If your budget is stretched to the point where a fast food meal would require you to take out a payday loan but you want to purchase engagement rings which make you look like a big spender--not to flaunt your net worth, but because you want something she will be proud to show off to her friends--there are some tips which you can use to make the engagement rings appear larger than they really are. These tips can save you hundreds of dollars in cost as well.

LARGER TABLE

The table of a gem stone is the top face of the stone. A stone that is perfectly cut will have a precise ratio of table to length of distance from the table to the girdle, which is the widest part of the stone. Another exact proportion states how the distance above the girdle relates to the distance below the girdle. These measurements are part of the engagement rings Cut determination. Engagement rings that are perfectly cut will have maximum sparkle and will have a higher price tag than engagement rings which have a larger table in proportion to their size. If you choose engagement rings with slightly less sparkle you will get engagement rings which cost significantly less money but look larger than the smaller stones which are perfect in their cut. There won't be enough difference between the two examples of engagement rings to be readily apparent to the naked eye and you will still have engagement rings with a beautiful appearance at a lot less money.

UNDERWEIGHT GEMS

If you choose engagement rings with gemstones which are slightly less than a full carat, such as a .8 or .9 carat instead of a 1 carat ring, or 1.9 carat engagement rings instead of 2 carats, it will be very hard to discern the difference visually, particularly if you take care with the setting that you use, but you can garner significant savings.

ALTERNATE GEMSTONE

Keep in mind that even solitaire-type engagement rings don't necessarily have to be diamond. Other gemstones which have been very successfully used as the center and featured stone include sapphire, blue topaz, and tourmaline. You can always flank the center stone with small diamonds, even diamond chips.

METAL

White gold is less expensive than platinum. You can also look at 18 carat gold in stead of 24 carat gold. Stainless steel is cheaper than gold.

USED RING

Antique engagement rings are beautiful and sometimes preferred over the more modern styles. Depending on where they are purchased, they can be much less expensive than one purchased directly from a new jewelry tray.

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