Big Engagement Rings: For Some, the Only C that Matters is the C for Carat

Big engagement rings are becoming more and more common these days. Americans have a tendency to think bigger is better (i.e. mcmansions, SUVs,, etc.) and engagement rings are no different. The days where one carat engagement rings were considered substantial are long gone. Nowadays it takes a 2 or 3 carat ring to elicit some jaw-dropping.

My preference for engagement ring carat size is 1.0 to 1.5 carats- I want people to look at my face/eyes when they talk to me rather than gawking at the size of my bling. My ring has a 1.25 carat diamond and I've had a few people comment on how large the diamond is (although I do have extremely small hands which also makes the diamond seem larger).

A decent quality 2 carat ring will set you back about $12,00 - $14,000 bones while a 3 carat ring will probably exceed about $20,000. FYI...The carat is about the weight of the diamond and not the size. The heavier the diamond the more carat size it has

If you want the look of a large diamond but can't quite afford the price, here are a few tips:

Avoid buying round diamonds. While they are the most brilliant of all the shapes, they also tend to look the smallest. Oval and marquise shapes tend to look larger then their round shaped diamond equals as they are longer, creating an illusion of greater size.

A bezel setting is a good choice for making a diamond look larger. A bezel setting is where the diamond has precious metal wrapped around it, emphasizing the circumference.

Also, tiny accent side-stones that surround a center stone, can accentuate the center diamond.

Consider a 3 stone engagement ring versus a solitaire. A 3 stone engagement ring can add up to the weight of a solitaire, look just as large and in charge, but cost much less. This is because larger diamonds are more rare and therefore cost more than smaller diamonds which add up to the same carat weight.

The author just celebrated her one year anniversary and sports a beautiful ascher cut ring. She and her husband put together the website: http://www.ultimate-engagement-ring-guide.com to help you find the perfect ring.