Wondering how to make an engagement ring look bigger than it actually is? Here are some tried-and-tested methods our master jewellers swear by.
Every proposal comes with a “pics or it didn’t happen” caveat, and you know it. If it’s not the down-on-one-knee moment, it’s the super-sized rock that must make it to the gram. From your frenemy to your favourite celebrity (JLo, Avril Lavigne, Megan Fox, you name ‘em…), no one’s turning down a chance to spark some proposal envy (or more importantly, ring envy). So, if your S.O. is hung up on a big, shiny engagement ring, just remember, she’s not the only one.
But don’t let that give you cold feet. A big, brilliant engagement ring doesn’t need to cost you the larger portion of your savings ‘cause we’ve put together an expert guide on how to make an engagement ring look bigger without the extra cash. (That’s right, think of that romantic trip you two can take with all the money you’ll be saving.)
Wondering if this is for real? Well, take a look at some engagement ring tips that our master jewellers swear by.
P.S. If you’re planning to pop the big question this holiday season but haven’t settled on an idea yet, do cheque out our holiday proposal ideas with the perfect rings to match. They’re so good that she’ll legit shed tears of joy.
Now back to what you came here for.
Choose the Right Design
First things first. Before you figure out how to make the engagement ring look bigger, you might want to cheque on your bae’s jewellery preferences. Is she a minimalist dresser or a lover of extravagance?
Would she prefer a trendy gemstone engagement ring over a traditional diamond engagement ring? Or maybe the answer lies in a celebrity engagement ring she’s been crushing on recently?
P.S. If none of these questions brought you any closer to your answer, here’s a hint: ask her BFF or sister for a clue.
7 No-Fail Tips to Make Your Engagement Ring Look Bigger
1. Prioritize Cut Grade Over Carat Weight
When we said ‘bigger’, we bet you thought higher carat weight. But our in-house experts just tipped us off; it’s higher cut grade you should be after instead of higher carat weight, they say.
But what is cut grade? It is basically how well a diamond or gemstone reflects light depending on its facets and angles. So, if you want a bigger-looking sparkler, you’ll definitely want to go for a good, very good or excellent-quality cut.
A well-cut stone will show more brilliance, making your gemstone appear bigger and sparklier. What’s more, going higher on the cut grade versus the carat weight will cost you less.
Totally giving this one a try, aren’t you?
Read more: How To Find The Average Carat Size For An Engagement Ring?
2. Select the Right Stone Shape
Next up, pay attention to the shape of the diamond or gemstone. Yes, round brilliants are the most popular, and they’re sparkly too. But there are a whole lot of shapes that look larger and cost less per carat.
Think oval, marquise, cushion, emerald and pear cut. These cuts are elongated, so they naturally appear bigger than their actual carat weight. What’s more, oval and pear are hot celebrity engagement ring trends right now.
So, if you decide to pick one of these shapes for your trend-loving girlfriend, you’re sure to hit jackpot.
Friendly warning: Stay away from certain fancy shapes like princess or Asscher cut as they may make the stone appear smaller.
3. Go for Coloured Gemstones
Diamonds are forever, but coloured gemstones are definitely for now! Women everywhere are crushing on coloured gemstone jewellery.
So, if you’re considering popping the question with a gemstone sparkler, choose a pale, lighter-hued stone like aquamarine or morganite.
The way light passes through these stones and reflects off of them can really trick the eye into believing they are bigger than they actually are.
Plus, there’s nothing quite like a coloured gemstone to bring your love story to life, is there?
Meaningful and budget-friendly, who would have thought?
Speaking of gemstones, here’s a bonus tip for you: Choose a lab-created engagement ring adorned with your favourite lab-grown gem. Wondering how to make your lab-grown engagement ring look bigger? Well, you can choose one with a higher quality cut or higher carat weight. You can also opt for lab-grown gems in elongated shapes and cuts that make the gems appear larger than they actually are. After all, a lab-grown gem is easier on the pocket so you can get your dream sparkler without breaking the bank.
Whether you choose a lab diamond engagement ring or one with a lab-grown coloured gem, you can be assured that these gems are physically, chemically and optically identical to natural gems. So, now that you know how to make lab engagement rings bigger, let’s move on to our next tip.
4. Choose a Halo, Clustre or Three-Stone Ring
This next trick will not only make your engagement band look bigger, but also add that extra sparkle to it. Here’s how to make your engagement ring look bigger with diamond We are talking about choosing a style like halo or three-stone that creates an illusion of a bigger centre stone.
While a halo includes small accent stones encircling a larger centre stone, the secret is to opt for a delicate halo that acts as an extension of the centre stone rather than overpowering it.
Here’s what a customer said about one of our more popular halo ring styles:
When it comes to three-stone rings, you want to make sure to choose daintier side stones or they’ll steal the centre stone’s thunder.
Another option is the clustre setting. It consists of a group of small diamonds or gemstones that are set closely together to create the perfect illusion of a solitaire. It’s big on sparkle, low on budget!
5. Say Yes to Slim Settings and Bands
Would you believe it if we told you the setting or band size could completely transform the appearance of the engagement ring? One of the easiest ways to maximise the appearance of your ring bling is by choosing a thin band and/or a slender prong setting.
This way your gemstone will take centre stage and you’ll get yourself a bigger-looking ring with a way lighter price tag.
6. Focus on the Little Details
All set to pop the question? We think you may have overlooked one tiny little detail that could make all the difference when trying to make your ring look bigger.
It’s the *wait for it* RING BOX! Lucky for you, most of Angara’s engagement rings come in an LED-lit box and super luxurious packaging (at no added cost). In fact, our customers are obsessed. See what they have to say about it:
7. Simple Yet Effective: Keep It Clean!
We bet you didn’t expect this one, but it’s true. The more debris-free and polished your ring is, the shinier and bigger it’s going to appear.
Not just that, regular cleaning is also the most cost-effective way to keep your engagement ring looking sparkly forever. Watch this video for the easiest things you can do at home to maintain your ring:
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Remember though, nothing beats professional cleaning.
So, hand your precious engagement ring to your jeweller once or twice a year for some TLC. By the way, Angara gives you a free lifetime warranty* on every piece of jewellery – cleaning’s included! Did we just score brownie points?
And if you still haven’t zeroed in on the perfect sparkler, this is your sign to design your engagement ring with Create With Angara.
How to Make Your Engagement Ring Look Bigger in Pictures
Save our swoon-worthy engagement ring click-spiration to help you make your sparkler look bigger and brighter in your big Instagram reveal.
Follow @angarajewellery on Instagram for more styling tips and tricks.
How to Make Your Engagement Ring Look Bigger FAQs
- Which ring is supposed to be bigger, the engagement or the wedding ring?While we’d like to say there are no rules, bigger stones and heavier styles like a halo, three-stone, and solitaire are usually chosen for engagement rings. But feel free to throw tradition out the window and do things your way.
- How to make your engagement ring look bigger than its actual size in pictures?Let’s start with a no-brainer. Remove any other jewelry pieces that might compete for attention with your engagement ring. Then choose a clean, clutter-free background for your engagement ring photo. Ideally, shooting outdoors in bright daylight would be best to really capture the sparkle. Also, you can experiment with angles, but just remember, the closer the ring is to the camera, the larger it’ll appear in pictures.
- Can you upgrade an existing engagement ring with a larger gemstone?You can upgrade your existing ring with a larger gemstone, a slimmer setting or a better-quality gemstone, but it will depend on the complexity of your ring design. Your jeweler is the best one to let you know your options.
