Seeking feedback in oval diamond with bowtie

[tehps]

Hey, I ordered a engagement ring online that I thought would have a pretty minimal bowtie, but it seems more apparent in person in direct sunlight. It doesn't seem noticeable in indoor light. Is it really that bad or is this pretty normal for a oval? I'm debating swapping it out for something else or going ahead a giving it to her and letting her know she can change it if she wants. This was the one I ordered.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.70-carat-e-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-17729204

For alternatives, I was looking at 1.7-1.8ct oval, D-F, VS1+, 1.4-1.52 l/w ratio with a budget of up to about $20k. Is anyone aware of anything that could be better?

I attached a couple pics of indoor vs outdoor lightning.

 

[lovedogs]

IMHO you're shooting yourself in the foot by having such narrow parameters for ratio. Did your GF specifically tell you she only wants a narrow oval like that? I think there are more attractive ovals but they don't necessarily have that exact ratio.

I also think eye-clean VS2 is perfectly fine and won't look different from a VS1.

For example, I love these two because they don't have a bowtie:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.70-carat-d-color-vs1-clarity-sku-19867542

1.74 Carat oval diamond

This oval cut 1.74 carat F color vs2 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

 

[lovedogs]

Sorry, i should also say that your oval isn't horrible by any means. But there is definitely a noticible bowtie.

 

[tehps]

Thanks, for the feedback. I guess that was just the range I was looking at since I thought 1.45 seemed nicest. She wants an oval and I thought getting down to 1.3 l/w looked like a squished circle and too far above 1.5 seemed too long.

I'm also OK with VS2 as long as its eye clean. I was trying to avoid not liking it in-person and having to keep sending them back so I increased the clarity.

 

[lovedogs]

Thanks, for the feedback. I guess that was just the range I was looking at since I thought 1.45 seemed nicest. She wants an oval and I thought getting down to 1.3 l/w looked like a squished circle and too far above 1.5 seemed too long.

I'm also OK with VS2 as long as its eye clean. I was trying to avoid not liking it in-person and having to keep sending them back so I increased the clarity.

Totally makes sense. Just wanted to point it out. Like I said, yours isn't bad at all, but the bowtie might bother some folks (I know it would bother me, but I'm not your GF). What do you think of the ones I linked?

 

[tehps]

Totally makes sense. Just wanted to point it out. Like I said, yours isn't bad at all, but the bowtie might bother some folks (I know it would bother me, but I'm not your GF). What do you think of the ones I linked?

I like the 1.7ct option a lot. Some ovals, like that one, seem to go dark on the tips at some angles and others don't. Can that end up being pretty obvious in person?

 

[lovedogs]

I like the 1.7ct option a lot. Some ovals, like that one, seem to go dark on the tips at some angles and others don't. Can that end up being pretty obvious in person?

I don't *think* so, at least not with this stone, but I can't promise either. I think @tyty333 is better with ovals than I am, so maybe they can give their thoughts

 

[tyty333]

I don't *think* so, at least not with this stone, but I can't promise either. I think @tyty333 is better with ovals than I am, so maybe they can give their thoughts

I thought I had figured out that a certain type of crown facet were causing end-cap darkness but now I've seen the same facets with
darkness and also with no-darkness. I'm concluding at this point, until I figure out otherwise, that they are stone-dependent.

That 1.74 stone does not look like it has the issue. It also has very nice light return.

OP...so I noticed your specs say 1.7-1.8. Oval stones (LxW) vary widely at the same carat weight. Are you wanting to stay at a
similar size (LxW) to the one you bought? You may want to go up in carat size (and not be so limiting). The more specs you
try to limit with an oval, the less likely you are to find a nice one with good light return.

Also...the darkness through the middle in bright sunlight...is the same theory that a well-cut round brilliant will go dark in bright
sunlight. Those facets that turn dark are the ones with the best light return. They will most likely be red in an ASET image. The
gray mushy facets dont go dark because they are not returning sunlight directly to your eye.

