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What Diamond Shapes Look Biggest?

by Adriana Perez-Nakamura
Last updated on September 29, 2023
what diamond shapes look biggest

You’re engagement ring shopping and feel disappointed by the amount of diamond you can get for your money. Maybe you’ve heard that some shapes can look bigger than others. Your ears perk up! Now, exactly what diamond shapes look biggest? Let’s find out!

In this blog post, we’ll explore the top diamond shapes, setting tips, and other factors that can enhance your diamond’s size and appearance.

Maximize Your Diamond Size: Top Shapes to Consider

When you choose a diamond for your engagement ring you need to put a lot of thought into it. This is especially true because some shapes look larger than others thanks to their wider surface area and longer table.

Some diamond shapes, like marquise, oval, pear, and emerald, have a larger surface area and shallow cut. These features give the look of a larger diamond than other shapes of the exact same carat weight.

Let’s explore some unique features of each of these diamond shapes together.

Marquise Cut Diamonds

Wilshire ring. What diamond shapes look biggest.

The marquise cut diamond is a showstopper with its eye-catching shape and tapered points at both ends. Its unique shape is sometimes referred to as navette, which means “little ship” in French. This boat-like shape creates one of the largest surface areas among all diamond shapes.

With more surface area to catch the light, marquise diamonds have a dazzling sparkle that’s hard to ignore.

Be sure to consult a jewelry expert on the perfect setting for a marquise cut diamond. The right setting will highlight the stone’s distinct shape and display its full potential.

Choose the ideal setting for marquise diamond and you’ll create a breathtaking diamond ring that truly captures the essence of your love.

Oval Cut Diamonds

Marseille Ring

Oval cut diamonds are another excellent choice if you want to make your engagement ring look bigger.

With it’s elongated shape, the oval diamond is popular for many reasons, but one big reason is that it creates the illusion of long, slender fingers.

An oval cut diamond can flatter any finger making it a versatile and elegant choice for engagement rings.

With their exceptional sparkle and timeless appeal, oval diamonds are sure to make your love story shine.

Pear Cut Diamonds

Aurelia Ring

Pear cut diamonds offer a unique and visually stunning choice if you want to make a statement with your engagement ring. A pear cut diamond has one round side (like an oval) and a tapered point at the opposite end. And like an oval, pears have a larger surface area and appear larger than they are.

Similar to the round cut diamond, the pear has a dazzling sparkle and shine. The stunning elongated form of pear cut diamonds can make your engagement ring look more impressive and eye-catching.

Pair it with the right setting and a pear cut diamond can create an unforgettable and mesmerizing piece of jewelry.

Emerald Cut Diamonds

Waverly Ring. What diamond shapes look biggest.

Emerald cut diamonds are an exquisite choice with their mesmerizing “hall of mirrors” shine.

The stunning rectangular shape of emerald cut diamonds includes blocked corners and a large table, creating the illusion of a larger stone. This unique effect makes emerald cut diamonds appear bigger and brighter than other diamond shapes.

Commonly associated with vintage style, the emerald cut diamond is the epitome of elegance and sophistication. Its timeless allure and mesmerizing appearance make it the perfect choice for a truly unforgettable diamond engagement ring that stands out from the rest.

Let the beauty of an emerald cut diamond take center stage and leave a lasting impression on everyone who sees it.

Enhancing Your Diamond’s Appearance: Setting Tips

Your diamond’s setting influences its appearance and contributes to its perceived size. The right setting can draw attention to the center stone, emphasize its size, and even protect it from damage.

In this section, let’s get into two important setting options: thinner bands and halo settings. These tips will help you create a stunning engagement ring to showcase your diamond’s true beauty and size.

Thinner Bands

Thinner bands are an excellent choice if you want to highlight the size of your center stone. Choose a thinner yellow gold band to give your diamond a chance to be the center of attention.

Thinner bands typically range from 1.6mm to 2mm wide and can be made with yellow gold, white gold, or platinum for unparalleled comfort and style.

With a thinner band you have more options for ring stacking. You can also feature accent diamonds more prominently.

By choosing a thinner band for your engagement ring, you can create a striking contrast that makes the center diamond appear even more impressive and eye-catching.

Halo Settings

Halo settings add a beautiful touch to your engagement ring and provide a stunning sparkle with a ring of small accent stones. These accent stones are typically pavé diamonds, and they encircle a larger center stone.

This setting enhances the appearance of your center stone and adds extra sparkle and drama to your ring.

For marquise and pear-cut diamonds, halo settings can offer an additional benefit: protection.

