Marquise cut
The marquise cut diamond dates as far back because the 18th century when King Louis XV of France (1710-1774) commissioned a jeweller to style a cut shape that resembled the lips of his mistress, Jean Antoinette Poisson, the Marchioness Madame de Pompadour. Over time, the marquise cut diamond developed into the distinctive shape known today.
The name “marquise” refers to a hereditary rank below a duke but above count and comes from the fact that courtiers wore marquise cut diamonds in order to show off their rank. Also referred to a “navette” diamonds (little ship), marquise diamonds are cut in a boat-like shape.
Originally the marquise cut began as a cut for diamonds, but it soon became widely used with other gems like emeralds, rubies, and sapphires.
An interesting fact is that the marquise cut diamond features 58 facets such as the round brilliant cut diamond but in an elliptical shape with pointed ends. It has been around for centuries, and though it cannot brag the same level of popularity as the princess cut or round brilliant cuts, its’ traditional, long, narrow shape looks excellent on a ring finger.
Is the marquise cut diamond ideal for an engagement ring?
There’s a lot to love about the marquise cut diamond, even if you’re unfamiliar with this less common shape. We’ll get into those details later, but suffice it to say this shape is worth considering. If you are looking for a unique engagement ring you should consider the marquise diamond. Unlike the other diamond cuts, which you constantly see in engagement rings, a marquise diamond engagement ring turns heads simply because the center stone’s shape is out of the ordinary.
Rings set with Marquise cut diamonds make the finger of the lady appear more slender, which is not the case with a traditional round cut stone. A Marquise cut enlarges the amount of carat weight in a diamond so it appears to be bigger than other cuts of diamonds. This is due to the fact that a marquise cut diamond is cut shallower than round brilliant, princess cut, trilliant cut, heart cut, asscher cut, radiant cut and cushion cut diamonds. The length to width ratio for a Marquise cut diamond should ideally be 2 to 1.
A Marquise cut diamond is stunning on its own, but it also looks lovely with other stones on either side of it. It is often mounted with two side stones in tapered baguette cut or trilliant cut. Many women choose a Marquise cut stone because there are so many options available for having the ring set. It can be set in a ring so that the ends point vertically on the finger or it can be set so that the ends point horizontally on the finger. The make spectacular halo engagement rings as the enhanced length appear even larger with the halo effect.
Another way to personalize your setting is to think about your metal choice. Rose gold can give your ring a subtle warm glow, whereas a marquise diamond yellow gold ring can look antique even if it’s brand new. Platinum or white gold can enhance a whiter stone to create a superb solitaire engagement ring.
Things to remember when purchasing a Marquise cut diamond and jewellery
As with any other diamond, you’ll also need to make sure that the diamond looks symmetrical. But an asymmetrical marquise cut are often easier to identify than, say, a cushion that’s off due to the ends. Make sure the two pointed ends align with each other. If possible, select a diamond with excellent or very good symmetry. In terms of clarity, avoid a diamond that has visible inclusions in the middle of the stone. By selecting a diamond that has inclusions on the pointed ends, they may be covered by the prongs when the diamond is placed in a diamond setting.
Another thing that should be considered when purchasing a Marquise cut stone is that you should look for one that has a minimal bowtie effect.
A bowtie effect is where there is a dark spot in the middle of the stone. This appearance happens when the ratio is not correct.
One thing that should be remembered when choosing jewellery with a Marquise cut is that the pointed ends should be protected when set as a solitaire setting. We at Your Diamonds always suggest either three small prongs at either end or a V shaped claw at each end. If the points are not protected, the diamond could be damaged or chipped. Claws should hug the ends of the Marquise cut as much as possible.
Another thing that should be considered when purchasing a Marquise cut stone is that you should look for one that has a minimal bowtie effect. A bowtie effect is where there is a dark spot in the middle of the stone. This appearance happens when the ratio is not correct.
