2. Features
The oval cut is a rounded shape typically comprised of 58 facets with a typical
ratio between 1.33 and 1.66.
This shape optimises carat weight, meaning that the drawn out and symmetrical shape
can make it appear larger than round stones of a similar weight. The oval cut is
also an ideal way to elongate shorter fingers and it has recently become fashionable
to use as the centre stone for engagement rings.
A “bow-tie effect” occurs when light passing through the diamond casts a shadow
across the central facets of the stone. This shadow can be reduced by altering the
depth of the pavilion, and adjusting the angles of the table and facets to better
diffuse light in the central area. This effect also occurs in the Pear, Marquise
and Heart shapes.
4. History & Background
Although oval shaped diamonds were first introduced over 200 years ago, the modern
oval cut was invented in the early 1960s by leading Russian cutter Lazare Kaplan.
The cut eventually earned him a place in the Jewellers International Hall of Fame,
however, Kaplan also left his mark on the diamond industry with his unique ability
to split a rough diamond into smaller stones with a single blow. This process is
known as cleaving.
When a rough material is poorly shaped or contains defective flaws that prevent
it from being turned into a single stone, it must be split along the grain. Kaplan
became famous for his expertise in taking stones that were otherwise deemed unworthy
and transforming them into beautifully cut diamonds.
