Discover the brilliance of oval-cut gemstones on our blog. In this blog you will get all the information you need for your oval-shaped jewellery .
The oval cut is one of the most common shapes that people prefer as it's considered timeless. It's one of the most popular shapes for engagement rings. It is known for such immense sparkle and elegant brilliance making it an alluring piece. In this blog, we’ll understand what the shape is and its significance. The benefits of this shape and which gemstones suit the best with the oval cut. We will also understand an important concept of Bow-tie and how the dimension and clarity of the gemstone affect it.
What Is Oval Cut Gemstones :
The Oval-cut gemstone is an elongated shape that is famous for creating an illusion of size. An elliptical shape which is famous for its versatility. An Oval-cut gemstone typically has 57 or 58 facets which makes sparkle and exhibit such shine. This Oval shape is known as the “Classically Elegant” shape. It is known for exhibiting similar to that of the round brilliant cut
History and Origin of Oval Cut
The first ever gemstone which was cut into an oval shape was none other than a diamond. The first oval diamond recorded in history is the Kohinoor Diamond which dates way back to 1304. This stone is now an oval-shaped stone because it was recut in the year 1852 after it was handed over to Queen Victoria following the Second Anglo-Sikh War. Although the original shape of Kohinoor was a cabochon but still exhibited a lot of resemblance to an oval shape. When the Kohinoor was recut, it went from 186 carats to 105 carats.
The Modern Oval Shape gemstone was chiseled in the year 1957 by a Russian-born gemstone cutter Lazare Kaplan who was based in New York. This diamond cutter took inspiration from the now modern round brilliant cut along with a facet structure designed to maximize light reflection. The new type of cut gave birth to a new unique shape which allowed the owner of the gemstone to get the same sparkle and brilliance as that of a round brilliant cut. Just like the round brilliant cut, the oval brilliant cut diamond has 58 facets.
Once Kaplan’s design hit the market, his designs took off like anything. In no time was he producing oval-cut diamonds for high-end jewellery brands such as Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels.
What is a bowtie effect in oval-cut gemstone?
The bow-tie effect refers to the phenomena in an oval-cut gemstone where the light is unable to pass completely thus creating a dark centre in the gemstone. Although this effect is mostly associated with oval-shaped gemstones this has also been observed in pear shape and marquise shape. Elongated gemstones will show some form of bow-tie effect. Skilled diamond cutters can form the bottom in such a way that can hide the bow-tie effect and let the light pass. There are a lot of people who consider the bow tie as a differentiating factor that separates the oval shape from all the other shapes.
Oval Cut Gemstone - Length To Width Ratio
Oval cuts are not assigned with any cut grade by any major or relevant institution hence people are not aware of the ideal proportions for an oval cut. The ideal length-to-width ratio for an oval-cut gemstone is considered to be between 1.35 and 1.50.
In order to calculate the length-to-width ratio first measure the length, width, and depth in millimeters. After that take the length of the stone and divide it by the width and you’ll get your ratio!
Oval Gemstone Clarity
The recommended clarity for an oval-cut gemstone is between VS2 to SI. Let’s understand the different types of clarity:-
FL- FL means Flawless and it has no internal or external inclusions. Less than 1 percent of the diamonds belong to this category as they are incredibly rare to find.
IF- IF stands for Internally Flawless, and if seen under a microscope may show blemishes. They possess no inclusions within, its just present on the surface.
VVS1 & VVS2- It stands for Very Very Slightly Included which possesses minor inclusions and would be difficult for the trained eye to spot under 10x magnification. This results in eye clean appearance.
VS1 & VS2- Very Slightly show inclusions but only if observed under 10x magnification and can be characterized as minor.
SI1 & SI2- This stands for Slightly Included where inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification.
I1, I2 & I3- This stands for Included in which inclusions are visible under 10x magnification which may affect the transparency of and brilliance.
Oval Cut Gemstone - Cut Quality
The above table shows the recommended cut quality which has been set in a generalized manner. The cut quality highly influences the degree of Bow-tie present in the gemstone.
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How does the bow-tie effect influence the quality of the gemstone?
A slight bow tie will be visible in some stone shapes due to how the diamonds refract light but these bow ties are not always bad. A slight bow tie does not devalue the value of a gemstone, on the other hand, if a bow tie is way too dark and visible then it does have a slight impact on the value of the gemstone. Some people do view this bow tie effect as something rare and unique and instead of taking it as a flaw, they perceive it as something unique.
