When choosing an engagement ring, the size of the center stone is often one of the most attention-grabbing factors. But did you know? Even if the carat weight of the diamond or gemstone is limited, certain design and setting techniques can make the ring look bigger and more dazzling. This article will provide 8 tips to help you achieve the biggest visual impact for your engagement ring without increasing your budget.

1. Shape of the Center Stone: Consider Round or Elongated Gems
The shape of the center stone plays a crucial role in its visual impact. Among the many popular engagement ring cuts, which stone shape looks bigger?
In truth, gemstones with elongated shapes often appear larger than round stones of the same carat weight. Shapes like oval, marquise, pear, or emerald elongate the gem’s length and the finger’s line, making the ring more eye-catching. Oval shapes, in particular, are especially popular and have become a top choice for many!
Why consider round shapes too? A well-cut round gemstone with a high refractive index (RI) and dispersion (D) (e.g. diamonds or moissanite) can emit unmatched sparkle, creating a bigger visual effect. However, the round cut loses its advantage for gemstones with lower RI and D. Therefore, if you’re considering a round cut to make your engagement ring look bigger, pay attention to the RI and D of the gemstone.
2. Design Style: Add a Halo or Side Stones
You’ve probably heard this: “A halo makes your engagement ring look bigger!” Adding a halo is one of the most common and effective ways to make an engagement ring appear larger.

A halo design surrounds the center stone with a circle or multiple circles of smaller diamonds or gemstones, amplifying the vision and adding sparkle. A ring with halos can visually increase the carat size of the center stone without having to purchase a larger stone, greatly saving your budget. Halo designs are flexible and work with any center stone cut.
Adding side stones is another way to enhance the ring’s overall visual effect, similar to a halo. The difference is that side stones are placed on either side of the center stone rather than around it. The benefit of larger side stones is that they increase the overall stone area, making the ring look bigger. Smaller side stones create a striking contrast with the center stone, making it stand out even more. Rings with side stones offer more luxury and beauty compared to solitaire engagement rings!
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The halo engagement ring in the picture is a customized product, if you like it, you can contact us for customization!
3. Setting: Choose a Setting That Looks Bigger
The setting style of the engagement ring affects the ring’s design and protects the center stone. The right setting can also make the ring look bigger.
The fundamental way to make something look bigger is to reduce what covers its surface. Among various settings, prong settings cover the least area of the gemstone and are among the most popular engagement ring settings! They provide minimal obstruction, allowing more light to enter the stone, enhancing its brilliance and making it appear larger. Prong settings come in different numbers and shapes, so how should you choose?
“Opt for thinner prongs?” While this can minimize the prongs’ coverage and increase the visible area of the gemstone, focusing solely on reducing prong size at the expense of securely holding the stone is not recommended. The number and shape of prongs should be selected based on the size and shape of the gemstone to ensure it is firmly secured.
Aside from prong settings, other styles like illusion, halo (as mentioned above), and cluster settings can also enhance the perceived size of the center stone through optical illusion.
- Focus on The Illusion setting: By setting the gemstone in a same-color grooved metal setting, it makes the gem look larger. This setting is particularly suited for smaller gemstones. (A near-colorless diamond & white metal can maximize this effect.)
Lastly, the engagement ring setting profile should also be considered – whether to choose a low-profile or high-profile setting. In high-profile settings, the gem is elevated above the band, allowing more light to enter, increasing its brilliance and fire, making it more noticeable and appear larger.
4. Metal Color: Choose White Metals
Choosing the right metal color is equally important for the ring’s overall visual effect. If your center stone is a colorless diamond or moissanite, white metals (e.g. white gold or platinum) reflect more light than other metal colors, enhancing the gem’s brilliance and making it look bigger. Note: If your center stone is colored, this technique may not always work to enlarge the visual effect. Thus, metal color is a key factor in the overall visual impact.
Remember: Don’t just think about what metal color will make the ring look bigger, but also about choosing a metal color that the wearer prefers and suits them. Check out Which Jewelry Color is Better For You? to learn more!
5. Cutting Tips: Focus on the Gemstone’s Face-Up Size and Proportion
The face-up size and proportion (the surface area of the gemstone seen from above) are key factors that affect its visual size. Gemstones of the same carat weight can be cut to produce different face-up dimensions. If you’re more concerned about the gemstone looking larger, you can opt for a shallow cut (width greater than depth), which tends to look larger than ideal, or deep cuts.
However, note that shallow cuts may leakage, and do not reflect light making the color of the gemstone look lighter and lacking sparkle or fire. This method may not be ideal if you are focusing on the brilliance and color of the gemstone. For gemstones that have light color, high transparency, or unique optical effects, a shallow cut may not detract from their appeal. It can enhance transparency, brightness, or special effects. For example, many opals cut in cabochon highlight their play-of-color, and a shallow cut can intensify the visual impact by concentrating the light on the surface.
Besides the cut’s depth, the proportions of the face also matter. For example, 1-carat gemstone can have varying lengths and widths even at the same height. This brings us back to the gemstone’s shape, which can be round, oval, rectangular, heart-shaped, etc. Except for round shapes, which have a fixed 1:1 ratio, other shapes can vary in length-to-width ratio, producing different visual effects. You should confirm these proportions based on the shape you choose with your jeweler.
Related: Shallow Cut vs. Ideal Cut vs. Deep Cut for Gemstones
6. Band Width: Choose a Thin Band
When two balls of similar size are put together, you may not think one of them is big. But when one is bigger and one smaller, the larger one will seem even bigger. The same concept applies to rings: the thinner the band, your ring’s gemstone will look bigger!
However, keep in mind that while a thin band can make the ring look more delicate and stylish and the gemstone seems larger, it is less durable and more prone to deformation. If you love the look of a thin band but want something more durable, consider a pinched shank. This type of band tapers near the center stone, giving you the same visual effect as a thin band but with added durability. Learn more about different engagement ring shank types.
7. Matching Wedding Band: Choose a Ring Enhancer/Curved Wedding Band

