Oval Cut Diamonds

If you are looking for a diamond that is an amalgamation of the fire and brilliance of a round brilliant cut and a unique shape, then the oval diamonds are definitely the one for you. In other words, The oval diamonds make an excellent substitute to the round brilliant cut diamonds. The oval diamonds are egg shaped which indicates that they do not possess any table, edge or even cullet. They are fashioned with triangular-shaped facets all around.

Russian diamond cutter, Lazare Kaplan, deserves all the praise for creating the oval shaped diamonds. His superiority lies in his ability to give shape to any rough or unworthy rock. The year 1960 saw Lazare Kaplan with his own version of a cut, which we today popularly know as the oval cut diamond. Post this unique creation, he got inaugurated to the Jewelers International Hall of Fame.

The modified brilliant cut, retains all the best qualities of the unique, flashy-round brilliant cut. Though oval cut diamonds commonly feature 56 facets, some have an addition of few more facets depending on the nature of the cut. An oval cut diamond with a length to width ratio of 1.35-1.50 is considered the most ideal. However, the preference may vary from one person to another.

Some Fascinating Facts about Oval Diamonds:

• Because of its elongated shape, an oval diamond creates the illusion of large size. In other words, when a similar carat of round diamond and an oval diamond is placed alongside, the top surface of the latter will appear larger. This is because an oval diamond has a greater surface area. 1 carat ring has a 10% greater surface area than a 1 carat round diamond.
• The elongated look of diamond poses as a great advantage to those who have small and chubby fingers. This is because, the elongated look makes the finger appear slender and longer.
• A common occurrence in an oval diamond is a bow-tie effect which usually occurs in a poorly cut diamond. The intensity of the bow-tie effect varies and may range from subtle to severe. In a diamond of excellent, ideal and very good grade, this bow-tie effect is negligible. The degree of bow-tie effect cannot be ascertained by a review of the diamond certificate. They can only be discerned upon visual inspection.
• Oval diamonds are rarer than the round and princess cut diamonds and are also less in demand.

Tips to Buy Oval Diamonds:

A tinge of color, blemishes or inclusions become apparent in an oval brilliant cut. Hence, an oval diamond of high color and clarity grade should be favored. Perform a visual inspection of your oval diamond to ensure it does not possess any severe bow-tie effect. It is better to look for oval diamond of ideal or very good cut if you want to completely avoid the bow-tie effect. Lastly, make sure your diamond has been certified by renowned diamond laboratories in the world like AGS, GIA, EGL or IGI.