Bursting with brilliance and fire, an Oval Cut Diamond is exquisite and unique. The Oval is considered a “fancy” shape; the elongated design makes it appear larger than other shapes of the same carat weight.
The slender body of the oval diamond creates a beautiful, elongated look. It often makes the hand and fingers appear slimmer. The diamond’s shape has no sharp corners, so it’s less prone to chipping.
If you enjoy a rounded design, but want a stone with more character, an oval diamond makes a stunning choice. In addition, oval diamonds are almost always priced lower than round brilliants.
BEST SETTINGS FOR OVAL CUT DIAMONDS
The best settings for oval cut diamonds generally have four or six prongs, showcasing the shape of the diamond. Oval cut diamonds can also look fantastic in bezel settings. Some oval cut diamond engagement rings, particularly those with three or five stones, feature four or six prongs for the center diamond, plus a bezel setting to hold the side diamonds.
In terms of style, you can design an oval cut diamond ring with almost any kind of setting, from vintage to side stone.
OVAL CUT DIAMOND – CUT QUALITY
The most important element in any diamond is the quality of its Cut, which impacts the fundamental beauty and structure of the stone along with its capacity to offer brilliance and fire. While the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) provides Cut grading for some shapes, such as Round Brilliant Cuts; it does not provide cut grading for Oval Cut Diamonds.
In this vein, standard cut parameters for an excellent Oval are unachievable—due to the Oval’s complex and unique structure. Despite what anyone describes, there is no magic combination for table % or depth %. All Cut recommendations for Oval Diamonds should be regarded as widely general and usually subjective.
Above all, an Oval Diamond’s beauty is determined by what you—and the wearer—sees. Review Oval Cut Diamonds thoroughly—and, ideally, have a diamond expert assist you. Rather than hoping to make a smart decision with your purchase, ensure that you do.
To offer a loose guideline for an excellently cut Oval Diamond, we provide our general parameters for Cut Quality below. Keep in mind that these parameters are general and should not be applied without looking at the diamond yourself and receiving an expert’s opinion.
Oval Cut Diamond – Cut Quality Recommendations
| Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table % | 53-63 | 52 or 64-65 | 51 or 66-68 | 50 or 69-70 | <50 or >70 |
| Depth % | 58-62 | 56-57.9 or 62.1-66 | 53-55.9 or 66.1-71 | 50-52.9 or 71.1-74 | <50 or >74 |
| Girdle | Very Thin – Slightly Thick | Very Thin – Thick | Very Thin – Very Thick | Extremely Thin – Extremely Thick | |
| Culet | None | Very Small | Small | Medium | >Medium |
| Length/Width Ratio | 1.35-1.50 | 1.30-1.34 or 1.51-1.55 | 1.25-1.29 or 1.56-1.60 | 1.20-1.24 or 1.61-1.65 | >1.20 or <1.65 |
OVAL CUT DIAMOND – LENGTH TO WIDTH RATIO
A diamond’s length to width ratio reveals how proportionate it is according to its intended shape (i.e. square or rectangular). To calculate the length to width ratio, divide the length of the diamond by its width. For instance, a diamond with a length of 5.5mm and a width of 3.5mm has a length to width ratio of 1.57.
While primarily dependent on personal style and preference, the Oval Cut Diamond is usually most appealing with a ratio between 1.30-1.46. Review various Oval Diamonds to determine which ratio is most appealing to you.