A halo setting can help safeguard the center stone from snagging and chipping, ensuring your diamond remains secure and in the best condition possible.

Prioritizing Cut for Maximum Impact

The cut of your diamond dictates its appearance, size, and brilliance. Prioritizing the cut can significantly impact how large and stunning your diamond appears.

Round Cut Diamonds

Thanks to their superior light reflection, round cut diamonds are known for their brilliance, scintillation, and fire–all of which make them appear larger.

They are the most popular and brilliant diamond shape, with an incredible 57 to 58 facets meticulously crafted to reflect light and maximize brilliance.

The classic and timeless allure of round cut diamonds makes them a prime choice for engagement rings and other jewelry. With their remarkable sparkle and versatility, round cut diamonds can be used in any piece of jewelry for an exquisite and unforgettable look.

Fancy Shaped Diamonds

Fancy shaped diamonds, such as pear, oval, and marquise, offer you a world of possibilities if you want to make your engagement ring stand out.

These shapes have more surface area per carat weight than round diamonds, making them appear larger and more unique. With their exciting and eye-catching shapes, fancy shaped diamonds are an excellent alternative to the traditional round diamond.

Whether you choose a pear, oval, or marquise-cut diamond, these fancy-shaped diamonds are sure to make a statement and showcase your personal style. With a fancy shape you can let your creativity shine and create a diamond engagement ring that reflects the uniqueness of your love story.

Lab Grown Diamonds: The Bigger, More Affordable, Ethical Choice

Lab grown diamonds are a practical way to enjoy the beauty of diamonds without the environmental cost of mining.

They are created in a laboratory using advanced technology like high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. And they have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as natural diamonds.

Lab created diamonds offer a more affordable and ethical alternative for those looking to increase their carat size without increasing their budget. Did you know that lab diamonds are 30-50% less expensive than mined diamonds? That’s a huge savings!

When you choose a lab grown diamond you get a larger and more stunning gem, as well as a more sustainable and responsible approach to diamond sourcing.

Make a bigger impact with your engagement ring by opting for a lab grown diamond to reflect your values and commitment to the environment.

Diamond Size Comparison: Visual Guide

A visual guide can serve as a handy tool in comparing different diamond shapes and sizes. By providing a clear representation of various diamond shapes, such as:

  • round
  • marquise
  • oval
  • pear
  • emerald

A visual guide can help you make an informed decision on which shape appears the largest and most impressive.

With the help of a visual guide, you can easily compare the surface area and size of different diamond shapes, allowing you to choose the perfect shape for your engagement ring.

This visual comparison can enable you to make a confident decision and make sure your engagement ring captures the essence of your love and leaves a lasting impression.

Closing Thoughts

Making your diamond engagement ring look bigger and more impressive is definitely doable with the right knowledge and expertise.

When you choose your ring, be sure to consider the top diamond shapes that appear larger. Keep in mind that the right setting can enhance the appearance of your diamond.

Prioritize your diamond’s cut and explore lab grown diamonds as a more affordable and ethical choice. When you keep all of these considerations in mind, you can elevate your engagement ring’s size and beauty.

With this knowledge, you can create a stunning and unforgettable engagement ring that truly reflects the depth of your love.

Clean Origin Diamonds

No matter what diamond shape you’re looking for, we have it. From classic round brilliant to larger-tabled diamonds like marquise, emerald, pear, and oval, our lab grown diamonds are affordable and beautiful.

In fact, when you buy lab grown you are going to pay 30-50% less than what you’d pay for a natural diamond. This means you truly can have a larger diamond!

Shop our lab grown diamond engagement rings both in-store and online. And if you’d rather have something that suits your own personal style, you have the option to build your own custom lab grown diamond engagement ring. Your choices are endless.

Frequently Asked Questions

What diamond shape appears biggest?

Marquise cut diamonds appear the biggest, as their tapered points create the largest surface area of all diamond shapes. This creates an illusion of size and mass at the top, making it look larger than other diamond cuts.

What is the importance of prioritizing the cut of my diamond?

Prioritizing the cut of your diamond is essential in order to maximize its brilliance, scintillation, and fire, resulting in a larger and more stunning stone.

Are lab grown diamonds a good choice for a bigger, more affordable, and ethical option?

Yes! Lab grown diamonds are an excellent choice for a bigger, more affordable, and ethical option. They allow you to increase your carat size without increasing your budget. And as an added bonus, you are supporting a more sustainable approach to diamond sourcing. Be sure to browse our wide selection of lab grown diamond engagement rings.