While round brilliant cut diamonds are largely considered the “standard” when it comes to engagement rings, the oval cut is a great option as well!
Because the oval diamond has very similar brilliance to a round cut with its 58 facets, it’s often a popular choice for brides that don’t want to sacrifice any brilliance but want a slightly more elegant or elongated diamond shape.
Related: The History of the Cushion Cut Diamond
The history of the oval cut diamond
Oval diamonds have been in wide use for hundreds of years (as early as the 14th century). While the shape has long been considered desirable, both the technology and expertise to produce an oval diamond with adequate brilliance didn’t exist until 1957.
A famous Russian diamond cutter named Lazare Kaplan pioneered what we now know as the oval cut. What makes his design so significant is that it was essentially a modified brilliant cut, but with an elongated shape that had eluded diamond cutters previously.
The genius of Lazare and his main claim to fame was that he was exceptionally good at taking “useless” diamonds and turning them into extremely valuable stones by way of “cleaving” the diamond. This was the process of taking fractured or undesirable stones and creating a useable diamond.
Many of the diamonds that Kaplan produced were ones that other diamond cutters would completely disregard or refuse to work with entirely!
One of his many achievements in his time was the production of the modern oval cut, which has earned him a spot in the Jewelers International Hall of Fame.
Related: The Radiant Cut Diamond
Benefits of choosing an oval cut
The oval cut is brilliant
As mentioned previously, the oval cut diamond is rare in that it doesn’t sacrifice brilliance with its unique shape. This means that they are very similar in overall look to a brilliant round, but often at a lower price because the diamond is in less demand.
It appears larger
This may be the best characteristic of the oval cut diamond! Often times, an oval cut will appear to be larger than a round brilliant diamond, but at the same carat weight. This combined with the oval’s ability to elongate the appearance of the finger makes it a desirable cut for some brides-to-be.
Related: Why You Should Always Start with the Loose Diamond
Factors to consider when selecting this diamond
The bow-tie effect
Essentially all oval cut diamonds contain some level of the bow-tie effect, which is 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.
Elongated or round?
Oval cut diamonds are known to be found in many shape variations of either long or round. While neither are considered “correct”, they do both have their advantages. The longer shape will make the finger appear more slender, while the round shape will have less of the bow-tie effect present.
Overview
The oval cut diamond is a great option for a bride-to-be that wants a stone with maximum brilliance, but a unique shape. Careful consideration needs to be taken when selecting an oval cut due to the variations in shape and amount of bow-tie effect. This diamond is generally priced lower than round brilliant cuts, and can appear larger at the same carat weight.
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