Help and Advice needed re: Oval cut diamonds :)

[Katba1ou]

Ok so, I have always considered round diamonds for my upgrade engagement ring ( I currently have a .49 round center in my current engagement ring) however I have recently discovered oval diamonds and how beautiful they are! I am considering them now as I feel I will get more carat weight and size for the same money I would get for a smaller carat weight and size of a round. I have read they also sparkle just like a round and that is something I absolutely need from a diamond- something that will blind whoever looks in its direction The thing is, I have done so much research on rounds that I feel very unprepared when it comes to Ovals!

From some reading I have been doing the last few days there doesn't seem to be an ideal for the cut of an Oval? I have always thought that the cut was the most important for a diamond to allow for the sparkle and light transmission?

Also I have been reading about Length and Width ratio and I know from what I have seen I would like an Oval that was chunky and not too long (sort of a round oval ) and I would like quite a good finger coverage width ways as well as length ways- if that makes sense

What advice could you guys give me in terms of what I have mentioned and some do's and dont's with regards to Ovals

thank you in advance

Katba1ou

 

[msop04]

From some reading I have been doing the last few days there doesn't seem to be an ideal for the cut of an Oval? I have always thought that the cut was the most important for a diamond to allow for the sparkle and light transmission?

Also I have been reading about Length and Width ratio and I know from what I have seen I would like an Oval that was chunky and not too long (sort of a round oval ) and I would like quite a good finger coverage width ways as well as length ways- if that makes sense

What advice could you guys give me in terms of what I have mentioned and some do's and dont's with regards to Ovals

Ovals pretty much have to be seen, since there are no "rules" or "perfect numbers" to look for... the main thing I look out for is a bow-tie. Most ovals have them, so you need to be able to see it. Oval cuts also show more tint than rounds, so color is important too.

Like you, I love chunkier ovals!! They are so beautiful! I hope Niel will see this thread, because she can really pick some nice ones!

What size are you looking for, and what is your budget?

 

[Katba1ou]

From some reading I have been doing the last few days there doesn't seem to be an ideal for the cut of an Oval? I have always thought that the cut was the most important for a diamond to allow for the sparkle and light transmission?

Also I have been reading about Length and Width ratio and I know from what I have seen I would like an Oval that was chunky and not too long (sort of a round oval ) and I would like quite a good finger coverage width ways as well as length ways- if that makes sense

What advice could you guys give me in terms of what I have mentioned and some do's and dont's with regards to Ovals

Ovals pretty much have to be seen, since there are no "rules" or "perfect numbers" to look for... the main thing I look out for is a bow-tie. Most ovals have them, so you need to be able to see it. Oval cuts also show more tint than rounds, so color is important too.

Like you, I love chunkier ovals!! They are so beautiful! I hope Niel will see this thread, because she can really pick some nice ones!

I read somewhere about the bow-tie with Ovals- what causes this?

I'm in the UK and have found a fabulous jeweller who buys diamonds from the US so I will be buying effectively without seeing but I can send it back and start again. I think with any diamond I'd have to see a few as I don't really know how big I want to go. I think something around a 1.20 ct would be nice. The only good sized oval I have seen was a 1.54ct and was absolutely amazing- truly stunning and I like that they're not as popular as the rounds so I like the idea of being a little different

 

[Enerchi]

I wonder if you've had a chance to read thru some of these threads yet that are in the Knowledge tab - there is a lot of info to digest, but this may help you to get a better grasp on what you are looking for, when you talk w your jeweller.... not to mention you get to enjoy a lot of eye candy

Good luck and enjoy the hunt!!

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/oval-cut-diamond

 

[Katba1ou]

I wonder if you've had a chance to read thru some of these threads yet that are in the Knowledge tab - there is a lot of info to digest, but this may help you to get a better grasp on what you are looking for, when you talk w your jeweller.... not to mention you get to enjoy a lot of eye candy

Good luck and enjoy the hunt!!

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/oval-cut-diamond

Ah thank you! I will certainly enjoy having a good look and a drool at the beautiful eye candy! my husband thinks I'm mad!

