Round vs Oval Diamond: Which is right for you?

Investing in the perfect diamond is a commitment in its own right.

Representing a natural phenomenon, your unique diamond should feel “just right” for you. From the cut to the clarity, there’s plenty to consider. That’s why we’ve gathered all the information to help you weigh up the difference between the two most popular diamond shapes, the oval and the round brilliant.

Having accounted for a combined 73% of our 2023 sales so far, the oval and round diamond are both illuminating the engagement ring industry. At first glance, you might not notice a distinct difference between their incredible facet structures. However, despite their similar shapes, there are a number of factors that separate the two. From pricing to personal style, let’s compare the cuts to hone in on your perfect match…

When it comes to checking the quality of your oval cut, you’ll need to follow a slightly different rule of thumb. This is because oval diamonds don’t receive an official cut grade from gemological laboratories, making it a little more tricky to check your stone’s quality. But fear not, we’ve got you covered.

You’ll need to consider the “bow-tie effect”. Like a round cut, the oval diamond also features 57 or 58 brilliant facets. However, the elongated length means one of the facets will not be able to bounce the light due to having a flat face which results in areas of darkness in the middle of the stone. This is known as the “bow-tie effect” due to its shape.

Alternatively, there is a massive incline in lab-grown diamonds. This is an exciting industry advancement, as a lab stone offers the same fire and brilliance as that of a mined diamond, but at a far lower price point. Lab-grown diamonds can also be incredibly sustainable, when made in a laboratory that offsets their energy usage, creating diamonds from carbon that bears an identical crystal structure to their mined counterparts. This means lab-grown diamonds are the real deal, just without the emissions used to retrieve them from under the earth’s crust.

For a round lab-grown diamond that offers the same premium quality as the natural ones listed above, you can currently expect to pay around £1,500. Likewise, the oval cut lab diamond is priced at a similar cost of £1,200.

It’s important to note that the lab-grown versions may not maintain their market value in the same way a natural diamond might. This is because the industry is rapidly expanding, with the future generation of lab diamonds predicted to cost just 10% of Earth-mined diamonds. However, we believe that the sentimental (and ethical) value remains a priceless factor when considering this option.

Finally, let’s look at the importance of clarity to both cuts. The main thing to consider at this stage are the “imperfections” that will affect both, known as inclusions.

Inclusions are very common, as a “perfect” diamond is incredibly rare. In fact, almost every diamond will feature an imperfection of some kind. So, what to look for?

Inclusions are internal “imperfections” that are part of your diamond’s story, usually occurring during the diamond’s geological formation. For example, you might find slight streaking (known as graining) or small crystals that appear inside the diamond. This is due to the heat and pressure that formed your stone.