A common approach is to use a ring enhancer to make your engagement ring look bigger. The main purpose of a ring enhancer is to highlight and enhance the sparkle and beauty of the engagement ring. It’s best to go for a curved ring enhancer, as it can more effectively make the engagement ring look bigger! If you don’t like the design of a ring enhancer, you can pair two curved wedding bands for a similar effect, offering more flexibility in wearing! When the curve fits the engagement ring’s center stone perfectly, it creates a halo-like effect, achieving what you want is realized!
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8. Keep the Ring Clean
The final, simple yet effective tip is to keep the ring clean. Dust and oil on the gemstone’s surface can dull its sparkle, making the ring look less bright and smaller. Regularly cleaning your ring and ensuring the gemstone’s surface is free of dirt and scratches can maximize the ring’s brilliance and beauty.
Here’s what you need:
- Gently clean with mild soapy water and a soft-bristle brush.
- Avoid cleaners containing harsh chemicals.
- Take your ring to a jeweler regularly for professional cleaning and maintenance.
Final Thoughts
Follow these 8 tips to make your engagement ring look bigger and brighter, even on a budget. Choosing the right center stone shape, adding a halo or side stones, using visual tricks in the setting, and keeping your ring clean will all make your ring the center of attention. Remember, the visual impact is often more important than the actual carat weight. Use these tips to create an engagement ring you’ll be proud of at MollyJewelryUS!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the most common way to make an engagement ring look bigger?
Add a halo! This is the most common way to make an engagement ring look larger. By adding one or more rows of small gemstones, you increase the gemstone’s surface area and overall sparkle, making the engagement ring look bigger!
Do round gemstones make an engagement ring look larger?
It depends on the gemstone. The main reason round cuts enhance visual size is due to their intense light reflection, creating an optical illusion. However, some gemstones don’t emit as much brilliance, even after being cut, so not all round gemstones will make the engagement ring look larger.
Can white metals make an engagement ring look bigger?
It depends! White metals paired with colorless diamonds can make the ring appear larger. This is because the colorless diamond blends seamlessly with the white metal. However, if paired with colored gemstones, the strong contrast may not create the same effect as with diamonds.
What’s the best way to make an engagement ring look bigger?
It varies from person to person. There are many ways to make an engagement ring look bigger, each with its pros and cons, so you can choose according to your needs! The most common way is adding a halo. If you don’t want a halo, you could opt for a thin band or shallow cut.
Does a high setting make the gemstone look bigger?
Compared to a low setting yes. A high setting has more visibility and allows for more light exposure to the stone, thus it will shine more and look bigger!
Does an illusion setting really make an engagement ring look bigger?
Illusion settings were originally designed for diamonds under 0.5 carats. Use of highly reflective white metal to create a visual magnification effect. However, if you choose a diamond that is not nearly colorless and is not paired with a white metal, the results may be less than ideal!