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Ideal Cuts

According to market research, most diamond shoppers in the
 US prefer an engagement ring whose center can accommodate a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/blog/1-carat-diamond-cost/">1-carat diamond</a>.
 Buyers in other countries prefer a ring center size that can hold a 0.5- to
 1.00-carat diamond. But as you shall find out, the situation is not as cut and
 dried as it sounds.

In many countries, the ideal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-carat-weight/">carat weight of a diamond</a>&nbsp;depends
 on the shoppers’ levels of income. However, it’s generally observed that a
 1-carat diamond offers the best return for your money.

First, a 1-carat diamond is not too big to draw undue
 attention to yourself; neither is it too small to be invisible. It is the right
 size for those who do not find a 0.5- or 1.5-carat stone appealing or
 affordable. Also, 1-carat diamonds tend to be reasonably priced. You should
 note that diamond prices increase exponentially as opposed to linearly. For
 instance,&nbsp;a 3-carat diamond&nbsp;maybe five times as much as a 1-carat
 diamond, even if they are similar in all other aspects.

However, the choice of diamonds based on their carat weight
 is not always economical. In terms of size, you may discover that a 0.9-carat
 stone looks nearly as big as a 1-carat diamond but could be up to 35% cheaper.
 As is evident, the price relationship does not correlate with the 10% reduction
 in weight.

Size does matter when shopping for diamonds. Experts
 believe that size ought not to be viewed only from an economic standpoint since
 diamond prices vary exponentially. Instead, you should always consider the fire
 and brilliance of the stone you desire; this is where the other elements of the
 Four Cs come into play.<a href="https://www.petragems.com/how-big-is-2-carat-diamond/"><img loading="lazy" class="img-responsive" src="https://backend.petragems.com/public/api/Images/img-1687764228.webp" alt="2 carat diamond size chart" width="515px" height="242px" title="2 carat size chart"></a>

Carat Weight and Size

Diamonds come in various cuts and shapes, making choosing
 the right shape inevitable for a positive reflection on the overall size of the
 stone.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/why-round-diamond-cut-is-most-expensive/">Round shapes are the most
 popular</a>&nbsp;and expensive, whose prices are mostly determined by
 the craftsmanship involved in cutting and polishing the stone.<a href="https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/all-diamonds/?a_aid=5c83f22427304" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" class="img-responsive" src="https://backend.petragems.com/public/api/Images/img-1687674586.webp" alt="James Allen Diamonds" width="379" title="James Allen" height="212"></a>

Generally, round shapes create an illusion of size due to
 their infinite number of facets. As may already be known, the size of a diamond
 mostly comes down to its light-handling properties; the latter attributes are
 further determined by the number of angles the stone has as well as the extent
 to which those facets are elongated.

This formula shows that round diamonds look larger due to
 their infinite number of angles. However, the facets in a round diamond are not
 as stretched as those in oval-shaped diamonds. Besides, round-shaped diamonds
 are deep-cut, which means much of the stone lies beneath the surface. Therefore,
 oval shapes absorb and reflect maximum light and color for similar carat
 weights. Consequently, they will look larger.

Generally, consider fancy shapes when looking to enhance
 the size of your diamond. Examples of fancy diamond shapes include oval,
 marquise, pear, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/emerald-cut-diamonds/">emerald shapes</a>.

Choose the Right Shape

Brightly-colored diamonds tend to appear larger than their
 dull-colored counterparts. Colorless diamonds, be that as it may, are an
 exception to this rule. Again, it all comes down to the light-handling
 characteristics of the diamond.

Diamonds with bright color hues of red, pink, purple, and
 green often appear larger than those with dull color hues such as brown. But if
 you prefer transparent diamonds, it is perfectly okay. However, should you opt
 for colored gems, your best bet is to choose those with bright and sparkly
 color hues? If in doubt, opt for colors closer to D on the diamond scale.

Insist on Brightly-colored Gems

The clarity of a diamond denotes the number of inclusions
 the stone has. To determine that, grading is done based on how the stone scores
 in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-clarity/">diamond clarity chart</a>&nbsp;which
 usually ranges from Internally Flawless to Inclusions 2.

Inclusions tend to impair the light-handling properties of
 a diamond, further making the stone appear smaller. The more the number of
 inclusions, the poorer the light-handling attributes of the stone. Therefore,
 always insist on diamonds with fewer inclusions for the same carat weight. Opt
 for a stone whose grading report suggests a clarity score closer to IF on the
 clarity chart.

Choose the Best Clarity

The brightness of the band you choose also impacts the size
 of your diamond. Mirror-bright metals, such as white gold and platinum, reduce
 the contrast between the center stone and the metal. Therefore, they complement
 your diamond's sparkle and brilliance, ultimately making it look larger. While
 observing the diamond from afar, you would think it is as big as the band's
 size.

When choosing the color and brightness of a diamond ring,
 insist on metals that reduce the contrast between the diamond and the band. The
 goal is not to make the centerpiece stand out but to merge it with the metal so
 that it looks like one large piece of diamond.

