Oval Cut Diamonds: A Complete Guide

Elegant & Elongating

In recent years, the oval diamond has experienced a significant rise in popularity, attributed to its versatile aesthetic that bridges the gap between classic and contemporary.

At Appleby Jewellers in Dublin, we carefully select oval diamonds for their balance, light, and proportion, ensuring each stone feels as exceptional as the moment it represents. Due to their elongated surface area, oval diamonds often appear larger than round or princess-cut diamonds of the same carat weight. This makes them an excellent choice for those seeking presence and elegance without increasing carat size.

What sets Appleby apart is not just access to our exceptional oval diamonds, it’s how you choose them.

A private, calm consultation setting
One-to-one guidance from experienced jewellers
The ability to view and compare stones in real light
A fully bespoke design process if desired

Each ring is then crafted in our Dublin workshop, ensuring complete control over quality and finish.

What is an Oval Diamond?

An oval cut diamond is an elongated brilliant-cut stone, typically featuring 58 facets, designed to maximise light reflection and sparkle.

Its shape combines the fire and brilliance of a round diamond with a more slender, refined outline, making it both timeless and modern.

Why Choose an Oval Cut Diamond?

Elongates the finger for a flattering, elegant look
Appears larger than other diamonds of the same carat weight
Exceptional brilliance due to its facet structure
Versatile across solitaire, halo, and trilogy settings

Do Oval Diamonds Look Bigger?

The Wave Oval Diamond Ring - Appleby Jewellers Dublin

Yes, this is one of their most appealing qualities.

Due to their elongated surface area, oval diamonds often appear larger than round or princess-cut diamonds of the same carat weight.

This makes them an excellent choice for those seeking presence and elegance without increasing carat size.

Best Settings for Oval Cut Diamonds

J'adore Oval Engagement Ring (2.01ct) - Appleby Jewellers Dublin

Oval diamonds are incredibly versatile and suit a range of settings. Its elongated form offers a unique canvas for jewellery designers, inspiring a wave of innovative and bespoke creations that highlight the diamond's natural beauty and distinctive characteristics.

Solitaire

Clean, minimal, and timeless — allowing the diamond to take centre stage.

Halo

Enhances brilliance and creates the illusion of a larger stone.

Trilogy

Adds depth and symbolism, often paired with pear or round side stones.

Bezel

A modern, sculptural setting that offers added protection.

At Appleby, many of our designs have 18ct yellow gold bands with platinum claws, enhancing both warmth and brilliance.

Oval Diamond Cut Quality

The cut of an oval diamond is paramount, influencing its overall brilliance and sparkle. Unlike round diamonds, the oval cut does not have a standardised grading system for its shape, making the assessment of its proportions and facet alignment critical. The ideal oval cut maximises light reflection and dispersion, achieving a balance between length and width that enhances the stone.

Our Appleby gemologists look for:

Strong light return
Symmetry and balance
Even brilliance across the surface
Minimal bow-tie effect

This is where our experience truly matters.

Oval Engagement Ring Designs

The beauty of an oval diamond lies not only in the stone itself, but in how it is set. Its elongated silhouette lends itself to a wide range of designs from quiet minimalism to intricate, vintage-inspired pieces.

At Appleby Jewellers in Dublin, each oval engagement ring is crafted to enhance the natural flow of the diamond, ensuring balance, light, and elegance in every detail.

Metal Choices for Oval Rings

Across all designs, Appleby offers:

18ct Yellow Gold – warm, timeless, enhances contrast
Platinum – clean, bright, and enduring
18ct Rose Gold – soft, romantic, contemporary

Many oval rings combine yellow gold bands with platinum claws, allowing the diamond to appear brighter while maintaining warmth.

Oval Cut vs Round Brilliant

When comparing oval and round diamonds, the real difference lies not just in shape and style, but in how each stone is faceted to handle light.

Feature	Round Brilliant Diamond	Oval Cut Diamond
Faceting	57 or 58 facets, arranged in a highly symmetrical pattern designed to maximise light performance.	They usually feature 58 facets, similar in number to round diamonds but arranged differently to suit the oval outline.
Brilliance	Maximum sparkle and fire due to 58 perfectly symmetrical facets.	High sparkle. It also has a larger surface area, making it look bigger than a round diamond of the same carat weight.
Look	A classic shape.	More moden shape.
Ideal For	Maximum brilliance seekers	Elongating the fingers