Measured at 8.08 x 5.66 mm, this loose one carat oval brilliant runs a 1.43 to 1 length-to-width ratio — the proportion that lengthens a finger rather than simply sitting on it. IGI report LG653434003 grades it D in color and VS 1 in clarity, with Excellent polish and Excellent symmetry, and it is sold loose for the setting of your choosing.
IGI LG653434003
1.00 Carat
D Color · VS 1 Clarity
1.43 : 1 Ratio
Excellent Polish & Symmetry
April Birthstone
The 1.43 to 1 proportion, and why it flatters
Divide 8.08 by 5.66 and you get 1.43 — this oval is nearly half again as long as it is wide. That single number decides almost everything about how the stone will look worn. Below about 1.30 an oval starts reading round and loses its point; above about 1.55 it begins to look narrow and stretched. At 1.43 it sits in the middle of the range most people find flattering: long enough to draw the eye down the finger, full enough to keep the outline generous.
Set north-south, the long axis follows the length of the finger, and the illusion is one of a slimmer, longer hand. That optical work, rather than raw carat weight, is the real reason oval engagement rings have held their place at the top of the shape charts for a decade.
Does an oval really spread larger than a round?
Yes, measurably — and here is the arithmetic rather than the sales pitch. The one carat round brilliant in this same collection measures 6.44 - 6.48 mm across, giving a face-up outline of about 32.8 square millimeters. This oval’s 8.08 x 5.66 mm outline works out to roughly 35.9 square millimeters. That is about 10 percent more surface showing, at identical carat weight.
The more striking figure is the long dimension. At 8.08 mm this oval is about 25 percent longer than that round is wide, while sitting 0.80 mm narrower across the finger. You are not paying for extra carats; the cutter simply distributed the same one carat into a longer, shallower outline — the depth here is 3.44 mm. Compare pricing across shapes and weights in our lab grown diamond price guide, and see the rest of our loose lab grown diamonds for comparison.
About the bow-tie, honestly
Every oval brilliant has some degree of bow-tie: a shadow shaped like a bow tie across the center of the stone, caused by the facets on the long axis failing to catch light at certain angles. It is a property of the shape, not a flaw, and no report grades it. Some ovals show a faint one that disappears as the hand moves; others carry a dark band that never leaves.
IGI does not state a cut grade for this stone, and we are not going to invent one. What we can tell you is what the report does say — Excellent polish, Excellent symmetry, a 1.43 to 1 ratio, and a 3.44 mm depth — and then tell you to look at the photographs for the rest. Tilt through the images, watch the center of the stone, and judge the bow-tie with your own eyes. That is the honest way to buy an oval, and any seller who tells you their ovals have no bow-tie at all is telling you about their marketing rather than their diamonds.
D color, VS 1 clarity, and the settings that suit an oval
D is the top of the color scale, meaning no detectable body color — useful in an oval, where the elongated table can show tint more readily than a compact round would. VS 1 means very slightly included: findable by a grader at 10x magnification, invisible to you in normal viewing.
Ovals take beautifully to a hidden halo, which adds light beneath the girdle without widening the silhouette, and to east-west settings for anyone who wants the shape read across the finger instead of along it. A four-prong basket with two prongs at the tips keeps the outline clean; a three stone setting with tapered baguettes emphasizes the length. Our guide to engagement ring styles and setting types covers the trade-offs, and hidden halo engagement rings show the effect in the metal.
Grown by CVD, conflict-free by construction
The report’s comments record that this diamond was created by the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) growth process, in which carbon is deposited layer by layer onto a seed in a chamber rather than crushed into place under pressure. The result is a real diamond: same carbon lattice, same Mohs 10 hardness, same optical behavior as a mined stone, confirmed as a laboratory grown diamond on the report itself.
Because it was grown rather than extracted, the supply chain behind it is short and documented, and it is conflict-free without needing to be traced backwards through a mine. Diamond is also April’s birthstone, which makes a stone like this a natural fit for an April birthday as well as a proposal. For the wider comparison, read lab grown vs natural diamond.
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Description Laboratory grown diamond
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Shape & cutting style Oval brilliant
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Carat weight 1.00 carat
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Measurements 8.08 x 5.66 x 3.44 mm
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Length-to-width 1.43 : 1 (calculated from the measurements)
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Color grade D
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Clarity grade VS 1
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Polish Excellent
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Symmetry Excellent
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Fluorescence None
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Growth process Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
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IGI report LG653434003, issued September 21, 2024
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Inscription IGI LG653434003
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Hardness 10 (Mohs scale)
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Birthstone April
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Orientation North-south
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Custom setting Available on request
Certification & care
The diamond ships with IGI report LG653434003, issued September 21, 2024 by the International Gemological Institute, and carries the matching inscription “IGI LG653434003” on its girdle. Enter that number into IGI’s own online report verification service and the record should match your document line for line. Note what the report does not say: there is no cut grade on it, because laboratories do not routinely assign one to fancy shapes. Polish, symmetry, and the measured proportions are what you have to work with, and they are all listed above.