Oh, and BTW...the stone you purchased is a typical 8 main with offset mains. Look at the pavilion clarity plot and you should
see 8 mains. The one @lovedogs linked is a 6 main with the arrows going straight through the center.
In my observation, 6 mains usually* have better light return (although you can find good and bad of each faceting type).
6 mains are also more rare and harder to find.

 

[tehps]

I thought I had figured out that a certain type of crown facet were causing end-cap darkness but now I've seen the same facets with
darkness and also with no-darkness. I'm concluding at this point, until I figure out otherwise, that they are stone-dependent.

That 1.74 stone does not look like it has the issue. It also has very nice light return.

OP...so I noticed your specs say 1.7-1.8. Oval stones (LxW) vary widely at the same carat weight. Are you wanting to stay at a
similar size (LxW) to the one you bought? You may want to go up in carat size (and not be so limiting). The more specs you
try to limit with an oval, the less likely you are to find a nice one with good light return.

Also...the darkness through the middle in bright sunlight...is the same theory that a well-cut round brilliant will go dark in bright
sunlight. Those facets that turn dark are the ones with the best light return. They will most likely be red in an ASET image. The
gray mushy facets dont go dark because they are not returning sunlight directly to your eye.

Oh, and BTW...the stone you purchased is a typical 8 main with offset mains. Look at the pavilion clarity plot and you should
see 8 mains. The one @lovedogs linked is a 6 main with the arrows going straight through the center.
In my observation, 6 mains usually* have better light return (although you can find good and bad of each faceting type).
6 mains are also more rare and harder to find.

Yeah, I'm fine being more flexible on size and going for 1.7ct+ and I think I preferred the slightly longer shape, but anything 1.35 l/w+ is probably fine. I don't think she has a preference except that it's obviously an oval.

OK, that's interesting about the 6 vs 8 mains. I didn't know anything about that except it may explain why some ovals looked different to me. I found one with 4 that didn't look bad, but I found an article saying it doesn't sparkle as much. Is 4 too low?

This one had 4 mains and seems to to avoid the large facets that turn into a bowtie, but it does seem to have a darkish spot in the middle.

1.70 Carat oval diamond

This oval cut 1.7 carat F color vvs2 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

Unfortunately, the 1.7ct link above looks like it sold. It was quickly growing on me.

 

[lovedogs]

Yeah, I'm fine being more flexible on size and going for 1.7ct+ and I think I preferred the slightly longer shape, but anything 1.35 l/w+ is probably fine. I don't think she has a preference except that it's obviously an oval.

OK, that's interesting about the 6 vs 8 mains. I didn't know anything about that except it may explain why some ovals looked different to me. I found one with 4 that didn't look bad, but I found an article saying it doesn't sparkle as much. Is 4 too low?

This one had 4 mains and seems to to avoid the large facets that turn into a bowtie, but it does seem to have a darkish spot in the middle.

1.70 Carat oval diamond

This oval cut 1.7 carat F color vvs2 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

Unfortunately, the 1.7ct link above looks like it sold. It was quickly growing on me.

Ugh I'm sorry it sold. Stupid lurkers are rhe worst.

 

[tyty333]

OK, that's interesting about the 6 vs 8 mains. I didn't know anything about that except it may explain why some ovals looked different to me. I found one with 4 that didn't look bad, but I found an article saying it doesn't sparkle as much. Is 4 too low?

This one had 4 mains and seems to to avoid the large facets that turn into a bowtie, but it does seem to have a darkish spot in the middle.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.70-carat-f-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-19891892

I think someone may say they dont sparkle as much because they have less facets (4 mains instead of like 6 or however, that usually
means they dont create as many "mushy" facets as a 6/8. Its all kind of a trade-off.

You are looking for good light return (which means distinct facets turning on/off)
Minimal mush (gray areas of virtual facets that are not returning light)

IMO...6 mains (and 8 mains where the mains go through the center vs being offset), manage to do this the best. But, as always,
each stone has to be evaluated on its own merits.