3 More Pro Tips for Making Your Diamonds Appear Larger

  In my last article, I shared three pro tips for making engagement ring diamonds appear larger. Today, I wanted to share three more expert tips for maximizing the size and sparkle of your diamonds.  

Keep Your Diamond Clean

Perhaps the easiest way to make diamonds appear larger is to keep them crystal clean. A dirty diamond appears dull and lifeless. Keep it shiny and polished to ensure optimal radiance and sparkle. This will attract the eye and keep the focus on your diamond. Polish it at least weekly with a soft cloth. Every couple of months, follow your jeweler’s recommendations to give it a deeper clean. And at least once a year, take it in to have it professionally cleaned and inspected.    

Choose a Fancy-Shape and Consider a North-South Orientation

Different diamond shapes hold their carat weight differently. According to experts interviewed for the Zoe Report, a pear- or marquise-cut diamond appears larger than a round- or square-cut stone. The elongated shapes carry their carat weight on the surface, rather than in the depth of the pavilion. Thus, the diamonds appear larger to the eye. Furthermore, the longer cuts, including ovals, look bigger because they take up more space on your finger. Indeed, another way to make your diamond appear larger is to choose a ring that has a north-south orientation. Although north-south is traditionally a cocktail ring orientation, it offers many advantages to enhance the appearance of size. Often these gorgeous rings feature several diamonds, increasing the sparkle factor and drawing more attention. In addition, they often include fancy metal work which creates greater reflectivity, making it appear brighter and more sparkly than if the diamonds were set in a more traditional setting. Finally, because north-south rings generally fall under the antique or vintage cocktail ring category, their price points can be significantly less than a brand new solitaire engagement ring, so you can literally get more stone for your buck!    

An Illusion Setting Makes Diamonds Appear Larger

This gorgeous antique setting creates a dazzling optical illusion by encircling a diamond with a fluted metal surround. Thereby, making diamonds appear larger. This style was popular during the Victorian Era. It was then re-popularized during the 1930s, in the aftermath of the Great Depression. This unique diamond setting technique allows a small diamond to appear larger. Indeed, many antique engagement rings from the 1930s and 1940s feature this technique. A colorless diamond of 0.50 carats or less is surrounded by a fluted white metal with ripples. The rippled metal reflects the play of light back upon the diamond, tricking the eye into thinking it’s bigger than it actually is. (source) According to the experts at the GIA, this technique works best for diamonds that weigh in at 0.50 carats or less. Also, if the diamond has any yellow in its coloring, ask your jeweler to surround it with a matching yellow gold instead of white gold or platinum. Don’t forget to meet with your jeweler and discuss all of these options for making your diamonds appear larger. ~Angela Magnotti Andrews