You may not be aware that the typical size of a solitaire diamond engagement ring has increased over the years. This trend probably comes from the availability of diamonds, the rise in wealth in the middle class after WWII, and the trend set by celebrities that show an increase in size. A standard 1-carat ring now might seem a bit small, in comparison to today’s standards, but it also might be the only thing you think you can afford to get. Engagement rings don’t come cheap and that’s part of their intrinsic value. You are picking out an item of jewelry that is going to signify your commitment to a special person, it shouldn’t be cheap. The budget does have to be taken into consideration, but there are ways to get a larger look for less. First, let’s look at the modern trends in size and shape.
What Modern Celebrities Are Wearing
The standard bearer for romantic engagement rings seems to have gone to Ben Affleck’s doomed proposal to Jennifer Lopez. The 6-carat pink diamond ring set the trend for pink diamonds as well as large diamonds. Since then, many other celebrities have opted for either unusual colors, shapes, but always in a very large size. Catherine Zeta-Jones received a 10-carat diamond from Michael Douglas and this trend towards bigger diamonds just continues on today. Donald Trump eventually tried to outdo everyone with a 15-carat diamond engagement ring given to Melania, but that record didn’t last long. Paris Hilton ended up with a 24-carat emerald cut diamond ring in the failed engagement with Paris Latis.
While celebrities expect the world to be their oyster, most other people would not be able to be so extravagant with their engagement ring purchases. Luckily, you don’t have to go out and buy a 5-carat ring, you can go out and purchase something much smaller. Keep in mind, however, that the average weight of the ring has gone from 1-carat to 3-carats, although that doesn’t mean that the quality has to be higher too.
How To Finagle The Size
If you know you want a larger size, you still have options to change the cut, the color, or the clarity of the diamond that you choose. This can significantly impact the amount of money you spend on the diamond. If you are more interested in size than quality, then this is a perfectly acceptable way to go. Carat weight is just one aspect of how a diamond is graded and valued. The other 3 C’s can also help you to narrow down the choice of diamond you want that fits into your budget.
White diamonds are usually more expensive than yellow diamonds. Not all fancy colored diamonds cost more than white diamonds. Some colors are more sought after by customers than other colors. Pink, for instance, has become very popular and a good quality pink stone can be more expensive than a white diamond. Not all yellow diamonds are less than white diamonds, like the canary yellow diamonds. So, it isn’t just about the color, but the depth of color too that brings up or lowers the price of the diamond.
You can opt for a cut that makes the diamond seem even larger. These cuts usually keep the diamond table flat with little depth to the stone. This may be ideal to present a larger diamond, but it also affects the way the stone reflects light and can make it less brilliant. There are trade-offs to every choice that you make when purchasing engagement rings and you should educate yourself on the different options out there and how they affect the look of the stone.
Adding Additional Stones
Another easy way to make a smaller stone seem bigger is to add side stones. This is actually a very popular option for people with small hands on which a larger ring might look unbalanced and unattractive. By adding side stones you also have the choice to go with more diamonds or a stone of lesser value. You can also add diamonds that are different colors as side stones. Some people will add additional gem stones that represent the family unit being created with a marriage, if the family already has children from a previous marriage.
Be Careful When Choosing Larger Diamonds
A genuine large diamond is always more expensive than a smaller one of similar quality. If you think you’ve located a retailer that is selling you a large diamond that seems like the deal of the century, you should be careful to ask if it is a genuine diamond. Many larger diamonds today are not genuine diamonds, they are either simulated or clarity enhanced diamonds. These can dramatically impact the actual value of the diamond even though some retailers may go to great lengths to convince the buyer they are the same thing.
Be sure to get a certification report from a third-party with any diamond purchase you make, especially if you are doing so online. It is difficult for some labs to detect some of the clarity enhancement procedures out there, but vendors might give them specific names that clue you into the fact that they are using a trademarked procedure to enhance their diamonds. Yehuda and cubic zirconia are well-known names for diamonds that are clarity enhanced or simulated and the public is becoming more aware of this practice, however, not all retailers will be straightforward with the genuineness of the diamond. To avoid these problems when purchasing engagement rings, seek a reputable seller who has been in business for a while and will offer you a third-party independent appraiser’s report with your purchase. The last thing you want to do is present an engagement ring to a fiancée only to have it come back to haunt you because it is not genuine. This can send mixed messages about how much you value the relationship. If you want a large stone there are many different options to get genuine diamonds that make the ring look large and beautiful without going the route of simulated or clarity enhanced diamond rings.
