Do oval diamonds look bigger?

Yes. An oval spreads wider across the finger than a round of the same carat weight.

Is the bow-tie on the grading report?

No. It has to be judged by eye, in person or on video.

Are ovals cheaper than rounds?

Round carries the highest price per carat, so an oval of the same weight and grades costs less.

Diamond education

Oval engagement rings

Brilliance of a round, more finger coverage.

By the CTJ Jewellery team, led by founder Greg Ward · Updated September 2026 · Editorial policy

Key facts

Brilliant cut with strong sparkle
Looks larger than a round of the same weight
Check for a bow-tie shadow
Length-to-width ratio shapes the look
Suits solitaire, halo and hidden halo
Natural or lab-grown

What is a bow-tie?

A dark, bow-shaped shadow across the width of some oval diamonds, caused by facets that don’t return light. It isn’t graded on a report, so it has to be judged by eye.

Which ratio should I choose?

The length-to-width ratio decides how slim or round an oval looks. Lower ratios look rounder; higher ratios look longer and slimmer. Choose by eye on the hand.

Best settings for an oval

Solitaire with four or six claws
Hidden halo for sparkle from the side
Halo for extra presence
East-west setting for a modern look