Oval Diamond Tutorial: Lauren B Loose Diamond Education

Today's Diamonds 101 express tutorial is on oval diamonds. More than any other diamond shape, the proportions and cut of this stone are of crucial importance and must be taken into consideration when purchasing your center-stone.
The video shows a line-up of three 1.7 cart oval cut diamonds; the diamond shown in the middle is from our inventory while the two on either side were called in for comparison purposes. Let's start with the 'too short' stone on the left which is a heavier diamond that looks much smaller than its carat weight would suggest. For each oval carat weight increment we have targeted mm. lengths & widths that we aim for and this one falls way below that. At only 8.6mm long it will not provide the type of finger coverage you would expect from an oval diamond this size. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the 'too tall' stone on the right, which has the length but is cut too narrow which gives it a 'toothpick-like' appearance. While the 10mm length is great, the width falls short of what you need to have a well rounded looking oval stone. If you were shopping for oval stones and ignored the measurements on either of these two stones, you will be very disappointed after.
Check the length & width measurements that translate to a large looking, and well cut stone with soft edges. Note the ratio of this diamond (length divided by width) which is at 1.4:1 and falls within an acceptable range for ovals which is anywhere from 1.35:1 for a wider look and 1.48:1 for a longer appearance. These are the types of diamonds we keep in our inventory and we would never present something like the two inferior examples above. Navigating the diamond market can be tricky at times, but at LaurenB we will guide you step by step in the process using our expertise and know-how to find you the perfect stone.