Oval halo rings keep oval natural diamonds in steady demand despite bulge risk

The enduring popularity of oval halo engagement rings keeps oval natural diamonds in steady demand, even though ovals are more prone to a visible bulge at the widest point than other elongated shapes.

• A bulge, or bow-tie effect, shows up as a darker band across the stone's centre and is more common in ovals than in most other elongated cuts.
• A halo setting can help disguise a mild bulge by drawing the eye to the surrounding smaller stones, which is part of why the pairing has stayed popular.
• Buyers focused specifically on avoiding bow-tie effect should ask to see the actual stone on video rather than judging from a certificate alone, since proportions on paper don't fully predict it.

We screen for bow-tie effect on every oval we list and can point out which stones show the least of it. Browse ovals in stock or contact us for guidance on a specific stone.