Oval Cut Gemstone Length To Width Ratio Calculation
Oval cuts are not assigned with any cut grade by any major or relevant institution hence people are not aware of the ideal proportions for an oval cut. The ideal length-to-width ratio for an oval-cut gemstone is considered to be between 1.35 and 1.50.
To calculate the length-to-width ratio first measure the length, width, and depth in millimetres. After that take the length of the stone and divide it by the width and you’ll get your ratio!
Oval Cut Gemstone - Color
Oval-cut gemstones show more colour as compared to other shapes. The elongated shape allows more colour to be visible as compared to other shapes. The oval shape consists of 58 facets, thus it sparkles like anything and is able to deliver the colour of the gemstone beautifully!
Oval Cut Gemstone - Prices
The cut quality, colour, and clarity consolidate together to shape the pricing range of the oval cut gemstone. For example, if a person has chosen a D colour diamond with excellent cut and Flawless clarity, then in this case the diamond is going to be expensive. On the other hand, if someone chooses G colour with Good cut quality and VS1 value, then they will get it for a much cheaper price. Thus, it's important to keep all these three factors in mind and then choose an oval-shaped gemstone.
What gemstones suit the best with an oval shape?
Diamond- The oval shape looks the best with diamonds as it brings out their brilliance and fire exceptionally well. An oval diamond provides an elongated shape that allows for a larger surface area as compared to a round shape. This cut also helps to retain the diamond’s natural scintillation. Diamond scores a 10 on the Mohs scale out of 10 which makes it suitable to wear on a regular as it is highly durable.
Sapphire- Sapphire is famous for its rich blue colour which is best showcased in the oval cut. This gemstone has a score of 9 on the Mohs scale which makes it a durable stone for everyday use.
Ruby- The intense blood-red color of ruby symbolizes passion and love. Rubies are mostly chosen for romantic settings. The oval cut complements ruby by enhancing its deep saturated colour.
Emerald- Emeralds known for their royal green colour, make a phenomenal choice for oval engagement rings. With a score of 7.5 on the Mohs scale, emeralds are durable enough for regular use but require more care as compared to harder gemstones like Diamond and Sapphire.
Benefits of Oval Shape Gemstones
Budget Friendly- Surprisingly oval-cut gemstones are the second most popular after round-cut gemstones and a lot more affordable than them. It's more affordable as the gemstone wastage is much less as compared to the round cut. The price soars with the increase in carat, but the oval cut gemstone gives an illusion of a larger stone.
Pair well with most settings- Being a versatile shape, oval-cut gemstones go well with most settings. As an oval shape with curvy edges, it very less prone to damage as compared to pointed shapes such as Marquise cut or Princess cut.
Naturally elongates the finger- Everyone wishes to have long and slim fingers, but some are not naturally born with them. Hence the oval-shaped gemstones create an illusion where the fingers are long elongated and graceful.
Doesn’t scratch- Sharp-cut gemstones are likely to scratch against surfaces thus increasing the risk of damaging the prongs that hold the stone in the ring. With oval-cut gemstones, the chances of the prongs getting damaged or broken are highly unlikely.
Spiritual meaning of Oval Cut
The oval shape is not only known for its brilliance and versatility but also for the spiritual significance that it holds.
Inner balance and peace- The elongated shape acts as a reminder for all of us that it is important to maintain equilibrium in our lives. The oval shape’s soft lines denote the sense of peace and harmony within oneself.
Birth and Creation- The shape of an egg is the same as that of an oval which symbolizes creation. The oval represents the continuous curve of life which is not the same all the time.
Infinity and Continuity- Just as the shape of an oval which neither has a starting point nor an ending point. This denotes that the circle of life is forever. As one life ends, another one starts.
The intersection of the Spiritual and Physical World- This belief is popularly known as Vesica Piscis. It symbolizes the union of the earth and the divine. It also means a doorway to the higher self.
Conclusion
In this blog, we got to know about the origin of oval-cut gemstones and the father of oval-cut gemstones, Lazare Kaplan. The way he became a pioneer in this industry by making the oval-cut gemstones famous. We also understood the effect of bow tie on the appearance of the oval cut gemstone. The gemstones with which the oval cut suits the best and enhance their characteristics. Understood the benefits of using oval shapes in gemstones and what significance this shape holds when it comes to the spiritual world.
