Oval Cut Engagement Ring

The oval cut diamond features an elongated round that is visible from above and differs from the round cut, despite having a circular shape. Oval cut diamonds are a more trendy, modern option that stands apart from more conventional diamond cuts that dominate the market. Oval cut diamonds, and other gemstones that feature this look, have grown in popularity in recent years, with simple and clear cut characters. However selecting an oval cut gemstone, and later engagement ring that features this particular is not always a straightforward one. So here we will outline the main features of oval cut diamonds and their application in other top gemstone types, and what you must consider when purchasing engagement rings of this type. 

A Brief History of Oval Cut Diamonds

It may be interesting to note that oval-shaped diamonds have been around for a while, possibly hundreds of years. The oval cut that has become an important addition to the world diamond cuts only become prominent sometime in the 1960s. Diamond cutter Lazare Kaplan, who comes from a family with a strong tradition in jewellery, originally from Russia, is credited with the development of this particular diamond cut. Kaplan, having started his own diamond cutting business during the early part of the 20th century, but his work was disrupted by the First World War, which forced him to restart the diamond business in the United States. In time he began to develop an expertise in diamond cutting, notably in reshaping cracked or chipped stones, whilst enhancing their visual character. Ever the entrepreneur, in his bid to remain competitive, he expanded his diamond cutting business to Puerto Rico, with his influence and expertise growing he, with the help of his sons become an established authority in the diamond world, which at the time was dominated by the Diamond mining giant De Beers. His continued work in improving faulty diamond cuts led to the development of the oval cut, for which he is most remembered. Kaplan’s contributions in the world of diamonds at the industrial level, and in his construction in the stylistic aspect of the stone, has made him a notable figure in the diamond world. And the oval cut diamond has endured to this day as a top diamond and gemstone cut for fine jewellery, most notably with oval cut engagement rings. 

Main Features of Oval Cut Engagement Rings

Arguably the most notable feature of the oval cut diamond is its modern look, courtesy of its sleek, elongated shape that visually sets it apart from the rest. It is tough to go wrong when selecting the oval cut stone, as the shape of the cut when viewed from above is a unique one, whilst paralleling features of the most popular round brilliant cut. The oval cut diamond holds that interesting middle ground, as it can be seen as a combination of the character of round brilliant diamonds and the pear-shaped variants. With the exception of its elongation, which is derived from the pear cut pattern, the oval cut diamond is fairly similar to the round brilliant diamond. Both cuts use the brilliant type of faceting structure, with 58 facets and an incredible sparkle that instantly lights up the room. Oval diamonds have the added advantage of an elongated shape, which can create the illusion of greater size. The slender shape can also make the finger of the wearer appear longer and slimmer, an effect often desired.

Larger Surface Area 

For prospective buyers who are looking for a visually more prominent shape, the oval cut might be a good option, in contrast to the round and circle. Depending on the ring type the stone may feature more largely on the finger in contrast to other cuts. As the oval shape, that is visible on the surface of the diamond, when is presented in an engagement ring that can enhance this feature, can provide an elongating effect. A good choice for those with shorter fingers, or for those who like to have a visually, larger looking diamond for relatively smaller carat size, in relation to other diamond cuts; which will have an effect on the final cost of the stone, for the price to size ratio, the oval cut provides a better bet in contrast to the more popular round brilliant cut. 

The Bow-Tie Effect

One of the stand-out features of the oval cut engagement ring is the ‘bowtie’ effect: which refers to the area in the diamond, that features a lower level of sparkle, thus generating a dark shadow-like presence that appears in the surface of the oval cut diamond, and in fact in all elongated diamonds. The bow-tie effect can be a plus or minus, from a stylistic standpoint. The presence of this dark shade on the diamond is a function of the quality of the diamond cut: with diamonds that fall on the extremes of being too shallow or too deep featuring the darker shade on the surface. The dark area shaped like a bow-tie is generally undesirable, and in the case of an oval cut, it is more prominent. Thus it is important that the quality of the cut, in terms of the stone’s depth: which is a percentage, that is calculated by dividing the stone’s total height by its total width. This is important as the depth percentage of the stone, will have an effect on the quality of the stone, and hence the prominence of the bow-tie effect.

Buying an Oval Cut Engagement Ring

When going for a quality oval cut engagement ring, the first choice is to consider is the type of gemstone. Note that whilst diamonds are the most popular option when it comes to engagement rings, and the term ‘oval cut’ is one that originated in the diamond world, the oval diamond can also be applied to other gemstones, like sapphires. So if your choice is to go a non-diamond gemstone, bear in mind that some of the strengths of the oval cut stone apply: such as the elongated effect and larger surface area, but others do not. The sparkle in a diamond (which relates to scintillation- the ability of the stone to reflect alternate light of colours that fall in the spectrum) is most prominent in diamonds, and if one wishes to have a ring that features it, the diamond oval cut engagement ring is the way forward. However, here one must consider the role of colour, since oval cut diamond engagement rings have a larger surface area means greater visibility, thus a diamond with weaker colour (J and below in the D – Z scale) will feature prominently, hence greater attention must be paid to the stone’s colour; with a higher quality (colourless) diamond be recommended for this particular gemstone cut.