Oval diamonds have surged in popularity in recent years thanks to the likes of many celebrities like Blake Lively and Haley Bieber. This elongated shape gained it’s favor among many clients because of the spread, sparkle, and softness the oval naturally exudes. With an abundance of shapes available on the diamond market, choosing which shape best describes your love is no easy feat! Whether you are considering an oval or already have your heart set on one, we have outlined what you need to know about this beautiful shape before taking your next step. Prepare to be oval-whelmed!

BENEFITS

“Real Estate”

Let’s face it, size matters! That’s why so many are drawn to this beautiful shape. The natural elongation of the stone allows the diamond to show maximum size for the carat weight without compromising any of the sparkle. Ovals face up huge, relative to the carat weight, and thus can take up a lot of space on the finger giving the illusion of a much bigger diamond. This element alone is what has launched them into recent popularity!

Price

Given the size, you get a lot of bang for your buck with this shape! Diamond prices increase relative to carat weight (as well as overall quality), so since the larger spread is inherent to the shape, you get a bigger look for the price when comparing other shapes in the same carat.

LIMITATIONS

Demand

The recent popularity of this shape has ovals high in demand all over the world! Ovals over the 2 carat mark, especially, are becoming increasingly hard to find in specific color/clarity combinations. This stone’s high demand may be reflected in your social circle, as well: Some brides-to-be are put off from the shape because so many women in their friend groups have the same shape!

Color

Though you get a lot of bang for your buck relative to size, the elongation of the oval requires oval lovers to stay closer to the colorless range so no trace of warmth/yellow is visible! Most oval diamonds are sold in the D-E-F range to combat any potential tint of color. This, inevitably, increases the price tag depending on the other specifications of the diamond!

FINDING YOUR PERFECT OVAL

If you find that you’ve already committed to this beautiful shape, you’re not alone. Welcome to #TeamOval! Once you’ve narrowed your search to ovals exclusively, it’s hard to know what exactly to look for. To help ease this process, we’ve outlined a few key things to take into consideration when looking for your perfect oval. 

Dimensions

This element is crucial! Ovals look bigger than their carat weight, so pay attention to the dimensions of the stone. This simple tip can help you get a 1.50 carat diamond that faces up closer to that of a 1.7-2 carat. Paying attention to the dimensions will help you maximize your desired budget and get the best value for your money! 

The opposite of this is true as well: Look at the dimensions to make sure that the weight distribution is working in your favor and not in such a way that it measures smaller than it should.

Color

As mentioned previously, we recommend staying ‘H’ or above in terms of diamond color. Ovals have a tendency to show more obvious warmth compared to more symmetrical shapes. The color is often viewed as something that you don’t want to compromise on for ovals, however added fluorescence can help improve the color appearance, as well as save money. Fluorescence, especially in the near colorless range, can make the diamond appear much whiter! Diamonds falling in the colorless range aren’t excluded from this; Fluorescence in higher colored stones isn’t always a bad thing and shouldn’t be something that heavily impacts your final decision.

Clarity

Most clients prioritize size, then color-in that order. Lucky for oval lovers, the longer facets allow inclusions/blemishes to be hidden with ease. Simply put, if you cannot see any imperfections– why pay for it? Most people buy ovals in the SI1-SI2 range, allowing them more room to maximize the size and color of the diamond. 

Bow-Tie

The Bow-Tie-Effect is often associated with ovals, and ultimately should be something you are aware of before you buy. This is a natural occurrence that is present in any and all elongated shapes! The more subtle the ‘bow-tie’ appears, the more ideal the diamond. The more prominent the ‘bow-tie’, the more the price drops and the sparkle is negatively impacted. This effect is something that you cannot necessarily tell the extent or degree of based upon the certification alone. This demonstrates why viewing the diamond is of utmost importance!

Be Open-minded!

Going into a diamond appointment with a basic knowledge of ovals and what you are looking for is always great! It is very beneficial to have a concept of the different elements that could impact the price and/or appearance of the diamond before you begin your search. Try to remain open-minded throughout your search as you might learn something new or find something you absolutely love that doesn’t fit in the exact criteria you thought you wanted. Ultimately, your preferences are unique to your taste and there is no ‘set’ formula for the perfect oval. What’s perfect to you doesn’t have to have a certain rhyme or reason, as long as you love your oval diamond –that’s all that really matters!