 

[Enerchi]

I wonder if you've had a chance to read thru some of these threads yet that are in the Knowledge tab - there is a lot of info to digest, but this may help you to get a better grasp on what you are looking for, when you talk w your jeweller.... not to mention you get to enjoy a lot of eye candy

Good luck and enjoy the hunt!!

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/oval-cut-diamond

Ah thank you! I will certainly enjoy having a good look and a drool at the beautiful eye candy! my husband thinks I'm mad!

uh huh... they all do! So does mine - he thinks "all diamonds look the same"! silly man....

 

[msop04]

I wonder if you've had a chance to read thru some of these threads yet that are in the Knowledge tab - there is a lot of info to digest, but this may help you to get a better grasp on what you are looking for, when you talk w your jeweller.... not to mention you get to enjoy a lot of eye candy

Good luck and enjoy the hunt!!

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/oval-cut-diamond

Ah thank you! I will certainly enjoy having a good look and a drool at the beautiful eye candy! my husband thinks I'm mad!

uh huh... they all do! So does mine - he thinks "all diamonds look the same"! silly man....

+10000000!!!!

My husband thinks I'm totally obsessed. ...and I guess I am.

 

[msop04]

These are probably smaller than you'd like, but I thought they were nice.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/0.98-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-213424
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.02-carat-d-color-vs1-clarity-sku-41512
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.13-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-171378

 

[Enerchi]

I'm just making up your budget (LOL!) so these may or may not be suitable, but I went on JA and put in your size parameters, GIA graded, EX/VG polish and symmetry, and ranged from F - I, VVS2 - SI1

Here are a few that I found pleasing to my eyes - w minimal bow tie. (DISCLAIMER--- I AM NOT AN OVAL expert!! just enthusiastic! )

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.16-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-247580 $5910
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.16-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-176575 $6580
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.10-carat-f-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-184110 $7460

 

[Niel]

oh i love rovals! How exciting!

I find bow ties seem to be less prevalent when the oval is closer to a round, so thats good!

Now this is going to be a slight stretch but its so cute! It looks like a roval mixed with a marquise! MSOP, i know youre loving it

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.28-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-234100

this one might have too much tint for your liking, BUT the color looks very flattering, not too "yellow", and the cut looks nice

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.36-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-sku-41446

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.36-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-235273

 

[Katba1ou]

In my mind I want the biggest stone i can convince my husband into buying and I would even add some money to the pot too if it meant i could get a big shiny diamond

I wouldn't mind SI1 if it was eye clean and I would want at least a G colour. Budget maybe around $6000- or something like that.

Its going to be a little while until we actually purchase one but i see this as an opportunity to become as educated as possible and scope out what I can while I have the chance. I rushed into buying my current diamond because it appeared large (.50 is quite big in the UK) and very sparkly. I knew nothing about the stats of a diamonds- silly move in hindsight but Ive certainly learnt from it.

ps- my husband also thinks diamonds are all the same and rolls his eyes at the slight mention of them! we can all be mad crazy obsessive diamond lovers together! yay!

 

[JulieN]

Ovals do not sparkle just like a round.

If you could get more spread for equal carat weights, more carat weight for the dollar, and the same kind of performance, we would be all over it.

 

[msop04]

oh i love rovals! How exciting!

I find bow ties seem to be less prevalent when the oval is closer to a round, so thats good!

Now this is going to be a slight stretch but its so cute! It looks like a roval mixed with a marquise! MSOP, i know youre loving it

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.28-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-234100

this one might have too much tint for your liking, BUT the color looks very flattering, not too "yellow", and the cut looks nice

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.36-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-sku-41446

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.36-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-235273

"...the light shone down, and the angels sang..."

A chubby oval totally does it for me!!

 

[Christina...]

I'll try to find the thread that discusses this, though I may not have any luck (I haven't in the past), so if someone remembers it and wants to help me out....

I've heard conflicting info regarding the bow tie in ovals and marquises. Many people see them as a negative but I remember reading the above mentioned thread, and believe that Rhino explained that some of the best fire comes from these 'bow tie' areas, so they shouldn't always be considered detrimental to the stones performance, similar to the hot spots in a MRB I assume... anyone else remember this thread?

