subject: Choosing An Oval Cut Diamond [print this page] Buying a diamond engagement ring or a certified loose diamond is, possibly, one of the most important investments you will make, including the investment of your time and feelings for the person you are giving the diamond to. Although a diamond is a beautiful thing in itself, it is possible to further enhance its appearance by the way that the diamond is cut. A very popular type of cut is the oval cut diamond.
The reason that oval shape diamonds are so popular is because the oval cut brings out the brilliance of the diamond and its elongated shape compared to a round diamond, makes it appear relatively larger than its round counterpart. As well as this illusion of being a larger diamond, if the oval cut stone is set in a ring, it will also appear to make the wearers finger look slimmer and longer.
The oval cut was first used in the 1960s and was seen as an alternative to a round cut. The brilliance of an oval cut is similar to that of a round cut, but an oval shaped stone offered the purchaser something just a little bit different.
One thing to be careful of when considering an oval shaped stone, is that it will be susceptible to what they call the bow tie effect. This can range from barely visible to severe and it is a good idea to get a prospective diamond purchase inspected by an expert to ascertain the severity of the bow tie effect so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not to purchase it.
The bow tie effect is caused by misalignment of some of the facets of the diamond which results in light not being reflected back to your eye in a centre portion of the cut, resulting in a dark area not dissimilar in shape to a gentlemans bow tie which is most probably how it came by its name.
Having a slight bow tie effect can actually enhance a diamond, but if the bow tie effect is so strong that it becomes the focal point for everybody to look at, then it could be a bad investment.
Whether purchasing a diamond as part of an engagement ring or simply making a sound financial investment for the future, with certified loose diamonds, the cut of a diamond is usually quite important in determining the value of it.
