Everything You Need to Know About Oval Diamond Engagement Rings

The oval cut diamond has been one of the most sought after cuts in the last couple of years. It is the perfect combination of a classic round diamond cut but with a slightly more unique and elongated shape. Ovals are super versatile too. They look beautiful standing alone in a solitaire style but also suit being complimented by a diamond halo style. So if you’re either dead set on ovals or are just exploring the idea, this post will give you everything you need to know before you buy!

So, what is an oval cut diamond?

Oval diamonds are a modified round brilliant-cut. Both the oval and the round possess a similar sparkle and brilliance, the oval is an ideal choice if you like the classic look of a round diamond but want something a little different! One great advantage is that oval diamonds have an elongated shape, which can allude to a diamond of a bigger size. The slender shape of the table (top of the diamond) can flatter your finger by making it appear slimmer and longer. An oval diamond is a ‘fancy shape’ which is every other cut than a round brilliant. Other popular fancy diamond shapes include pear, emerald, princess, marquise and cushion cuts.

How do you choose the perfect oval?

First, you need to give yourself time to browse. You and your partner will have a number of decisions so make sure you allocate at least a couple of hours for ring shopping! Most jewellers stock ovals anywhere from a 0.50 carats to 2 carats. However, if you’re looking for a 3-5 carat oval (or even bigger) it may take time for your jeweller to order in stones for you to view. Choosing the perfect oval takes time and consideration so be prepared to have more than one consultation and enjoy the process!

Next, consider if you are going to go for a natural diamond or a lab grown diamond. Natural diamonds are mined from the ground and are millions of years old. Large natural diamonds can be pricy so having an good idea of your budget before you go ring shopping is a must. In recent years, lab grown diamonds have sprung in popularity due to their lower environmental impact. Another plus is that they are 30 percent less expensive than natural diamonds due to a smaller supply chain. Many people ask but are lab grown diamonds actually diamonds ? The answer is yes! Lab grown and natural diamonds are made out of carbon and are cut, finished and graded the exact same way.

The 4C’s are essential to use as a guide when shopping for oval diamonds. If you haven’t heard of them, let me introduce you. They stand for Colour, Cut, Clarity and Carat.

Colour:

The colour of diamonds range from D-Z. D-F is a colourless diamond that reflects white and are a premium colour stone. G-J are near colourless and are standard colours used in natural diamond engagement rings. K-R are low grade colours so are quite inexpensive. Moving all the way down to S-Z are light yellow colours, which are actually rare, expensive and highly sought after.

Cut:

The cut with oval diamonds is particularly important. You will notice that some ovals look almost round or disproportionately long. An ideal cut means that the oval is well proportioned in length and width. Another characteristic of an oval cut is the ‘bowtie’ effect. Ovals are cut in a way that the centre of the diamond doesn’t reflect light as well as a round diamond. Some ovals will have dark line reflecting through the centre, this is called the bowtie – which is considered slightly less desirable. All ovals have it, however some are more pronounced than others.

Clarity:

All diamonds have tiny inclusions in them which are flawed attributes within the diamond. A perfect diamond is graded as I.F which stands for Internally Flawless, these diamonds are hard to come by and extremely expensive. Premium retail diamonds have little or no inclusions and are graded from VSS1, VVS2,VS1,VS2. Good diamonds are SI1 and S12, meaning they are slightly included. You will notice that diamonds will dramatically change in price when you go up or down in clarity. Imperfect diamonds are also known as ‘salt and pepper’ diamonds. Be warned, salt and pepper diamonds or ‘speckled grey diamonds’ have risen in popularity due to clever marketing. Unfortunately they are full of dirt and are used as industrial diamonds….so don’t pay too much for them!

Carat:

The carat is the weight of the diamond. The most popular size is a 1 carat diamond, but 1.5ct-2ct ovals are all the range. The elongated shape and cut means they looking amazing in a bigger size!

Style: An oval solitaire is a hugely desired style. The beauty of a unique cut is that they can stand alone – delivering maximum impact. Another popular oval style is the halo. A delicate diamond halo around a sparkling oval can be one of the most gorgeous combinations as the oval stone is gently accentuated. Lastly if you love ovals but can’t quite decide if that’s the shape you want then go for a three stone! Ovals look great beside any diamond shape and are especially complimented by round brilliant and pear diamonds.

Metal: Yellow gold, white gold, platinum…..the choice is yours as ovals look great with everything.

Ovals are the hottest thing right now for engagement rings. Blake Lively got engaged 10 years ago and we’re still not over talking about her iconic 12ct oval engagement ring that cost an estimated 2 million dollars! Many other celebrities have also impressed with their engagement rings such as Ariana Grande who debuted a unique combination of oval and pearl. For most of us 2 million is a bit out of budget, however you too can get a slice of celebrity bling by opting for a gorgeous oval engagement ring – it’s all about your taste and how you wear it!

At Valentina Fine Diamonds we have been busy building out our oval diamond collection of solitaires, halos and three stones. Come visit us in our new shop at The Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in the heart of Dublin 2. To book an appointment click the link below!