Round and oval cut diamonds share several common key features, and they happen to be two of the most popular diamond shapes for engagement rings right now. But you may not realize how different these two diamond cuts actually are.
Round brilliant cuts have always been a favorite for engagement rings, but we’ve seen the demand for oval cuts explode over the last year. When Ryan Reynolds proposed to Blake Livley with a stunning 7 carat oval diamond, the trend took off. Chris Pratt and Justin Bieber are the most recent celebs to choose oval shaped diamond engagement rings.
Let’s take a closer look at both round and oval cut diamonds.
ROUND CUT DIAMONDS
Versions of the round cut diamond have been around since the 1800s, but it wasn’t until 1919 that the official round, brilliant cut was introduced. Gemologist and mathematician Marcel Tolkowsky created the formula used to cut perfectly proportioned round diamonds. The proportions create the ideal scenario for a diamond to reflect light back to your eye in a way that creates a truly stunning effect.
The round brilliant cut diamond became synonymous with engagement rings after the De Beers ‘A Diamond is Forever’ campaign. Today, the round cut diamond represents 75% of all diamonds sold.
Shape: round
Characteristics: simple, traditional, timeless
Facets: 58
Light: intense brilliance and fire
OVAL CUT DIAMONDS
Oval cut diamond variations date back as early as the 14th century. A famous Russian diamond cutter named Lazare Kaplan fashioned a modified brilliant cut into what became officially known as the oval cut around 1960. Though there are many oval shapes, but a length to width ratio of 1.35 – 1.50 is considered the classic oval cut.
Like the round cut, an oval cut diamond has 58 facets which create intense brilliance and fire.
Shape: oval, elongated or rounded
Characteristics: unique, elegant, sophisticated
Facets: 58
Light: some brilliance and fire
DIFFERENCES OF THE ROUND AND OVAL CUT DIAMOND
While the two cuts share several similarities, they’re actually quite different in size, cost, and appearance.
Round cuts are always priced higher for two key reasons. One- they are always in high demand. Two- more raw material is required. It takes a larger rough diamond to cut a perfectly round diamond than other shapes.
An oval cut diamond will appear larger than a round cut diamond of the same exact carat weight. That’s mainly because our eyes automatically measure from top to bottom. Oval cuts generally have about 10% more visible surface area, which also makes the cut seem larger.
Another major difference to be aware of is the ‘Bow Tie Effect’ seen in some oval cuts. This is basically the appearance of a darker area near the center of the diamond. While too much bow-tie can be undesirable, the effect can actually make the diamond more visually appealing to the naked eye in some cases.
Although the two shapes are currently in high demand, there are actually far less oval cut diamonds in circulation. Finding a specific round diamond is easy, but locating an oval diamond with exact specifications is quite difficult.
CHOOSING BETWEEN THE ROUND AND OVAL CUT DIAMOND
Choosing the right cut will depend on budget, shape preference, and the bride to be’s style. Classic or non-traditional? Do they prefer statement pieces or simple and timeless? So many considerations!
Related: How to Choose the Perfect Diamond Shape for Her
If you aren’t sure what would be best for your bride-to-be, let our experts guide you.
Contact Sergio@jfjco.com to schedule an appointment and find the perfect diamond today!
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