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Oval diamond check

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xosunflowerox

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 1, 2024
Messages
5
Hi all, I have been doing research on oval diamonds for a while now. I've probably looked at around 30 different ovals in person. This oval I picked out if hands down the best one I've seen so far. I followed online oval diamond guides to find ovals that fell into the ideal table, depth, and ratio range.
I received it a few days ago and have been thoroughly examining it. I'm a bit concerned it may have a bow tie. When I initially saw it in person, the gemologist told me it has 0 bow tie. In certain lighting, it does look like it has no bow tie. But in harsh, direct lighting, it does. Is this normal? I've spent the past few days pouring over threads on here and Reddit about oval bow ties. From everything I've read on here, it sounds like any diamond will have areas of darkness in direct sunlight. So maybe my oval is fine. However, I would like to get some feedback from experts. The diamond was a significant amount of money, so I want to feel like it's as perfect as possible. Thought maybe that's unrealistic. I'm still within my short return window. The specs are: 2.01 ct, D color, VS2 clarity, excellent polish and symmetry, 1.47 ratio, 61% table and 61.5% depth. I'm including pictures and videos in various lighting. Thanks in advance for any help.
https://imgur.com/SXveOdd
https://imgur.com/2KlajMK
https://imgur.com/5noa1Ta
https://imgur.com/O83LUTG
https://imgur.com/AZBnj2V
https://imgur.com/E1FHgtq
https://imgur.com/B4CAIwW
https://imgur.com/t9tWuTd
https://imgur.com/rsBNOmv
https://imgur.com/zA9sXqM
https://imgur.com/0M0Ki4O
https://imgur.com/DWlTIJ9
 
xosunflowerox said:
Hi all, I have been doing research on oval diamonds for a while now. I've probably looked at around 30 different ovals in person. This oval I picked out if hands down the best one I've seen so far. I followed online oval diamond guides to find ovals that fell into the ideal table, depth, and ratio range.
I received it a few days ago and have been thoroughly examining it. I'm a bit concerned it may have a bow tie. When I initially saw it in person, the gemologist told me it has 0 bow tie. In certain lighting, it does look like it has no bow tie. But in harsh, direct lighting, it does. Is this normal? I've spent the past few days pouring over threads on here and Reddit about oval bow ties. From everything I've read on here, it sounds like any diamond will have areas of darkness in direct sunlight. So maybe my oval is fine. However, I would like to get some feedback from experts. The diamond was a significant amount of money, so I want to feel like it's as perfect as possible. Thought maybe that's unrealistic. I'm still within my short return window. The specs are: 2.01 ct, D color, VS2 clarity, excellent polish and symmetry, 1.47 ratio, 61% table and 61.5% depth. I'm including pictures and videos in various lighting. Thanks in advance for any help.
Click to expand...

Almost all* ovals will have some darkness through the center in bright sunlight. Same concept as a well-cut round brilliant that
goes dark in bright sunlight. Real bow-ties (IMO) have an area of darkness that shows up (and stays visible for too long) in pretty
much any lighting condition.

Your stone looks like an 8 main. Can you post the GIA report for it? You can find some ovals that dont do what you've pointed
out but then again you lose the nice facets that return light nicely through the center. The stones that dont do this are mostly "crushed ice" which people dont tend to want.

Do you have a link to an upclose video of your stone?
 
Are you seeing nice facets light up when you rock the stone North to South? In the areas I've drawn the arrows in?
oval with arrows.png
 
I’m not sure honestly. I’m not sure what that looks like since this is fairly new to me. It sparkles a lot when I move it around.
 
XO, welcome to the forum. While a round diamond performance can be measured more objectively with things like an ASET, it is my understanding that shapes like an Oval are an "art form" selection. This means, it's just plain tough!
I have read on this forum that Jonathan (Rhino) has solved this issue with his Elyque cut, that is that it takes away the mushy stuff at the north/south of the diamond and removes the dreaded oval bowtie! Here is a link to his website and good luck
www.distinctivegem.com

The Elyque Oval by AV Inc.

