Oval Engagement Rings

Oval cut engagement rings at President Jewellers are made to order in our Hatton Garden workshop and hallmarked at the London Assay Office. Choose from solitaire, halo, hidden halo, three-stone and vintage settings in platinum or 18ct white, yellow or rose gold. Every ring is priced with a 1.0ct IGI-certified oval centre stone in the matching shape — swap it for a natural diamond, fancy coloured diamond or gemstone from our inventory. Lead time 7 to 14 working days. Free lifetime resizing, free insured UK delivery.

Why oval is the most-chosen non-round diamond shape

An oval diamond faces up approximately 10% larger than a round of the same carat weight, because the elongated shape distributes more surface area across the top of the stone. It also flatters the wearer's finger — the long axis of the oval lengthens the look of the hand. The classic oval brilliant has 56 to 58 facets in the same brilliant-cut pattern as a round, so it returns near-identical light performance. These three factors — apparent size, finger flattery and brilliance — are why oval became the most-requested non-round diamond shape in the UK over the past five years, ahead of cushion and emerald cut.

How to choose an oval diamond — the four spec rules our jewellers apply

The four rules that separate a well-cut oval from a poorly-cut one:

1. Length-to-width ratio. The ideal range is 1.30 to 1.50. Below 1.30 the oval looks rounded and short. Above 1.50 it stretches thin and risks the bow-tie effect (see below). Most popular ratio: 1.40.
2. Bow-tie effect. A dark band running across the middle of poorly-cut ovals, caused by light leakage where the facets don't align. Visible to the naked eye. Reject any oval where the bow-tie reads as a clear shadow rather than a subtle dimming. Every oval at President Jewellers is hand-inspected for bow-tie before listing.
3. Cut grade. GIA does not award an official cut grade to oval brilliants (only to rounds). HRD and IGI grade ovals against polish and symmetry only. Our jewellers screen for both — a polished oval with strong symmetry will outperform a higher carat weight at lower symmetry every time.
4. Colour and clarity. Ovals show colour slightly more than rounds because of the elongated shape. We recommend G colour or better, and SI1 clarity or better, for a stone that reads bright white and eye-clean from a normal viewing distance.

Setting styles available

Every setting style works with an oval centre stone. The five most chosen at our Hatton Garden workshop:

• Solitaire. The oval mounted on a plain band with four or six prongs. Cleanest profile; lets the diamond do all the work.
• Halo. A ring of small diamonds (melee) surrounds the oval centre, making the centre stone appear up to half a carat larger.
• Hidden halo. The halo of melee sits under the centre stone, visible only from the side. The face-up profile reads as a clean solitaire with hidden sparkle for the wearer.
• Three-stone. The oval centre flanked by two smaller diamonds or coloured stones. Symbolises past, present, future.
• Vintage / Art Deco. Filigree shoulders, milgrain detail, or geometric cathedral mounts. Period-inspired but newly made in our workshop.

Metals and hallmarks

Every oval engagement ring leaves our workshop with a London Assay Office hallmark. The four available metals:

• 950 platinum — the most durable; holds polish for years; the heaviest on the hand.
• 18ct white gold — bright finish, lighter than platinum, requires re-rhodium plating every 2-3 years.
• 18ct yellow gold — traditional and warm; maintains its colour without re-plating.
• 18ct rose gold — pink hue from added copper; lower-maintenance than white gold.

9ct and 14ct gold are available on selected variants. Every hallmark includes our maker's mark, fineness mark (950 / 750 / 585 / 375), London Assay Office leopard's head and the date letter.

Pricing — what determines what an oval engagement ring costs

The price of an oval engagement ring at President Jewellers is driven by four factors, in descending order of impact: centre diamond carat weight, centre diamond colour and clarity grade, metal choice (platinum costs more than 18ct gold), and accent stones (a pavé halo adds more than a plain solitaire band). Every ring includes a 1.0ct IGI-certified oval centre stone in the base price. Swap it for a higher carat or different stone type and the original 1.0ct credit comes off the ring price; the new stone is added in. Every quote is itemised before commitment.

Buying an oval engagement ring at President Jewellers

The process from first enquiry to delivery is 7 to 14 working days from order confirmation:

1. Free consultation at our 23 Hatton Garden workshop (Monday to Saturday), or by phone on +44 800 037 8094.
2. CAD design — your jeweller produces a 3D rendering for approval before any metal is cut.
3. Silver or wax sample produced for you to try on in the workshop, refining fit and proportions.
4. Cast in the chosen metal, set with the oval centre stone and any accent stones, finished and polished.
5. Submitted to the London Assay Office for hallmarking.
6. Insured UK delivery — complimentary on every order.

Every ring includes complimentary engraving on the inner band, free lifetime resizing where the setting permits, and a lifetime warranty.

Frequently asked questions

Explore further

• All engagement rings
• Halo engagement rings
• Three-stone engagement rings
• Solitaire engagement rings
• Vintage engagement rings
• Platinum engagement rings
• Loose oval natural diamonds
• Loose oval lab grown diamonds