Oval Lab-Grown Diamonds: A Buying Guide
Elegant and elongated, oval diamonds are more popular than ever these days. It’s not surprising since this fancy diamond shape is the perfect balancing act. Oval diamonds are timeless but a little bit unexpected. Luxurious with a hint of rebellion. Sophisticated but warm. Both delicate and strong.
Today you can choose oval diamonds that are grown in a lab, not mined from the earth. Although they look identical to natural diamonds and have all the exact same physical, chemical and optical properties as mined diamonds, oval lab created diamonds have two important advantages over mined diamonds.
First, when you buy from a responsible direct source like Brilliant Carbon, your lab-created diamonds are carbon neutral and sustainably grown. Brilliant Carbon sources exclusively from a lab that’s certified as a Sustainability Rated Producer by SCS Global. You can be proud that your beautiful Brilliant Carbon oval lab-grown diamonds are created without harming the earth and that your purchase supports community development around the world.
And second, because lab created oval diamonds cost much less, you can afford better quality and more carats so your oval lab grown diamond will really sparkle. That’s especially important for oval shaped diamonds because a larger size really highlights this diamond cut’s graceful curves.
If you are considering an oval lab diamond, here is a complete guide on how to buy the best lab created oval diamond jewelry styles.
How to Buy Oval Lab Grown Diamonds
The 4Cs of diamond quality apply to oval diamonds just as they do round diamonds: color, clarity, cut and carat weight. The oval shape is a long version of the round brilliant cut, with 57 facets and a gracefully curved outline.
You’ll want to choose an oval diamond with a color of H or better and a clarity of SI2 or better. If the oval diamond in your jewelry is larger than a half carat in size, make sure its quality is confirmed with a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory like International Gemological Institute (IGI) or the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Oval lab created diamonds are more likely to have a precision cut with proportions that maximize brilliance and fire. That’s because the lab can grow rough to the ideal size and shape to cut an oval shape diamond, rather than relying on chance. That’s especially true if they are cut by a fancy shape specialist.
Look for an oval lab diamond with a graceful outline, balanced proportions and perfect symmetry. Draw an imaginary line down the center of your oval shape diamond: the outline and faceting of the two halves should exactly mirror each other. As you look down at oval diamonds, the dark contrast you see in the center is a reflection of your head and shoulders blocking the light, an effect called the "bow tie."
Well-cut oval lab diamonds have maximum brilliance across all the facets, with fewer dark reflections in the center. For maximum brilliance and a pleasing shape, look for a lab created oval diamond with a length to width ratio ranging from 1.35 to 1.45.
It's only in the past few years that oval shape lab grown diamonds have been widely available in jewelry. Still it’s best to buy your oval lab diamond jewelry from a fancy shape specialist like Brilliant Carbon because its oval lab diamond styles are very well-cut and also competitively priced.
The Best Oval Lab Created Diamond Jewelry
By choosing an oval shape diamond, you enjoy a sophisticated silhouette with the sparkle of a round. Elegantly curved, oval diamonds have a lot of brilliance and durability, making them an excellent choice for diamond rings you wear every day, like diamond engagement rings.
In fact, many of our favorite athletes wear oval engagement rings, including Serena Williams and Simone Biles. Ovals are glamorous on Hollywood’s red carpet too. Blake Lively, Hailey Bieber and Salma Hayek all have oval shaped diamond engagement rings. (Blake’s engagement ring features a rare and valuable fancy pink oval diamond!)
As timeless as round diamonds but just different enough to give a simple solitaire ring stellar style, the oval shape’s elongated silhouette makes your fingers look longer and slimmer.
The three most popular engagement ring styles for oval diamonds are classics: halo oval lab diamond engagement rings and three-stone oval engagement rings. Because lab diamonds are more affordable than mined diamonds, couples are trading up in size and choosing oval lab diamond engagement rings with center stones one or two carats in size.
The other jewelry style that’s particularly well suited to oval lab diamonds is the solitaire necklace. This simple pendant with one stone has been popular for decades with round diamonds. Choosing an oval lab diamond necklace instead of the common round gives this classic wear-everywhere necklace a modern update. And the best part about an oval lab diamond solitaire necklace? You can decide whether you prefer a vertical oval lab diamond necklace for a more formal feeling or a horizontal oval lab diamond necklace for a more casual feel.
At Brilliant Carbon we sell both. Which do our customers prefer? Both are popular but the more modern horizontal style is now overtaking the more traditional vertical orientation.
Oval diamonds are relatively shallow, so a one-carat oval looks larger than a one-carat round brilliant. That means your oval lab diamond necklace will punch above its weight and have a big look, even if it’s less than a carat. Whatever your favorite jewelry style, modern to vintage, an oval lab grown diamond will make it your own.