The Elyque Oval by August Vintage Inc. is the first oval of it's kind that eliminates the bowtie effect, eliminates blatant light leakage as well as color absorption producing the brightest, most stunning oval diamonds to ever hit the market and are confirmed AGS Ideal. Each day I am alerted to...
www.distinctivegem.com www.distinctivegem.com
 
Hi, thank you for the welcome! I’ve checked out the Elyque cut before. I don’t really like how it faces up smaller. I think I also like the look of standard ovals more, but I would have to see the Elyque cut in person to be sure.

I love the oval I’ve picked. I just started having doubts after seeing it in different lighting. I was hoping to get reassurance that it’s fine and I’m overthinking it. But maybe I’m not since no one has said otherwise yet. If it is a poor oval, I’d rather return it now than be stuck with it. I have about a week left to return it.
 
I"m not an expert by far, but your oval looks really great to me. All ovals will have a bit of darkness here and there, but that's the way of fancy cuts. I have an elongated cushion.

I loved the magnified video. I can see why your vendor said "no bowtie" from it. Personally, I'd love to own your oval! And yes - the Elyque is going to be a different look than yours. Hope that helps a little.
 
xosunflowerox said:
Hi, thank you for the welcome! I’ve checked out the Elyque cut before. I don’t really like how it faces up smaller. I think I also like the look of standard ovals more, but I would have to see the Elyque cut in person to be sure.

I love the oval I’ve picked. I just started having doubts after seeing it in different lighting. I was hoping to get reassurance that it’s fine and I’m overthinking it. But maybe I’m not since no one has said otherwise yet. If it is a poor oval, I’d rather return it now than be stuck with it. I have about a week left to return it.
Click to expand...

Elyque ovals are cut deeper to help remove some/ a lot of the "mush", however, they take the darkness that usually runs E/W on
ovals and moves it to be in the N/S direction. If you look at the stones you can see the darkness in the N/S direction. @WillyDiamond
you should also look at more of the Elyque ovals so you can see what they are doing. I'm not saying they are bad (they are not) but
they dont eliminate all oval issues IMO*. They help eliminate a lot of mush ovals have but its at the trade off of a stone that faces up
smaller. Some people find this a reasonable trade-off...some dont.

@xosunflowerox I would not say that the oval you posted is "poor". Ovals are just hard to evaluate. Unfortunately, the up-close
video you have has the stone setting N/S which makes it even harder to evaluate. Ovals that are set on their side are easier
to evaluate. I would make sure it performs the way you like in the lighting conditions you are in the most.

I will try to post some ovals that I* think are nice later today...just so you have something to compare with.
 
(ignore color, clarity, size etc. just posting these for faceting pattern) FYI...I'm not recommending these stones because they have
other issues.

My favorite oval cuts are a 6 main and an 8 main where the arrow goes straight through the center (most 8 mains are offset from
the center). Both these cuts are hard to find.
6 main

Couldnt find any nice 8 mains with the arrows going trough the center.

