How to Make an Engagement Ring Look Bigger: 9 Designer-Approved Hacks
Size isn’t everything—but sometimes it is. Want to make an engagement ring look bigger? You’ve got options.
Updated: October 10, 2025
Written by: Kristen Shirley
When choosing a diamond for an engagement ring, there are countless trade-offs to consider—cut versus clarity, size versus color, sparkle versus budget. But no matter which stone you select, there are clever design strategies that show you exactly how to make an engagement ring look bigger. With the right setting or style choice, even a modest diamond can appear more impressive and radiant.
Once you’ve found your perfect stone, the next step is exploring the many techniques jewelers use to make an engagement ring look bigger, from timeless classics to modern, trend-driven designs. Ahead, discover the tips and tricks to make your natural diamond look even more major—straight from the experts.
Meet the Experts
Greg Kwiat, CEO of Kwiat, is a GIA Graduate Gemologist and a fourth-generation member of the family that has been crafting fine diamonds and jewelry since 1907.
Stephanie Gottlieb is a GIA-certified gemologist and the founder of her namesake NYC-based jewelry brand, launched in 2013.
Briony Raymond is the founder of her namesake New York atelier. She is a distinguished expert in fine jewelry, renowned for her bespoke designs and curated estate collections.
1. Try an Elongated Cut
According to Greg Kwiat, CEO of Kwiat, the family-run diamond house founded in 1907, how to make an engagement ring look bigger starts with the diamond itself. “It’s important to understand that not all diamonds have the same ‘size appearance,’” he says. “Carat weight is an important measure, but it can sometimes be misleading. Certain diamond shapes will look visually larger because of the way that they are cut. And well-cut diamonds will show their full size appearance as opposed to poorly cut stones that may be unnecessarily deep.”
For example, the Ashoka diamond can make an engagement ring look bigger by 30% when compared to an emerald-cut diamond with a similar carat weight. Oval, marquise, and pear-shaped diamonds also naturally face up larger than their actual carat weight and can make an engagement ring look bigger. Due to their elongated proportions, these shapes cover a larger surface area on the finger, making them appear larger than a round diamond of the same size. Elongated cuts are also very much on trend right now, making them a stylish choice as well as a practical one for maximizing size.
2. Prioritize Carat Weight by Embracing Warmth and Clarity Trade-Offs
When considering how to make an engagement ring look bigger, you can also look beyond the traditional 4Cs. If you want to prioritize carat, consider trading down slightly on color and clarity to maximize visible size. Keep cut quality high so the stone still faces up bright, then look for an eye-clean diamond in a lower clarity grade and a warmer color that complements your setting. Warmer “Desert Diamonds” tones—champagne, nude, brown and other earthy hues read intentional and luxe, especially in yellow or rose gold settings. This approach gives you more millimeters of face-up spread and a ring that looks noticeably larger.
3. Use a Halo to Make an Engagement Ring Look Bigger
If you’re opting for a classic round cut diamond, you aren’t out of options if you’re trying to make an engagement ring look bigger. “One of the most popular ways to add scale to the overall ring is by surrounding the center diamond with a halo of small, pavé-set diamonds,” Kwiat says. “It’s a classic and beautiful design, with the added benefit that the outer border gives the impression of a larger center diamond. The key to a beautiful halo design is ensuring that the halo is delicate so that it supports the center stone rather than detracts from it.
Stephanie Gottlieb, a New York City-based jewelry designer, agrees. “A halo can add substantial visual size to a center stone,” she says. “When adding a subtle pavé halo, it can become an ‘extension’ of the stone. A halo can also be done in a more obviously ‘designed’ way, where the design then becomes the focus of the ring, rather than the center stone.” Her Sunburst halo ring is a perfect example of this technique.
Halos not for you? For a subtler twist, the hidden halo is a chic alternative—tucked just below the center stone, it delivers extra sparkle and the illusion of size without changing the ring’s overall silhouette. While not as dramatic as a traditional halo, this more discreet setting can still make an engagement ring look bigger.
4. Bring on the Bezel Setting for Extra Impact
While halos are certainly popular, many brides are opting for more unique techniques to make an engagement ring look bigger. Enter the bezel setting, a sleek design where metal fully surrounds the center stone to hold it securely in place.”There is nothing like a hunky, chunky bezel to make a diamond look larger,” says jewelry designer Briony Raymond. “The bezel is a time-tested setting that favors those who love a more substantial overall look, an aesthetic of which we are enormously in favor!” Gottlieb agrees, explaining that “the thin perimeter of metal extends the appearance of size beyond the perimeter of the stone, and when set in platinum, it almost disappears!”.
5. Add Side Stones for a Larger-Looking Engagement Ring
While solitaire diamonds remain one of the most popular engagement ring styles, designers are crafting more engagement rings with multiple diamonds—which just so happens to make an engagement ring look bigger. Greg Kwiat says classic three-stone rings are a timeless choice. “In these designs, a well-chosen pair of side diamonds like trapezoids, pear shapes, half moons or trilliants will complement the center diamond and also add scale to the ring,” he says. “At Kwiat, we set the diamonds closer to the finger, where the context of the ring relative to the hand makes it appear visually larger.”
Gottlieb is also a fan of multi-stone rings. “By using elongated side stones, the width of the center stone is extended outwards, filling out the top of the finger,” she says. Her designs are known for being fashion-forward, and she recently ranked the two-stone ring her new favorite setting. “With two stones, the overall appearance is much larger and provides full finger coverage,” she says.
6. Embrace a Cluster Setting
This brings us to our next point: make an engagement ring look bigger by ditching the thought of a center stone altogether and embracing a style with several smaller diamonds. Cluster settings combine several smaller diamonds to give the impression of one larger stone. Depending on the arrangement—whether floral, geometric, or asymmetrical—they can create a dramatic, eye-catching effect at a more approachable price point.
Clusters are also a fun way to personalize your ring with unique patterns while maximizing both sparkle and scale. Many vintage and estate rings feature cluster designs, making them not only more affordable but also a meaningful choice with a unique backstory.
7. Play with Color to Enhance Diamond Size
More brides are opting for non-traditional engagement rings that are more playful and reflect their unique personal style. Alison Chemla, Creative Director and Designer of the whimsical jewelry brand Alison Lou, is known for her fun pieces and her use of enamel in them. She says her clients are looking for a twist on traditional engagement rings. “Setting smaller stones with a delicate gold or even enamel bezel adds interest to the ring, which can certainly make an engagement ring look bigger when done correctly,” she says. “Additionally, enamel is a great way to reflect personal style in your ring. We have used black, cream, navy and even pink enamel in our engagement ring settings.”
8. Go Slim with the Band
A thin, delicate band can make your diamond appear larger by contrast, since there’s less metal competing for attention. Styles like pavé bands or knife-edge shanks add sparkle along the finger while still keeping the focus on the center stone. The overall effect is a diamond that feels more prominent, making this one of the simplest ways to make an engagement ring look bigger—even if the carat size is on the smaller side.
9. Set Your Diamond at an Unexpected Angle
Finally, setting a diamond at an unexpected angle can “trick the eye into perceiving the overall size of the stone as larger,” says Raymond. “It’s always fun to play with the orientations of stones! For instance, I find setting a stone that would traditionally be set one way in a less expected direction can add appeal visually. East-west settings for emerald cut diamonds and turning an Asscher cut diamond 90 degrees are just two stunning examples of how to cleverly make an engagement ring look bigger.
