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If bigger is better in terms of your stone, there are a couple of ways to max the carat size while sticking to your budget. One way is to explore the world of lab-grown diamonds. These man made stones are compositionally identical to natural diamonds but come with a much speedier turnaround (as opposed to the billions of years it can take a natural diamond to form, not to mention adding on the mining process). It would take an expert gemologist or jeweler and a microscope to be able to discern the difference! Luckily, this all means that they’re much more affordable—so you can often get a bigger lab-grown diamond for your engagement ring than a natural one.

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Another option to consider is swapping stones entirely and exploring other gems as the center stone. If you want to take the non-traditional route, some of the most popular diamond alternatives for your engagement ring include subtly hued stones like aquamarine and morganite as well as bolder colors like emerald, ruby, and sapphire. Colorful engagement rings have been trending for a while now—just ask Halle Berry (emerald), Jessica Simpson (ruby), or Elizabeth Hurley (sapphire). Keep in mind that while you can often go larger in carat size with a gemstone versus a diamond, colors can limit the versatility of the ring, so choose carefully.

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One final way to make the carat size of your engagement ring appear larger is to be strategic about the style. Certain shapes, like ovals and pears particularly, make the diamond look larger. Another option is choosing a smaller center stone with a setting that maximizes visual impact—opting for a prong setting (with less prongs), a bezel setting, or a stunning halo can all make that center stone pop and appear larger than it is.