Oval vs. Round Diamonds: The Definitive Comparison (2024)

FAQs

Is an oval or round diamond better? ›

Round-cut diamonds are much better at hiding inclusions than oval-cut diamonds since they are very brilliant and sparkly.

Ovals will look substantially bigger on your hand when compared to a Round diamond at the same carat weight. Ovals, with their elongated shape and more shallow pavilion, have a larger surface area that will also make your finger appear slimmer and longer.

The moval is like the Bennifer of diamonds — a cross between the marquise cut and an oval diamond. It's more elongated, with slightly rounded points.

Round Brilliant Cut

The round cut is the most brilliant or the most sparkling diamond cut. Fifty-eight facets (including the culet) are cut into brilliant round diamonds to allow light to pass through and reflect off each facet.

A 2 carat Oval diamond will attract plenty of attention and look bigger than most 2 carat diamonds, but they wouldn't be considered “too big” by most standards. The right diamond size for you ultimately comes down to personal preference and taste.

The round cut diamond has the most sparkle of any diamond shape or cut due to its faceting structure and concentrated shape. Round and oval diamonds both fall into the category of brilliant cut diamonds. Brilliant cut diamonds are so called because they are cut in such a way as to maximize the diamond's brilliance.

While ovals are more rare than round and princess-cut diamonds, they are also in less demand. You should not have to increase your budget when looking for oval diamond engagement rings. In fact ovals are typically about 20% less expensive and a similarly sized round!

The primary reason for round being the most expensive diamond shape is that a large amount of the rough stone is lost during the cutting and polishing process. To achieve the fire and brilliance characteristic of the round shape, more of the original is lost than when cutting a fancy shape.

The marquise cut is the ultimate in elegance. Its oval shape meets in pointed ends, resembling the hull of a ship—this cut is also known as the Navette cut (meaning “l*ttle boat” in French). In addition to being unique, this cut is also great for someone looking to create the illusion of elongated hands.

Always Timeless: Round Brilliant

The round brilliant is the most popular diamond and a great choice for the woman who appreciates classic style. A round brilliant cut diamond maximizes the amount of reflected light, giving it incredible sparkle, especially when compared with other cuts.

What cut makes a diamond look biggest? ›

The marquise diamond shape has the largest appearance of any shape. It has a similar elongated look as the oval and pear shapes, but both ends form tapered points. The marquise shape will always look the largest because those tapered points create the largest surface area of all the shapes.

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.

A diamond's sparkle is an unmistakable flash of brilliance, fire, and scintillation that erupts from the stone with every movement. Among all diamond shapes and cuts, the round cut has the most sparkle due to its faceting structure and concentrated shape, assuming it is well cut.

Round is the most traditional diamond cut and continues to be the most prevalent in today's market. One of the reasons for the overwhelming popularity of round diamonds is their potential for ultimate light performance, brilliance, fire and sparkle.

Which Cut or Shape Is Best for a Diamond's Sparkle? The best cut for a diamond, as far as sparkle goes, is the brilliant round cut.

Due to the mechanics of its shape, the round diamond is generally superior to fancy diamond shapes at the proper reflection of light, maximizing potential brightness. Virtually all round diamonds are brilliant-cut, meaning they have 58 facets (57 when there is no culet).