Oval Cut Thick Band Diamond Engagement Ring

OVAL CUT DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RINGS 

An Oval Diamond Engagement Ring is the perfect choice for a lady that is looking for a classical yet modern design that has the same attraction as a round brilliant cut diamond, but with the added elegance of a sleek elongated shape. In fact, many women prefer Oval Cut Engagement Rings as not only does this cut of diamond offer similar levels of brilliance and fire as the round brilliant cut, but the oval shape also has the power to elongate shorter fingers or smaller hands giving the appearance of dainty elegance to a women’s hand.  

WHAT IS AN OVAL CUT DIAMOND? 

The Oval Cut Diamond is widely considered to be a combination of the round brilliant and pear shape cutting styles, gaining its elongation from the pear cut pattern and the oval cut being similar to that of a round brilliant diamond cut. Oval Cut Diamond Engagement Rings generally exhibit 58 facets with a typical ratio between 1.33 and 1.66 which produces a fantastic level of sparkle. The shape of Oval Cut Diamonds optimises carat weight, meaning that the drawn out and symmetrical shape can make it appear larger than round stones of a similar weight.  This feature makes Oval Diamond Engagement Rings a sophisticated alternative to the round brilliant and the perfect choice for the lady who wants to wear a stunning engagement ring that will stand out from the crowd. 

HISTORY OF OVAL ENGAGEMENT RINGS  

Whilst diamonds have been cut into oval shapes for many hundreds of years, the oval cut diamonds that we see today in modern Oval Setting Engagement Rings were not actually created until 1957 when the leading Russian diamond cutter Lazare Kaplan invented the modern-day Oval Cut.  

Kaplan was part of a well-known family of jewellers and he grew up working alongside his uncle, Abraham Tolkowsky who is one of the most famous diamond cutters as he invented the Ideal Cut. Prior to inventing the modern Oval Cut, Kaplan was well known for his remarkable skills in cleaving which is a process by which badly flawed or cracked diamonds are cut into smaller, minimally included diamonds. By this process he transformed diamonds that were so flawed they were regarded as worthless into some of the most valued diamonds at the time. 

Kaplan’s talent went unrecognised until he designed the Oval Cut Diamond which gained him a place in the Jewellers International Hall of Fame. Nowadays thanks to the skill of Kaplan Oval Diamond Engagement Rings are some of the most brilliant and upscale rings on the market. 

FAMOUS CELEBRITIES WEARING OVAL SETTING ENGAGEMENT RINGS 

Perhaps the most famous Oval Engagement Ring in the world is that given by The Prince Of Wales to the late Princess Diana and latterly presented to Kate Middleton by Prince William. This stunning blue sapphire Oval Diamond Engagement Ring is renowned the world over and was said to have significantly increased the popularity of the Oval Cut as the preferred choice for their engagement ring. 

He may be diminutive in size but the depths of his pockets certainly weren’t when the famous movie actor Tom Cruise presented his bride to be Katie Holmes with a five-carat Edwardian style Oval Diamond Engagement Ring. This stunning ring featured a solitaire with pave detail in platinum and rose gold and its estimated value was of $250,000. 

Other celebrities who have chosen Oval Cut Diamond Engagement Rings include Blake Lively who wears an Oval Engagement Ring gifted to her by her husband Ryan Reynolds. This simply exquisite Oval Cut Engagement Ring features an Oval Cut centre stone mounted on a three-sided diamond band designed by Lorraine Schwartz. Heidi Klum also owns a ring designed by Lorraine Schwartz which is a very glamorous oval shaped 10-carat canary diamond. This ring is a real head turner due to its gorgeous yellow hue. 

ARE OVAL CUT DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RINGS AFFORDABLE?   

Whilst Oval Cut Diamond Engagement Rings are rarer than round or princess cut rings, they are generally less popular therefore when looking for Oval Engagement Rings UK you should not pay more for an Oval Cut Diamond than you would for a princess or a round cut diamond of the same carat-weight. Cutting an Oval Diamond requires a jeweller to remove less of the original rough diamond than they would when cutting a round-cut diamond and therefore requires less labour; both of these factors make Oval Diamond Engagement Rings a more affordable choice. However, do not let this more modest price tag weigh negatively on your opinion of an Oval Diamond Engagement Rings as royal jewels such as the late Princess Diana’s engagement ring have also favoured this flattering diamond shape.  

CHOOSING AN OVAL ENGAGEMENT RING 

Oval Cut Diamond Engagement Rings are available in a range of proportions which are dependent upon diamond quality and personal preference. When choosing an Oval Diamond Engagement Ring ratio is a very important aspect to consider. The reason for this is that it can have a significant effect on both the light dispersion within the diamond and the appearance of the engagement ring upon your finger.   

When selecting your Oval Engagement Ring it is important to reconcile the relative benefits of the longer shape which will have a larger ratio and therefore better elongate the finger, against the more rounded shape which will have a smaller ratio but will better prevent the ‘bow-tie effect’. 

A ratio of 1.35 to 1.50 is considered ideal in Oval Setting Engagement Rings, but it should be noted that as with all diamond shapes that feature an elongated shape, Oval Cut Diamonds with ratios of 1.5 or greater may suffer from the ‘bow tie’ effect if cut poorly, causing darkened patches to appear in the gemstone. The ‘bow tie’ effect occurs when light passing through the diamond casts a dark shadow across the central facets of the stone causing the appearance of a bow tie shape. This shadow can be reduced by altering the depth of the pavilion, and adjusting the angles of the table and facets to better diffuse light in the central area.  

Before you buy an Oval Diamond Engagement Ring, ensure that the bow tie effect does not distract from the brilliance of the stone. Selecting an Oval Cut Diamond inside the ideal ratio range and with excellent symmetry will have a bowtie that is less noticeable. Of course the best way to analyse a bow tie is through visual inspection. Therefore always ensure that your jeweller who analyses your chosen engagement ring references the certification report and that the bow tie in your diamond matches its description in the certificate. 

Ultimately the preference of a longer oval shape versus a wider oval is yours to make. More elongated oval cut diamond rings appear sharp and pronounced, whereas the shorter, squat oval cuts elicit a softer look.  If you wish to add stones to the setting of your Oval Cut Diamond then you may wish to choose a narrower oval cut ratio. 

It is generally accepted that the diamonds in Oval Diamond Engagement Rings will look bigger than round diamonds with the same carat weight. The reason for this is that the average one carat Oval Cut Diamond has a 10% larger surface area than an average one carat round diamond.  This factor makes the choice of an Oval Setting Engagement Ring the perfect option if you wish to wear an impressive looking diamond at an affordable price.