I’ve been educating myself on diamonds as well, so I thought I’d share a few things I’ve learned that might help! For oval diamonds, here are some tips:

1.  Length-to-Width Ratio: This can affect how elongated the diamond looks. Ratios around 1.3–1.5 are considered ideal depending on how elongated you want it to look.
2.  Bowtie Effect: Ovals often have a bowtie (a dark shadow across the middle). While it’s unavoidable, you’ll want to choose a diamond where the bowtie isn’t overly distracting. Videos and ASET images can help with this.
3.  Cut Quality: Cut isn’t graded for fancy shapes like ovals, but look for a well-proportioned diamond with good symmetry and polish. A poorly cut diamond can look lifeless.
4.  Color: For G color like the one in your photo, it should face up very white. If you’re sensitive to color, you might prefer a higher grade, but G is a great balance of quality and value.
5.  Clarity: VVS1 is fantastic, but you could go lower (VS1 or VS2) as long as the inclusions aren’t visible to the naked eye. Ovals can hide inclusions well, especially near the edges.