Diamonds

Oval diamonds are similar to round brilliant diamonds, but are elongated for the oval. This cut was created in the early 1960's, and it usually has 56 facets. The length-to-width ratio is important so that the diamond retains the ideal shape and is not too fat or too thin. Ovals loose some of the brilliance of the round cut, and frequently have a bow-tie effect. In other words, the stone has certain areas of darkness across the center of the stone which resemble a bow-tie. Fortunately, this is not the problem with ovals that it could be with pear- or marquise-shaped stones.

Cutters often prefer to cut stones in a fancy shape (all shapes other than the round brilliant cut) because this permits more weight of the stone-carats-to be retained. The ovals do not reflect brilliantly as a round cut diamond, but as this is only one of the four Cs, it may not be a critical factor, especially if the customer likes the oval shaped diamond and prefers if. Frequently, in colored stones, the less sparkly effect may not be noticeable.

The price-per-carat of oval shaped diamonds is almost always less than that of a round brilliant cut diamond. Oval stones are more difficult to sort and find matching pairs or sets, but this should not add to the cost of the diamond. The highest quality oval shaped diamonds should be approximately 10-20% less than the round brilliant cut diamond of equal quality.

A perfectly cut oval has a length-to-width ratio of between 1.33 and 1.66. These are the most pleasing dimensions and can be expected to look artistically inspired on long, slender hands. So the woman who loves the oval brilliant cut should not be hesitant about purchasing an oval diamond to accentuate her hands if this is her favorite cut.

The oval cut diamond is used in a wide variety of jewelry. The engagement solitaire is a favorite as are the matching wedding band sets and three stone rings. For the connoisseur who wished to design her own jewelry, jewelers keep settings in yellow gold, white gold, platinum, titanium, and any combination of these metals in stock so that the customer is free to choose according to her own preferences. And since the price-per-carat should be less than a comparable round cut diamond, it may be possible to acquire a larger stone in a modified brilliant oval cut than in a similar round brilliant cut.

For the woman, or the man in her life, an oval cut diamond can be a less expensive choice-but a beautiful one-when balancing the cost, cut, brilliance, and quality of the stone. Diamonds are forever, and you should follow you heart-but also use your head when purchasing a diamond.