Round vs. Oval Cut: Which Sparkles Best for Your Engagement Ring?

When you’re buying an engagement ring, you want it to be absolutely perfect, and one of the most exciting choices is the center stone. Round brilliant and oval cut diamonds are a top choice these days, thanks to the gorgeous sparklers we’ve seen on Dua Lipa and Hailey Bieber. Both cuts are exquisite and command attention wherever you go, but they do so in distinctly different ways.

The round brilliant cut is diamond perfection distilled. With 58 precisely angled facets, it's engineered for one purpose: to capture and release light with unrivaled intensity. The oval? Consider it the round's more intriguing counterpart. It delivers that same magnificent sparkle but with an elongated silhouette that makes the diamond look larger and more luxurious.

So which one sparkles best for your engagement ring? The truth is, they both dazzle, just differently. The real question is whether you're drawn to iconic symmetry or flowing grace. Let's explore exactly what sets these two diamond exceptional cuts apart, so you can select the one worthy of your forever.

The Round Brilliant: Symmetry and Fire

The round brilliant has long been the standard for diamond sparkle: according to The Knot, it’s the cut of choice for 28% of engagement ring shoppers. With 58 precisely arranged facets, it’s engineered to reflect light in a perfect balance of brightness and fire. Its symmetry flatters every hand and every setting, whether worn as a simple solitaire or surrounded by pavé accents. It’s a cut that feels effortlessly refined, always in style, and endlessly romantic.

At Keyzar, the round brilliant shines beautifully in designs like The Pave Lisa, where a shimmering band and marquise-cut diamonds nestled within each prong enhances the center stone’s radiance. For a more dramatic statement, The Lucia side stone engagement ring surrounds the diamond with marquise accents, creating a shimmer that’s true luxe. The result is a vivid, balanced sparkle that reveals why the round cut continues to be a classic favorite.

The Oval Cut: Graceful Sparkle with a Modern Edge

The oval cut is a fresh interpretation of brilliance. It’s also surging in popularity: according to the GIA, oval diamonds accounted for 23% of all engagement rings purchased in 2023. Like the round cut, it has 57 to 58 facets designed to capture and reflect light. What sets it apart is its elongated shape, which stretches that light across the stone, creating a gorgeous shimmer while making the finger look more slender. Oval cuts often appear up to 15% larger than rounds of the same carat weight, thanks to their unique shape. 

Oval diamonds are exquisite on practically every design in Keyzar’s engagement ring collection. The Alison, a bestselling solitaire, has a streamlined profile that amplifies the center stone’s size and sparkle while The Abigail side stone engagement ring pairs an oval cut with pear and round-cut diamonds on the shoulders, adding volume and brilliance while maintaining the oval’s soft, romantic character. No matter what ring style you choose, an oval diamond will always be flattering.

Personality & Style: What Each Cut Says About You

Your choice of diamond shape says more about you than you might think: it's a statement of how you see romance, beauty, and yourself. Both round and oval cuts command attention with their brilliance, yet each tells a completely different story. One embodies timeless confidence, the other redefines classic elegance with a modern edge.

Drawn to the round brilliant? You have an eye for perfection and an appreciation for what endures. You don't chase trends, you set the standard. The oval cut, however, calls to a different sensibility. You want tradition, but on your own terms. You're confident enough to choose the road less traveled while still honoring what's proven beautiful.

The truth is, there's no wrong answer here, only the right one for you. Whichever cut captures your attention will become the centerpiece of an engagement ring that's as distinctive as your love story, as unforgettable as the moment you say yes.

3.03ct Round cut Diamond

How Each Diamond Cut Flatters Your Hand

The shape of a diamond influences not only its sparkle but also how it complements the hand wearing it. Different cuts create distinct visual effects, from balance and symmetry to length and contour. Understanding how each shape interacts with your hand’s proportions helps you choose a ring that’s perfect for you.

A round cut diamond creates balance and symmetry on your hand. Its even proportions and brilliant facets draw maximum light, giving smaller stones a striking sparkle that suits nearly any finger shape. In contrast, an oval cut diamond elongates the appearance of the finger. The shape’s continuous curve softens angular hands and enhances delicate fingers. Both stones are exquisite, but each one brings a special advantage to your hand type.

Oval vs. Round Engagement Ring - an Overview

3.5 carat Oval Cut Diamond