Go for Shiny Bands

When shopping for an engagement ring, the focus should not
 be on the ring but on the diamond. Going for thicker and broader bands will
 make the stone look relatively smaller.

The aforementioned arguments entail why experts recommend
 choosing slimmer bands. Examples include a petite solitaire engagement ring or
 a halo engagement ring. To ensure the ring accentuates the center stone, go for
 those taper as they approach the diamond.<a href="https://www.jamesallen.com/diamond-rings/round-cut-engagement-rings/0.73-carat-halo-engagement-ring-1689570?a_aid=5c83f22427304" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" class="img-responsive" src="https://backend.petragems.com/public/api/Images/Picture442.webp" alt="unique halo sapphire engagement ring" width="413" height="263" title="halo engagement ring sapphire"></a>Watch this Ring in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jamesallen.com/diamond-rings/round-cut-engagement-rings/0.73-carat-halo-engagement-ring-1689570?a_aid=5c83f22427304" class="external" rel="nofollow">360° HD</a>

Choose a Slim Band

The prong setting is one of the popular methods of mounting
 a diamond on a piece of jewelry. In this method, small metal projections, known
 as prongs, hold the diamond to a ring.

The main idea behind the use of diamond prongs was to
 secure a diamond to a piece of jewelry firmly. However, prongs are used
 nowadays to maximize the light striking the center stone. By harnessing the
 light from various angles, prongs can enhance the sparkle and brilliance of a
 diamond, thereby improving its size. Therefore, it is logical to imagine that
 more prongs on a piece of jewelry would make the diamond stand out, though it
 is important to note here that it is not always the case.

Most diamonds in settings, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/tiffany-co-jewelry-review/">Tiffany</a>&nbsp;or Solitaire,
 feature up to 8 prongs. But experts opine that the fewer prongs, the larger the
 diamond will look. The ideal number of prongs in a standard engagement ring
 should be 4. If you are primarily looking to secure a secure setting and not
 necessarily to bring out a diamond’s sparkle, you would be better off with a
 bezel setting.

If you must go for more than four prongs, ensure they are
 as thin as possible; this way, they will not steal the show from the real gem.
 But going for fewer and thinner prongs is not enough. It is also important to
 ensure that they are designed from mirror-bright metals.

The Fewer the Prongs, The Bigger the Diamond

On the settings, you should opt for the most strategic
 design that offers maximum prominence to the diamond. Halo settings have always
 been a preference for many, especially those who desire a large centerpiece
 diamond. A halo of smaller pavé stones surrounds the center stone in these
 settings. Experts believe a halo setting can make your diamond appear up to 1.5
 times larger. Also, as you may expect, this can save you hundreds of dollars
 that you might otherwise spend, increasing the carat weight.

In addition to halo ring designs, you may also consider
 cluster settings. In the latter, stones of nearly equal sizes are grouped.
 Besides creating an illusion of size, cluster settings can be customized into
 different shapes, such as a sunburst or a flower. Moreover, they are ideal for
 people with smaller hands or fingers.<a href="https://www.bluenile.com/engagement-rings/design-your-own-ring/bella-vaughan-blue-nile-catarina-diamond-engagement-ring-pink-rose-gold-platinum_77796?a_aid=5c83f22427304" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" class="img-responsive" src="https://backend.petragems.com/public/api/Images/Picture443.webp" alt="oval pink diamond halo engagement ring" width="409px" height="269px" title="pink halo oval diamond engagement ring"></a>Watch this Ring in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluenile.com/engagement-rings/design-your-own-ring/bella-vaughan-blue-nile-catarina-diamond-engagement-ring-pink-rose-gold-platinum_77796?a_aid=5c83f22427304" class="external" rel="nofollow">360° HD</a>

Look for Cluster or Halo Settings

Some jewelers may include a magnifying material at the base
 of the setting where a diamond would be mounted. The material absorbs as much
 light as possible and reflects it on the diamond. As such, the diamond appears
 deceptively larger than it is. The only problem with this trick is that such
 materials can lose their luster over time; polishing them would require
 dismounting the diamond.

Repeated mounting and dismounting could cause the diamond
 to wear off. A better alternative here would be to keep your diamond as clean
 as possible. The cleaner the stone, the brighter it looks. As for the cleaning,
 you can either have your local jeweler do it for you or do it yourself using
 jewelry-grade cleaners and polishing cloths.

The size and weight of diamonds affect their prices and
 overall brilliance. When looking for a large diamond, most shoppers would
 naturally go for higher carat weights. But as we have highlighted above, there
 are numerous ways you can enhance the size of your diamond without necessarily
 shelling out extra bucks on more carats.

Look for an Optical Illusion

Shopping for diamonds is one of the most exciting yet
        challenging experiences. You find what looks perfect in terms of color and
        clarity but the

How to make a diamond look bigger