In 1957, a Russian diamond cutter named Lazare Kaplan developed a process for cutting oval shaped diamonds that is still used today. Known as a “fancy shape”, oval diamonds are growing in popularity thanks to A-listers like Hailey Bieber and Blake Lively, wearing the look proudly. A variation on the round brilliant, which is the most popular diamond shape in the world, an oval diamond engagement ring is a beautiful twist on classic elegance that any bride-to-be would love.

If you’re looking for something unique but don’t want to give up sparkle, an oval diamond might be the perfect compromise. With no sharp corners, oval diamonds are less prone to chipping than other shapes and the elongated shape can make fingers appear slimmer. Thanks to their sparkle, oval diamonds are good at hiding inclusions. If you're looking for something outside the norm that still has a timeless, classic quality, an oval diamond engagement ring might be right for you.

While the 4 Cs are always important, oval diamonds are usually graded a bit differently than other more common shapes like round brilliant or princess cut. The GIA doesn’t provide cut gradings for oval diamonds because there are no standard cut parameters for the “perfect” oval shape. A diamond expert can help you find the best cut for you based on general guidelines. A couple things you should keep in mind when shopping for an oval diamond engagement ring include:

Due to their elongated shape, most oval cut diamonds have a dark space that stretches across the diamond’s center, known as the bowtie. Ideally, you want to choose an oval diamond without a prominent bowtie effect.

While ultimately dependent on personal preference, the ideal length to width ratio for an oval diamond is between 1.30 and 1.50.

Generally, when comparing an oval cut and a round cut diamond with the same cut quality, color, clarity and carat weight, the oval cut will cost less. This is because an oval cut uses more of the rough diamond and produces less waste through the cutting and polishing process. As carat weight increases, so will the price of an oval diamond but the shape has a knack for appearing larger, so you can get more value for your budget.

Oval cut diamonds are one of the more versatile shapes available and they look good in almost any setting you can think of. A few popular styles you might want to consider include: