Summary
- Oval diamonds offer a brilliant sparkle similar to round cuts but with a unique elongated shape.
- They tend to appear larger per carat and flatter the finger.
- Bow-tie effect is common but can be minimized with a good cut.
- Popular for their elegance, modern style, and great value.
- Oval Cuts are both classic and super-trendy, making them a great choice.
- The problem is that finding a stone with some depth but not too much is hard. If depth is too shallow, the diamond will look like a bow-tie. If it’s too deep, the stone will look dull. You need to find the right compromise my dear friend.
- My advice on that is you pick the appropriate L/W ratio. Don’t go any higher than 1.50, the perfect ratio for an oval cut being 1.30.
- As for color and clarity, you can get perfectly acceptable diamonds when you go as low as I and SI1, oval cut diamonds are good at hiding color and inclusions. Just take a careful look at where the inclusions are positioned.
- This last one is for your wallet; oval shape diamonds are usually cheaper than their round counterparts.
Lean more about oval cut diamonds. Check Oval cut diamond prices
What is the “bow-tie” effect in oval diamonds—and how much should I worry about it?
The “bow-tie” is a dark shadow or faint band across the center of an elongated diamond (like an oval) caused by how light travels through it. Nearly all ovals have some bow-tie, but a well-cut one will keep the shadow subtle rather than dark and distracting.
Are oval-cut diamonds often more budget-friendly compared to round cuts for the same visual size?
Often, yes. Since less rough diamond material goes wasted during cutting, oval diamonds can cost less per carat compared with rounds—while still delivering a larger face-up appearance.
How do color and clarity considerations differ (if at all) for an oval-cut diamond compared with more standard shapes?
Good question. Ovals are somewhat forgiving: you might be able to go a little lower in color (for example, “I” color) or clarity (like VS2 or SI1) and still get a handsome face-up appearance if the inclusions are well placed and the setting helps. However, because of the elongated shape and the amount of surface you see, you should still check that the color tint or visible inclusions aren’t distracting. So while you can save some budget here, it doesn’t mean you can ignore these factors.
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Oval Cut Diamond FAQs