 

[msop04]

Ovals do not sparkle just like a round.

If you could get more spread for equal carat weights, more carat weight for the dollar, and the same kind of performance, we would be all over it.

Preach!

 

[msop04]

In my mind I want the biggest stone i can convince my husband into buying and I would even add some money to the pot too if it meant i could get a big shiny diamond

I wouldn't mind SI1 if it was eye clean and I would want at least a G colour. Budget maybe around $6000- or something like that.

Its going to be a little while until we actually purchase one but i see this as an opportunity to become as educated as possible and scope out what I can while I have the chance. I rushed into buying my current diamond because it appeared large (.50 is quite big in the UK) and very sparkly. I knew nothing about the stats of a diamonds- silly move in hindsight but Ive certainly learnt from it.

ps- my husband also thinks diamonds are all the same and rolls his eyes at the slight mention of them! we can all be mad crazy obsessive diamond lovers together! yay!

Kat, would be interested in other cuts??

 

[Niel]

I'll try to find the thread that discusses this, though I may not have any luck (I haven't in the past), so if someone remembers it and wants to help me out....

I've heard conflicting info regarding the bow tie in ovals and marquises. Many people see them as a negative but I remember reading the above mentioned thread, and believe that Rhino explained that some of the best fire comes from these 'bow tie' areas, so they shouldn't always be considered detrimental to the stones performance, similar to the hot spots in a MRB I assume... anyone else remember this thread?

I suppose I can attest to this as I have has 2 rings that could be considered to have bow ties.

They do in fact shoot of large fire flashes, as an old cut round or cushion might, probably because they look like one big facet. In motion or other people looking at your hand during the day its quite beautiful.

But I can see why they aren't as desirable.

Not everyone is a fan of mixing broad flashes with pinpoint flashes. Plus you can consult see the difference with the cut when youre looking at it on your hand. Also, they are often/ can be large areas of obstruction, so while other people may see bright flashes, when you look st it it looks dark.

Ideally I think most people look for stones with as uniform of cut pattern possible, and try to avoid with wide cut big facets in the middle with pinpoints at the end.

My pear and marquise both had blinding fire from their "bowtie" areas.

 

[Christina...]

I'll try to find the thread that discusses this, though I may not have any luck (I haven't in the past), so if someone remembers it and wants to help me out....

I've heard conflicting info regarding the bow tie in ovals and marquises. Many people see them as a negative but I remember reading the above mentioned thread, and believe that Rhino explained that some of the best fire comes from these 'bow tie' areas, so they shouldn't always be considered detrimental to the stones performance, similar to the hot spots in a MRB I assume... anyone else remember this thread?

I suppose I can attest to this as I have has 2 rings that could be considered to have bow ties.

They do in fact shoot of large fire flashes, as an old cut round or cushion might, probably because they look like one big facet. In motion or other people looking at your hand during the day its quite beautiful.

But I can see why they aren't as desirable.

Not everyone is a fan of mixing broad flashes with pinpoint flashes. Plus you can consult see the difference with the cut when youre looking at it on your hand. Also, they are often/ can be large areas of obstruction, so while other people may see bright flashes, when you look st it it looks dark.

Ideally I think most people look for stones with as uniform of cut pattern possible, and try to avoid with wide cut big facets in the middle with pinpoints at the end.

I was just thinking that our prediction of ovals and marquises making a comeback seems to be coming true!

I appreciate your insight. Thanks. I've only had personal experience with one (I think poorly cut) marquise and one well cut pear, though the pear was long ago before I knew anything about different performance. The renewed interest in them might be a good excuse to go take a closer look at these pretties! I'm curious about your experience though. When do you most notice the bowtie in your stone. Is it when you are looking straight down on it, or is it apparent even when you move your hand back and forth? Is it most obvious in one position or in most?

My pear and marquise both had blinding fire from their "bowtie" areas.

strange....I'm not sure how my response became a part the quote...but anyway...the above bolded is my reply.

 

[Katba1ou]

Ovals do not sparkle just like a round.

If you could get more spread for equal carat weights, more carat weight for the dollar, and the same kind of performance, we would be all over it.

I know nothing sparkles like a round due to their light performance but surely an Oval can be an eye catcher too?

 

[Katba1ou]

In my mind I want the biggest stone i can convince my husband into buying and I would even add some money to the pot too if it meant i could get a big shiny diamond

I wouldn't mind SI1 if it was eye clean and I would want at least a G colour. Budget maybe around $6000- or something like that.

Its going to be a little while until we actually purchase one but i see this as an opportunity to become as educated as possible and scope out what I can while I have the chance. I rushed into buying my current diamond because it appeared large (.50 is quite big in the UK) and very sparkly. I knew nothing about the stats of a diamonds- silly move in hindsight but Ive certainly learnt from it.

ps- my husband also thinks diamonds are all the same and rolls his eyes at the slight mention of them! we can all be mad crazy obsessive diamond lovers together! yay!

Kat, would be interested in other cuts??

Anything with a rounded edge so say radiant, round and Oval. I love an emerald cut but for the size I would want it would surely break the bank plus I still want sparkle!

 

[Niel]

In my mind I want the biggest stone i can convince my husband into buying and I would even add some money to the pot too if it meant i could get a big shiny diamond

I wouldn't mind SI1 if it was eye clean and I would want at least a G colour. Budget maybe around $6000- or something like that.

Its going to be a little while until we actually purchase one but i see this as an opportunity to become as educated as possible and scope out what I can while I have the chance. I rushed into buying my current diamond because it appeared large (.50 is quite big in the UK) and very sparkly. I knew nothing about the stats of a diamonds- silly move in hindsight but Ive certainly learnt from it.

ps- my husband also thinks diamonds are all the same and rolls his eyes at the slight mention of them! we can all be mad crazy obsessive diamond lovers together! yay!

Kat, would be interested in other cuts??

Anything with a rounded edge so say radiant, round and Oval. I love an emerald cut but for the size I would want it would surely break the bank plus I still want sparkle!

ok, so i know you wanna hate them ( most people do), but have you seen a marquise in a larger size in person?

 

[Katba1ou]

In my mind I want the biggest stone i can convince my husband into buying and I would even add some money to the pot too if it meant i could get a big shiny diamond

I wouldn't mind SI1 if it was eye clean and I would want at least a G colour. Budget maybe around $6000- or something like that.

Its going to be a little while until we actually purchase one but i see this as an opportunity to become as educated as possible and scope out what I can while I have the chance. I rushed into buying my current diamond because it appeared large (.50 is quite big in the UK) and very sparkly. I knew nothing about the stats of a diamonds- silly move in hindsight but Ive certainly learnt from it.

ps- my husband also thinks diamonds are all the same and rolls his eyes at the slight mention of them! we can all be mad crazy obsessive diamond lovers together! yay!

Kat, would be interested in other cuts??

Anything with a rounded edge so say radiant, round and Oval. I love an emerald cut but for the size I would want it would surely break the bank plus I still want sparkle!

ok, so i know you wanna hate them, but have you seen a marquise in a larger size in person?

the only stone i could not ever have is a princess cut- just can't like them- no matter how much they sparkle lol

I've always thought of marquise as a bit too pointy but in answer to your question no I haven't seen any. I haven't even seen many Oval's- definitely not in the sizes I am considering. I need to do some research on jewellers in the UK who have in house diamonds I can go and have a look at.

In relation to sparkle in an oval- Trinity911's 2ct Oval is absolutely beautiful! sparkle sparkle! [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/engaged-2ct-oval.80025/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/engaged-2ct-oval.80025/[/URL]

 

[Niel]

I have found a lot of people have written off marquise because they imagine them as they have always seen them, like this



but they come in all shapes, and you could get a really cute chubby one that has a lot of curviness to it, like an oval, and would usually face up very large, so you get the finger coverage you are looking for like this

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/marquise-cut/1.20-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-sku-198832

and you can make a stunning modern marquise




so if you are going around and looking at stones, give marquise two seconds, i think you might be surprise how little hate you have for them