Do Side Stones Make a Diamond Look Bigger?
Quick Summary
When you're shopping for an engagement ring, you want to elevate the presence of your diamond without feeling like you have to take out a second mortgage to afford it. Side stone engagement rings offer a smart and luxurious solution because they can make your center diamond appear larger. The right choice depends on your personal style and what appeals to you most: continuous sparkle, dramatic width, gentle enhancement, or concentrated bursts of brilliance. When you're ready to explore how these designs can work with your chosen center stone, Keyzar's side stone engagement ring collection offers a range of styles that are as affordable as they are stunning.
When you’re shopping for an engagement ring, you want to maximize the presence of your diamond. At the same time, you don’t want to feel like you have to take out a second mortgage to afford it. That’s when buying a side stone engagement ring can be a smart as well as luxurious solution. Not only can it make the diamond look bigger, but there’s a wide range of breathtaking designs to choose from.
Side stones add sparkle, but that's only part of the story. What they really do is make your entire engagement ring more spectacular. The smaller diamonds clustered around your center stone or set along the band extend the sparkle zone way beyond what the diamond alone could achieve. In this guide, we review how side stone engagement rings work their visual magic and reveal some Keyzar bestsellers that can take your proposal to the next level.
What Are Side Stone Engagement Rings?
Side stone engagement rings feature smaller diamonds set along the band or clustered on either side. In this respect, they’re different from three stone rings, which have two larger diamonds or gemstones flanking the center stone. These side stones are designed to complement the center stone, creating a more luxurious and striking appearance. They can be set in a variety of shapes and arrangements, such as round, marquise or pear. One famous example is Princess Beatrice's engagement ring, which featured a 2.5 carat round cut diamond surrounded by smaller baguette and round diamonds in a platinum setting.
What makes side stones so stunning is how they extend the visual line way beyond the main diamond, making the entire ring more magnificent. They can also increase the perceived diamond size by reflecting more light, giving the impression of greater grandeur. To get an idea of how gorgeous the overall effect can be, let’s take a look at some of Keyzar's most popular side stone engagement rings.
1. The Hidden Halo Penelope: Delicate Pavé Sophistication
The Hidden Halo Penelope features six pave-set diamonds set on the shoulders and along the dainty 1.5mm band, creating a continuous line of shimmer that’s amplified by the hidden halo and microdiamonds in the bridge area. These side stones frame the center diamond, drawing your eye inward while simultaneously extending the sparkle outward.
The result? Your diamond may appear larger because it remains the clear focal point, yet the overall design gives The Penelope a more luxurious presence than a simple solitaire. This makes it an excellent choice if you want a beautiful engagement ring that commands attention while staying refined and graceful on your finger.
2. The Lindsey: Bold Marquise and Round Cut Brilliance
The Lindsey side stone engagement ring features a half-band of alternating marquise and round cut diamonds that dramatically extends the shimmer way beyond the center stone. It's strategic geometry that also makes your finger look longer and more elegant, so this design is definitely for those who want a ring that makes an impression from across the room.
What also sets this design apart is the shared prong setting, which creates a seamless "diamond river" effect. The line of continuous brilliance that makes your center stone the focal point of a much larger sparkle area. Your brain registers all that beauty as one cohesive piece, making the diamond appear to be far bigger than it actually is.
3. The Lucia: Marquise Diamond Drama
If The Lindsey is dramatic, The Lucia takes it up another notch. This engagement ring features a hidden halo and six marquise diamonds on a half-band, their pointed tips extending far from the center stone and creating maximum width perception. But what's really exceptional about this design is how those side diamonds guide your eye from the band to the center, making the transition gradual and expansive instead of abrupt.
The result is a ring that appears absolutely substantial on your hand. The horizontal expansion created by those marquise shapes makes everything look wider, longer, and more impressive. Your center stone doesn't just look larger but the entire ring commands attention in a way that simpler styles can't match.
4. The Twig: Nature-Inspired Subtle Accents
The Twig is a bestselling nature-inspired design featuring a delicate 1.3mm band and subtle accent stones. The slimmer band creates a maximum size contrast with the center diamond, while the accents add a gentle sparkle reminiscent of raindrops on a tree branch. The whole effect is ethereal and breathtakingly beautiful.
What makes The Twig extra-special is how those nature-inspired curves create flowing lines that lead directly to the center stone. Your eye follows those organic shapes right to the diamond, which makes it appear more prominent. This demonstrates that you don't always need maximum sparkle to make your center stone look larger. Sometimes strategic subtlety amplifies rather than overwhelms.
5. The Mia: Clustered Brilliance
The Mia takes a completely different approach with clustered diamond shoulders that create concentrated bursts of sparkle flanking the center stone. Instead of a continuous line of diamonds, these groupings make the ring look more substantial and luxurious while keeping the center stone as the clear focal point.
What's unique about this design is how the high-polish band between the clusters makes the diamond areas appear even more prominent. Your eye registers those bright sparkle zones against the smooth metal, making your center stone appear to be part of a far larger, far more impressive piece. Together, these strategic elements take The Mia to the next level.
Customize Your Side Stone Ring with Glamorous Extras
Keyzar side stone engagement rings can be elevated even further with exciting extras. For example, you can add a Euro shank for enhanced comfort and a more luxurious feel, pave prongs to maximize sparkle, or mixed metals to create a unique two-tone look that's distinctly yours. Other options include an east-west setting for a modern, distinctive look, diamonds all around or 75% around the band for maximum brilliance, or a hidden halo beneath the center stone for subtle sparkle that's distinctly yours.
The Khloe is already a stunning engagement ring with a stylish hidden halo and round-cut diamonds creating a dazzling display along the shoulders. When customized with pave prongs, your center stone can look even more luminous on your finger, making your special day even more spectacular.
Conclusion
So do side stones make your diamond look bigger? Absolutely, and they do it with breathtaking style. Whether you're drawn to the dainty sophistication of The Penelope or the luxurious brilliance of The Mia, there's a side stone design that will make your heart skip a beat.
Don't just imagine it: see it for yourself. Explore Keyzar's side stone engagement ring collection and discover how these stunning designs can transform your center stone into something truly extraordinary. With expert craftsmanship, ethically sourced diamonds, and endless customization options, your dream ring isn't just possible: it's ready to become reality. Shop now!
