placed near smaller objects. For this reason, it’s best to choose a thinner band that will make the diamond look larger by comparison. A thick band with a small center diamond is less flattering and is usually not the best combination for making the diamond appear bigger!

Largest Diamond Cuts

Once again, the carat of a diamond is the only measurement that determines a diamond’s actual size. However, choosing certain cuts can make your diamond appear much larger than it really is. Here are a few of the most popular cuts that can make a center diamond look bigger:

• Oval - The oval cut is one of the best cuts for making a diamond look bigger. It has a large, elongated crown and a shallow pavilion, which means that it will appear larger when looking directly down at it from above. It can also work well with a variety of settings.
• Pear - Like the oval cut, the pear cut elongates the crown, making it especially large and round on one end, and long and pointy on the other. It may not always appear quite as large as the oval cut, but it still does a good job of covering a lot of surface area. When worn, this can make it look much larger in comparison to the ring finger.
• Marquise - The marquise cut is typically more elongated than the oval or pear cuts, with points on both ends. Once again, this helps it have a very long surface area that will cover more of the ring finger and appear larger in general.
• Emerald - The emerald cut is another cut that has a large crown and a relatively shallow pavilion. Since the setting of the ring can often hide all or most of the pavilion, this can make an emerald cut diamond look quite large from most angles.

Do Round or Square Diamonds Look Bigger?

This is a tough question to answer, as both round and square diamonds can be cut differently. Visually, round cut diamonds often appear larger, but there is no guarantee that this will be the case. For example, a round diamond with a shallow pavilion may have a larger crown and table, which will make it look bigger from above. However, it will also make it harder to show off the entirety of the diamond with a higher setting. Alternatively, a round cut with a deep pavilion may be easier to combine with high settings, but it could also make the gemstone appear smaller based on the crown and table. These same principles apply to square cut diamonds as well, but round diamond cuts still tend to look larger from most angles.

Find Larger Diamonds At Smaller Prices With HYSTR

Do you want to get a diamond engagement ring with a center stone that looks bigger than it is? Are you trying to find a higher-carat diamond that isn’t far outside your budget? Finally, do you want to find a way to shop thousands of classic, vintage, and modern designs? If so, Have You Seen The Ring is the answer?

At HYSTR, we offer a marketplace with tons of pre-owned diamond engagement rings of all shapes and sizes. You can find smaller-carat diamonds that look larger based on the cut and setting, or higher-carat diamonds that look and feel larger from every angle. Either way, when you shop with HYSTR, you can get great deals and find the engagement ring of your dreams!

We hope you enjoyed our guide on which diamond cuts look the biggest! Are you currently trying to buy or sell a used engagement ring? If so, be sure to contact HYSTR today!