Here is one cut like yours that is reflecting light nicely
 
xosunflowerox said:
Hi all, I have been doing research on oval diamonds for a while now. I've probably looked at around 30 different ovals in person. This oval I picked out if hands down the best one I've seen so far. I followed online oval diamond guides to find ovals that fell into the ideal table, depth, and ratio range.
I received it a few days ago and have been thoroughly examining it. I'm a bit concerned it may have a bow tie. When I initially saw it in person, the gemologist told me it has 0 bow tie. In certain lighting, it does look like it has no bow tie. But in harsh, direct lighting, it does. Is this normal? I've spent the past few days pouring over threads on here and Reddit about oval bow ties. From everything I've read on here, it sounds like any diamond will have areas of darkness in direct sunlight. So maybe my oval is fine. However, I would like to get some feedback from experts. The diamond was a significant amount of money, so I want to feel like it's as perfect as possible. Thought maybe that's unrealistic. I'm still within my short return window. The specs are: 2.01 ct, D color, VS2 clarity, excellent polish and symmetry, 1.47 ratio, 61% table and 61.5% depth. I'm including pictures and videos in various lighting. Thanks in advance for any help.
https://imgur.com/SXveOdd
https://imgur.com/2KlajMK
https://imgur.com/5noa1Ta
https://imgur.com/O83LUTG
https://imgur.com/AZBnj2V
https://imgur.com/E1FHgtq
https://imgur.com/B4CAIwW
https://imgur.com/t9tWuTd
https://imgur.com/rsBNOmv
https://imgur.com/zA9sXqM
https://imgur.com/0M0Ki4O
https://imgur.com/DWlTIJ9
Click to expand...

I think your oval looks lovely.
 
Thank you for all the feedback everyone! I looked at my oval again last night, shifting it from north to south. I could definitely see the facets lighting up. I also looked more into Distinctive Gem. I didn't realize they also sold standard ovals. He has a lot of videos on Youtube featuring ovals with no bowties. From the few I watched, they all look pretty similar to mine, I think. They do go dark in the sun. Seeing that helped me understand it a lot better.
Here's a couple of videos if anyone is interested:

I did look at my diamond through an Ideal Scope before buying it. The facets in the middle were bright pink, so I think that means they reflect light rather than leak it? When I looked at it, I wasn't familiar with how to interpret what I was seeing. But the vendor told me it looked really good.

@tyty333 Thanks for the examples! I don't think I've seen a 6 main before. It gives it a pretty different look. I have seen 4 mains, but they don't seem as common. How can you tell the difference between a centered 8 main and off set 8 main?
 
xosunflowerox said:
Thank you for all the feedback everyone! I looked at my oval again last night, shifting it from north to south. I could definitely see the facets lighting up. I also looked more into Distinctive Gem. I didn't realize they also sold standard ovals. He has a lot of videos on Youtube featuring ovals with no bowties. From the few I watched, they all look pretty similar to mine, I think. They do go dark in the sun. Seeing that helped me understand it a lot better.
Here's a couple of videos if anyone is interested:

I did look at my diamond through an Ideal Scope before buying it. The facets in the middle were bright pink, so I think that means they reflect light rather than leak it? When I looked at it, I wasn't familiar with how to interpret what I was seeing. But the vendor told me it looked really good.

@tyty333 Thanks for the examples! I don't think I've seen a 6 main before. It gives it a pretty different look. I have seen 4 mains, but they don't seem as common. How can you tell the difference between a centered 8 main and off set 8 main?
Click to expand...

Well, I can tell by looking at them because I've looked at a lot of ovals but the easiest way is to look at the pavilion diagram on
the GIA report. Let me find one for you...

So here is Not a pretty one but what I found quickly...look at the GIA report and you will see arrows going through the center
www.jamesallen.com

1.20 Carat oval diamond

This oval cut 1.2 carat D color si1 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com

Edit..basically, if you dont see that split of arrows going through the center, and only see one arrow, then its a 6 main or an
8 main with arrows going through the center.

Split....

split oval.png

No split...arrows going straight across (this is a 6 main but you find 8 mains by looking for the same thing).
www.jamesallen.com

1.02 Carat oval diamond

This oval cut 1.02 carat K color vs2 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com

arrows going straight across.png
 
Last edited:
Tyty is much more knowledgeable about evals than I am, but your diamond seems to have a nice even brightness across its surface and I don’t see signs of undesirable bow tie. It would like you did everything right! You educated your eyes by looking at a wide range of stones in real life and you used the tools available to help make an informed decision. I think your diamond looks great and I hope you enjoy wearing it.

@tyty333 thanks for these informative posts! I learned something.
 
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