At 8.08 x 5.66 x 3.44 mm this is a shallow, wide-spreading stone, and the two tips at the ends of the long axis are the parts a setter will want to protect with prong placement. Until then, store it in its own compartment or the gift box it arrives in — diamond is Mohs 10 and will scratch anything it is kept loose against. Cleaning is warm water, a drop of mild soap, a soft brush, and a lint-free cloth, as set out in our guide to cleaning jewelry at home. Once it is set, the same routine plus the advice in how to care for your engagement ring is all it needs. Loose stones ship free within the USA, insured and tracked; see our shipping page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IGI report LG653434003 cover?
It is the grading report for this specific diamond, issued September 21, 2024. It records the description as a laboratory grown diamond, the shape and cutting style as oval brilliant, measurements of 8.08 x 5.66 x 3.44 mm, a carat weight of 1.00, D color, VS 1 clarity, Excellent polish, Excellent symmetry, no fluorescence, the girdle inscription, and a comment recording the CVD growth process.
Why does the report not list a cut grade for this oval?
Grading laboratories assign cut grades to round brilliants, where the optimal proportions are standardized, but generally leave the cut line off fancy shapes such as ovals. This report states no cut grade, so we state none. Judge the cutting from the measured ratio, the depth, the Excellent polish and symmetry grades, and the photographs.
What does a 1.43 to 1 length-to-width ratio look like?
It is a balanced, classic oval — noticeably elongated but not narrow. Below roughly 1.30 an oval begins to read as a slightly squashed round; above roughly 1.55 it starts to look stretched. At 1.43, calculated from the 8.08 x 5.66 mm measurements, this stone sits in the proportion most people find flattering on the hand.
What is a bow-tie, and does this oval have one?
A bow-tie is a shadow across the middle of an elongated brilliant, caused by facets on the long axis missing light at certain viewing angles. Every oval has one to some degree and no laboratory grades it. Look carefully at the photographs and watch the center of the stone as the angle changes — that is the only reliable way to judge it, and we would rather you did than take a claim on trust.
Does an oval look larger than a round of the same carat weight?
It does, and the numbers back it. This oval's face-up outline works out to about 35.9 square millimeters against about 32.8 for the one carat round in the same collection, roughly 10 percent more. The long dimension is the bigger difference: 8.08 mm against 6.46 mm, about 25 percent longer, while sitting 0.80 mm narrower across the finger.
What does the D color grade mean?
D is the top of the D-to-Z scale and means no detectable body color. It matters more on an elongated shape than you might expect, because the large open table of an oval can reveal tint that a compact round would hide, and it matters again if you set the stone in yellow or rose gold.
What does VS 1 clarity mean, and will I see inclusions?
VS 1 means very slightly included. A trained grader can locate the inclusions under 10x magnification; in ordinary viewing, at arm's length, they are not visible to the unaided eye.
Is a lab grown diamond a real diamond, and will it test as one?
Yes. It is crystallized carbon with the same lattice, the same Mohs 10 hardness, and the same optical properties as a mined diamond, so a standard diamond tester identifies it as diamond. Distinguishing grown from mined takes specialist laboratory instruments, which is precisely what IGI used in producing this report.
How do I verify the report and find the laser inscription?
Enter the report number, LG653434003, into the International Gemological Institute's online report verification service and compare the record with your document. The same string, IGI LG653434003, is laser inscribed on the girdle of the stone. It is invisible without magnification and does not affect the clarity grade, but under a loupe it ties the paper to the diamond.
Which settings suit an oval this shape?
A hidden halo adds brilliance under the girdle without widening the outline. A slim four or six prong basket with prongs at the tips keeps the silhouette clean and protects the ends. Three stone settings with tapered sides push the elongation further, and an east-west orientation turns the same stone into something far more unusual.
Can you set this oval into a ring for me?
Yes. The stone is sold loose and we accept custom setting requests, so you can pick the design, metal, and karat and we will mount it. The jeweler handles the setting work and the final band sizing, so the finished ring fits both the stone and your finger.
How is the stone shipped, and is delivery insured?
It ships free within the USA, fully insured and tracked, packed securely with its IGI report and a luxury gift box. Our shipping page has the full details.
What is the return policy on a loose stone, and can I have it appraised?
Loose stones follow the terms set out on our returns and refunds page, which differ from those for a finished ring — please read them before ordering. An independent appraisal can also be arranged if you want a separate valuation for insurance.
How do I clean and care for an oval once it is set?
Warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, a soft toothbrush around the setting, a rinse, and a lint-free cloth. Do it every few weeks; a film of hand cream on the pavilion dulls an oval faster than anything else. Check the tip prongs occasionally, since the ends of the long axis are where knocks land.
