What Is the Oval Diamond Bow-Tie Effect?
September 28th, 2020 / Lindsay Kazan
If you’ve heard of the diamond bow tie effect, you may be wondering how it affects the appearance of popular elongated shapes such as an Oval cut diamond. The bow-tie effect is a dark appearance in the center of a diamond caused by stretched facets, making it difficult for light to disperse that can happen on different diamond shapes. Since the sparkle a diamond emits is dependent on light dispersion, the bow-tie effect can cause the shaped diamonds to appear less sparkly.
When searching for an Oval center stone, there are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure your stone’s brilliance isn’t affected by the bow-tie effect. Some of your options include opting for an Ideal Cut simulated diamond, as well as knowing what to look for to avoid elongated facets. Read on as we outline the bow-tie effect and pick the perfect Oval stone for oval engagement rings.
What Is Bow Tie in an Oval Diamond Engagement Ring?
As briefly mentioned above, the bow-tie effect happens when a diamond’s facets are stretched and unable to adequately disperse light. This results in a bow-tie-like dark spot located at the stone’s width, which no one wants for their cherished adornment! So, how do you ensure your oval engagement ring doesn’t have this bow tie effect? Here are a couple of ways you can shop for a stone to prevent running into the bow-tie effect.
Consider Ideal Cut Diamond Simulants
One of the most stunning features of diamond simulants—apart from their superb affordability—is their perfect appearance. The Nexus Diamond™ alternative is created in a lab to be Ideal Cut. When looking at the Cut Scale, an Ideal Cut stone is the rarest and most revered of all cut grades. It features ideal proportions that ensure maximum light dispersion—also known as sparkle! Unlike mined diamonds that are exponentially more expensive, the higher the Cut Scale they are rated, Nexus Diamond™ alternatives are up to 80% less. Every single one of our stones comes out Ideal cut, every single time. That means you don’t have to worry about the bow-tie effect because your stone will be perfectly cut to avoid this.
Inspect Your Stone Closely
If you are set on a certain diamond, there are ways you can spot a stone with the bow-tie effect. To start, a diamond needs to be seen up close or with magnification to properly see its features. This makes purchasing a diamond online ideal, as most jewelers offer a 360-degree look at each stone. Although if you do choose to visit a jeweler in-person, be sure to ask to see your diamond under a loupe. Once you have a proper view of your diamond, tilt it back and forth to see how it catches the light. If a diamond has the bow-tie effect, you will see a dark spot in a bowtie shape near the widest part.
Most oval diamonds do have the bow-tie effect merely because of the facet pattern. Although, the better the cut grade, the less likely an oval diamond will have this dark area. Keep in mind that the bow-tie effect isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It is just one of the many features you get with elongated stone shapes such as the oval, marquise, and pear.
Do Oval Diamonds Sparkle as Much as Round?
Given the fact that round diamonds are considered a brilliant cut, they often sparkle more than oval diamonds. There are some exceptions to this rule, though. We’ve outlined the main differences between a round and oval shape diamond to help inform your decision.
Oval Diamonds vs Round Diamonds
If you are wondering about the main differences between an oval vs round diamond shape, we have you covered. Both round diamonds and oval diamonds have their advantages and disadvantages, making it important to understand the two stones’ differences.
A round cut diamond is considered a brilliant cut, meaning it features all stone shapes’ brilliance. While this is true for the most part, any stone shape’s brilliance also depends on its cut grade. The better the cut grade, the more sparkle you get. Since round diamonds are naturally the most sparkly, they come with a higher price tag.
While an oval diamond may not be as sparkly as around, it features some other benefits. For starters, oval diamonds often appear larger than round diamonds because of their long silhouette. Not only does this give you more bang for your buck, but oval diamonds can also make your finger appear slimmer.
Although round brilliant diamonds feature more sparkle, oval diamonds also come with unique benefits such as price and style.
What Is the Best Cut for an Oval Diamond?
Like all diamond shapes, the cut is an important factor in overall quality and is arguably one of the most important of all 4Cs. The terms “shape” and “cut” are often used interchangeably, but there are some differences between the two. While shape refers to the general silhouette of a stone, cut grade refers to the quality of stone and how it interacts with light. Let’s first dive into the different grades of diamond cut.
The Cut Scale consists of six grades: Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. Most diamonds are between Very Good and Good quality, though you may come across those that are Ideal or Poor. While a Poor grade means the diamond was cut either too deep or too shallow and didn’t reflect light well, an Ideal grade means that it was cut perfectly and features the most amount of light return. This can also play a part in the Oval bow-tie effect. Ideal and Excellent diamond grades are less likely to have the bow-tie dark spot, making them the best cut options for Oval stones—or any stone shapes, really.
Now that you understand the Cut Scale a little more, you know that the best cut for an Oval diamond is Ideal. Although that is true, that doesn’t mean that you have to opt for an Ideal grade to get a beautiful diamond. Very Good and Good cut grades still result in a stunning, sparkly diamond that will look dazzling for a lifetime and longer. The difference is they may cost quite a bit less but have a greater chance of having the bow-tie effect. So, when determining which cut grade is right for you, ask yourself which is more important: perfect quality or an affordable price? Whichever cut grade you opt for, ensure that it checks off your box for price point and appearance.
Are Oval Diamonds Too Trendy?
Sure, that may seem like a silly question to ask, but it’s a good idea to consider when shopping for trendy styles. When it comes to trends, they often fluctuate frequently. While halo ring styles are trendy at the moment, will they always be trendy? It’s hard to say, really. That’s why it’s important to consider the timelessness of the ring you’re looking to buy. Let’s answer this question by first explaining why Oval diamonds are so trendy at the moment.
Oval diamonds have many benefits—after all, there’s got to be a reason why people love them so much. Some of the most important benefits include their price point, large appearance, and elongated features. Since Ovals feature a unique elongated silhouette, they appear larger than a Round Brilliant shape and can help make your fingers appear slimmer. It’s a win-win situation when also considering their already affordable price. In conclusion, you can get more bang for your buck with Oval diamonds.
So, why are Oval diamonds so trendy? Their excellent features and affordability make them a stunning choice for an engagement ring or piece of fine jewelry. Thankfully, Oval diamonds are also a timeless style and have been around for quite some time. That means you can enjoy the trendiness of an Oval adornment without having to worry about whether it will be trendy in the coming years. Are Oval diamonds too trendy? We think not!
In Conclusion: The Oval Diamond Bow-Tie Effect
Choosing the perfect stone for you is an exciting, though often stressful, endeavor. When weighing the pros and cons of each shape, you may find that an Oval diamond is a right choice for you. If you have, congratulations. Oval diamonds are an excellent choice when considering appearance and price-point. While elongated stones often feature the bow-tie effect, there are a number of ways you can find one without it. From choosing simulated diamonds to choosing an Ideal Cut stone, choosing the right one for you is totally possible. Once you have pin-pointed the right one for you, you can enjoy the rest of the shopping process and end up with a special adornment to cherish for years to come.
*Here at Diamond Nexus, we strive to provide valuable information while being clear and honest about our products. The Nexus Diamond™ alternative is a patented lab created diamond simulate that, among all simulants, most closely imitates the look, weight and wear of a diamond, with two exceptions – it is absolutely perfect in every way, and it costs significantly less. Price points and environmental facts expressed in this blog were taken from popular online retailers and may vary. Learn more about the environmental impact of mining by visiting our blog.