🥚 Oval Shape

Elegance, Elongation & Endless Sparkle

✨ Introduction: The Graceful Contender

Elegant, elongating, and effortlessly romantic—the oval diamond is a stunning alternative to the classic round. It brings brilliance and symmetry with a softer, more fluid silhouette, making it one of the most popular engagement rings in Ireland and beyond.

Perfect for those who want a little more length, a little more drama, and a touch of the unexpected—oval diamonds shine in every sense.

💡 All the sparkle of a round, with a graceful twist.

🕰️ History of the Oval Cut

The modern oval brilliant was developed in 1957 by Lazare Kaplan, a Russian-born diamond cutter known for turning flawed diamonds into masterpieces. His take on the brilliant cut preserved the sparkle of a round while offering a longer, leaner silhouette—a cut that feels both vintage and contemporary.

🧾 Timeline Highlights:

• Victorian Era: Antique “ovalish” cuts appeared in early jewellery
• 1957: Kaplan invents the true modern oval brilliant
• 21st Century: Oval diamonds explode in popularity, especially for halo and hidden halo settings

📚 Kaplan’s design gave rise to one of today’s most sought-after diamond shapes, combining sparkle and style with hand-flattering proportions.

🎯 Why Choose an Oval Diamond?

• 🖐️ Finger-lengthening effect – ideal for short or slender fingers
• 💫 Tons of sparkle – uses a brilliant cut pattern like rounds
• 💎 Larger face-up – appears bigger than round diamonds of the same carat
• 💍 Modern meets vintage – effortlessly blends classic and contemporary
• 💷 Smart value – typically lower price per carat than round brilliants

🌟 Celebrities with Oval Diamond Rings

Oval diamonds are a top choice for the stylish and the statement-making. A few notable names:

• 💍 Blake Lively – 12-carat oval pink diamond by Lorraine Schwartz
• 💍 Hailey Bieber – massive oval centre with a sleek hidden halo
• 💍 Kourtney Kardashian – classic oval in a delicate solitaire setting
• 💍 Serena Williams – oval centre flanked by side stones in a three-stone setting

🌟 The oval is red carpet-approved and effortlessly Insta-worthy.

💠 Oval Diamond in Ring Designs

💡 Oval diamonds pair well with dainty bands, pavé settings, and east-west layouts.

🧠 Buying Tips & Quality Considerations

Ovals are brilliant-cut, meaning they hide inclusions and colour well—but they come with a unique challenge: the bow-tie effect.

⚠️ What’s the Bow-Tie?

A dark shadow resembling a bow tie may appear across the centre. It’s caused by light leakage from poor proportions. A well-cut oval minimises this effect or hides it with brilliance.

✅ What to Look For:

• Cut: No official grade from GIA—rely on proportions and visual performance
• Colour: G–H or even I can appear white, especially in yellow or rose gold
• Clarity: VS2–SI1 is typically eye-clean due to sparkle
• L/W Ratio: 1.35–1.50 is the sweet spot for balanced elongation

📊 Oval vs Other Diamond Shapes

💬 FAQs – Oval Diamond Edition

✅ Pros & Cons of Oval Diamonds

✅ Pros:

• Larger face-up size per carat
• Brilliant sparkle with unique shape
• Slimming, elongating look
• Lower cost per carat than round
• Popular in modern and vintage settings

⚠️ Cons:

• No standardised cut grade from GIA
• Bow-tie effect in poorly cut stones
• Symmetry is key—bad ratios can look “off”

Mitigation Tip: Stick to 1.35–1.50 L/W ratio, and inspect for even sparkle across the centre.

🏁 Final Thought: Elegance That Lasts

With its balance of brilliance, beauty, and flattering form, the oval diamond is made for modern romantics. Whether set in a sleek solitaire or surrounded by delicate side stones, it offers timeless elegance with a contemporary twist—making it one of the most stylish shapes for engagement rings in Ireland today.

Martin Commins

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