The cut of a diamond is one of the most important factors that affect its overall appeal. Depending on this factor, a gemstone will categorized as either brilliant or dull. Unsurprisingly, there are numerous diamond cuts in the market that can enhance the brilliance as well as the appeal of diamonds to the fullest. One of the most popular stunning diamond ring cuts is the oval. Actually, oval diamonds were introduced to the market in the 1800s. Even though they were really popular, they were modified further in 1957. However, this cut lost its charm after a few decades. Unsurprisingly, a major resurgence of oval stones was seen afterwards, especially between 1998 and 2001. Currently, oval diamonds are the 6th most popular diamond in the United States.
Oval engagement rings are really popular among brides these days. After all, who can resist the classic appeal of an oval diamond along with the touch of modern minimalism? Usually, people who prefer to steer a little bit away from traditional diamond ring designs are likely to opt for oval cut diamond rings. The elongated round shape of oval diamonds also induces an understated elegance in the ring.
However, the appeal of your oval engagement rings will totally depend on whether or not you choose the right stone. In order to help you out with this, below are some in-depth details about oval cut diamonds.
The Anatomy of Oval Diamonds
Oval diamonds comes under fancy diamond cuts; it is more like an elongated round stone or a stretched cushion diamond cut. The main parts of an oval diamond include its head and end or tips, belly, or the center part of an oval stone where the sides are curved to the maximum, and shoulder or the curved sides that spans from head to end of a diamond.
When it comes to the oval diamond cut, you mainly see brilliant faceting because these diamonds often boast more than 55 facets. This pattern offers the same sparkling appeal as standard round brilliant stones to oval cut diamonds. Note that oval cut diamonds are available in numerous faceting orders. The most common one, however, is a combination of 8 bezel-set facets on the crown and 8 main facets on the pavilion.
The Significance of Oval Diamonds
The brilliance and unique faceting pattern are the main reasons behind the increase in the number of people migrating from round brilliant cut diamond rings to oval cut diamond rings. The comparatively less cost of oval diamonds as well adds to their popularity. Apart from this, oval diamonds tend to look bigger than round diamonds of equal carat weight. This is because of the relatively bigger surface area and shape of oval diamonds. Besides, the elongated silhouette of oval diamonds tends to make the fingers of the wearer look slimmer and more appealing.
Oval diamonds are less vulnerable to chipping, scratches and other external damages, since they do not have angular corners or sharp edges like many other diamond cuts. Oval diamonds hold a significant position in history as well. Some of the most celebrated oval diamond rings in the history include Kohinoor, Wittelsbach-Graff, and the Pink Star.
Popular Settings for Oval Cut Diamonds
- Halo Diamond Ring Setting: In the oval diamond halo setting, the center oval stone is encircled with a layer of diamond accents. You can either choose the same color or different color for accent stones. The latter will be ideal if you want to highlight your main gemstone to the fullest. Furthermore, you may opt to choose two or three layers of diamond halos in order to offer a sophisticated and vintage appeal to your oval engagement rings.
- Rose Gold Diamond Ring Setting: The subtle hue of rose gold is a supreme choice to enhance the overall style of your oval diamond rings. If you are looking for an extravagant oval diamond ring, you can pave or channel the metal band of your ring with pink diamond accents as well. This will add to the understated and elegant style of oval diamonds.
- Bezel Diamond Ring Setting: The bezel diamond ring setting is one of the standard choices for securing your valuable gemstones. In this setting, your beautiful oval diamond will be encased by a metal setting defining its outline perfectly. This is a great choice for all the clumsier people. However, a bezel set oval cut diamond ring will not be a suitable choice for the consumers who give priority to the brilliance of the main gemstone.
Shopping Tips
- Oval cut diamonds tend to exhibit the Bowtie effect. Hence, it is recommended to check your diamonds thoroughly using a magnifier. Note that a small bowtie effect may sometimes add to the beauty of your stone.
- The Length to Width Ratio of oval diamonds plays a major role in its overall appeal. You can make a diamond elongated by increasing its LTW and wider by reducing its LTW.
- Make sure that your oval diamond exhibit perfect symmetry. That is, one half of your diamond must mirror the other.