Diamonds Cuts and Shapes: Oval Cut Diamonds

Diamonds are the hardest and also the most beautiful metal on earth. Many people use the terms 'cut' and 'shape' interchangeably, but they are not the same. Diamond cuts are nothing, but the styles based on arrangement of facets. There are 3 main types of cuts; brilliant cut, step cut and mixed cut. A diamond needs to be cut, to give it a desired shape. Cuts and shapes are styles, developed to make full utilization of the diamond's properties. The different types of shapes that can be given to diamonds are as follows:

Round Brilliant Diamonds
Oval Diamonds
Marquise Diamonds
Pear Shaped Diamonds
Heart Shaped Diamonds
Princess Cut Diamond

Oval Cut Diamond
The oval or elliptical cut for diamonds is a relatively new shape, invented in the early 1960s by Lazare Kaplan. It provided a change from the classic round cut diamond and hence became very popular. The angles used in oval cut are ideal for the maximum optical effect. The oval shape is also best for maximum scintillation and fire. It has triangular facets and looks even better with a brilliant cut. Before buying an oval diamond, you need to take some precautions. Check the diamond carefully at different angles in natural sunlight. The right width for an oval diamond is 1.5:1. If the width of your diamond is more than this, it may have an undesirable effect, popularly known as the 'bow tie effect'. If the 'bow tie effect' is present in the diamond, you can see some unwanted dark shades at a few angles of the diamond. If the width is less than 1.5:1, then there are chances that your oval cut diamond may look like an ill-cut round.

Oval Cut Diamond Jewelry
An even and perfectly symmetrical oval cut diamond can go well with any jewelry. They are used for necklaces, bracelets and especially rings. The oval diamond ring is mostly used as an engagement ring. Women with small and tiny fingers opt for oval cut rings as they give an elegant and slender look to their fingers. For engagement rings, the most important parts are diamond shape and settings. If you have chosen oval cut for the diamond in your engagement ring, there are a plenty of settings to choose from. A few of them have been listed below.

Solitaire setting: In this setting, the main focus is the diamond. A six-prong setting is considered good, because it provides maximum security to the diamond. The mounting can be white gold or platinum.
Side-stone setting: The small side stones added to the large oval cut, enhance the spark of the ring. The side stones can be of any cut or color. Rubies are a very good option for side stones.
Wedding band: Along with the engagement ring, you can also wear a wedding band.
Three-stone setting: This is a very common setting. The oval diamond in the center is surrounded by two smaller diamonds.The side diamonds are generally emerald or pear-shaped.

Precautions before Buying Diamond Jewelry
Diamonds are indeed very expensive; so before buying any diamond jewelry, keep the 4 C's in mind: cut, color, clarity and caret weight. Buy your jewelry from a trusted and reputed brand. Remember to get the GIA certificates for your jewelery (especially during on-line transactions).

Diamond is a the best friend of every woman. While choosing diamonds, make well-informed decisions, especially in the case of diamond engagement rings. This is something you will be wearing for your whole life. It should be a perfect balance between quality and value.