Oval Cut Dominance—Why This Shape Outshines Round Brilliant in 2026?
For a past century, Round Brilliant has been the Gold Standard of engagement rings. But in 2026, tides have turned.
Open Instagram or scroll through the latest celebrity engagement news, and you will spot an undeniable trend: Oval Cut is taking over.
But this isn't just a fleeting fashion trend. From its optical ability to appear larger to its attractive price point, Oval Cut has hard data to back up its popularity. If you are still hesitating between a Round and an Oval, here are the 4 reasons why 2026 is the year of Oval.
Face-Up Size: Same Carat, Bigger Impact
This is Oval Cut’s biggest cheat code.
Because Oval cut is shallower and has an elongated geometry, its Table Surface Area is typically larger than a Round diamond of the exact same carat weight.
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A 1-carat Round has a diameter of approximately 6.5mm. A 1-carat Oval typically measures around 7.7mm x 5.7mm.
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Verdict: Visually, an Oval moissanite looks 10% to 15% larger than a Round moissanite. For consumers chasing that "big rock look," this is an instant upgrade that requires zero extra budget.
Elongation Effect: Flattering Your Hand
Beyond the stone appearing larger, Oval shape actively enhances the beauty of your hand.
Geometry of a Round cut radiates outward, which can sometimes visually shorten your finger. In contrast, the vertical, elongated lines of an Oval cut draw the eye up and down the finger.
Stylist’s Note: Regardless of your hand shape, an Oval cut creates a lengthening effect, making fingers appear more slender and elegant. This is exactly why it is currently the #1 choice for fashion influencers and stylists.
Price Advantage: Spend Where It Counts
In 2026 market, value for money remains a key consideration.
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Round Cut: To achieve perfect symmetry, cutting a Round diamond requires removing a significant amount of a rough stone. This high waste makes it the most expensive shape per carat.
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Oval Cut: Its cutting process follows the natural shape of rough stone more closely, resulting in less waste.
What it means for you: By choosing an Oval, not only do you get a larger look, but the price per carat is typically 10% - 20% lower than a Round cut. With same budget, a 1-carat Round could easily become a 1.2-carat Oval (or an even larger Moissanite) with better specs.
Bow-Tie Effect: Feature or Flaw?
As a transparent brand, we believe you need to know what to look for when shopping for Ovals.
Due to light refraction patterns, almost all Oval gemstones will display a dark, bow-tie-shaped shadow across the center.
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A Severe Bow-Tie: Blocks light across a large area, making the stone look dark or "dead" in the center.
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A Perfect Bow-Tie: A subtle shadow actually adds depth, contrast, and character to the stone.
At La Pretti, our gemologists hand-select stones with ideal cut ratios to ensure the "bow-tie" is minimized while light return is maximized.
The Ultimate Comparison: Round vs. Oval
Which to Choose
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Choose Round: When you are a purist who values perfect physical symmetry and maximum, 360-degree sparkle above all else.
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Choose Oval: When you want a gemstone that delivers more visual impact, looks significantly larger, and makes your hand look elegant and slender.
In 2026, thanks to its modern aesthetic and superior value proposition, the Oval Cut is truly outshining tradition.
Ready to try it on? Check our 2026 Oval Engagement Ring Collection and find the visual magic that belongs to you.
