| A question often asked, especially where a | | | | issue, then other shapes will give a bigger |
| solitaire style of diamond engagement ring is | | | | 'footprint' to the size of the diamond. In many |
| required is that of the size of the center stone | | | | cases the princess cut, when well selected and at |
| within a predetermined budget of course. The | | | | equal weight, will look bigger. This is also true for |
| first thing that the eye picks up is that of sparkle | | | | the emerald, trilliant and Asscher cuts. |
| so if one, for the sake of argument, have a | | | | The extreme of actual visual size to weight ratio |
| cluster of diamonds set one next to the other, | | | | is with the 'ROSE' cut which is basically a very flat |
| they will look like one and give the impression of a | | | | diamond cut with a minimum of facets. This was |
| large single stone even though the cluster may be | | | | very popular in early Victorian times where cutting |
| constituted of 10 or more smaller diamonds. | | | | techniques were less developed and cheap items |
| If this is important to the customer then any size | | | | of diamond jewelery were beginning to be |
| of center diamond can be selected and mounted | | | | manufactured. One can still find them today and |
| in a ring surrounded with small diamonds giving the | | | | these are sometimes used, not as main stones |
| impression of a single large diamond within a | | | | but as accompaniments. |
| solitaire type of setting. | | | | One can also use the shoulders of a ring as a |
| There are also other means of enhancing the | | | | mounting for diamonds, as an example a main |
| individual size of the main diamond, the most | | | | center brilliant cut diamond set with a pair of pear, |
| important of which is selecting a well proportioned | | | | trilliant or baguette cut diamonds one on either |
| diamond to begin with, indeed heavily cut to | | | | side. To the eye it will be picked out as one entity |
| weight diamonds, at identical weight, can look | | | | as the diamond area will be enlarged and the |
| 20% smaller than a very well proportioned equally | | | | visual size of the whole will look more impressive |
| well cut example, cut to a different set of | | | | without having to fork out for a bigger center |
| proportions. | | | | diamond. |
| Another way is in the setting itself, a diamond set | | | | There are also what is called 'illusion' settings |
| within claws will look smaller than if it was | | | | where very small diamonds are set within a 'pave' |
| mounted in a 'rubover' type of setting, | | | | setting with polished gold parts around them giving |
| surrounded, therefore, with gold, particularly | | | | the illusion of extra size. These can be found |
| important if white gold is used. | | | | anywhere on the ring and can make a ring look |
| This brings me to the actual shape of the | | | | very impressive indeed at a minimal of extra |
| diamond required. Most people go for the round | | | | expense. |
| brilliant cut shape, however, if sparkle is less of an | | | | |