The Guide to Marquise Cut Diamonds (2024)

Color

The color grade of a diamond refers to how much color or lack of color is displayed in the diamond. As with all diamonds, smaller ones that are less than 1 carat hide more color than larger stones. And because of the marquise’s cut making them appear larger than other diamonds of the same carat weight, there’s more surface area for body color to show through.

However, color is also going to be up to your personal preference. For a marquise cut diamond, a general guideline to follow is that color gradings of D-F will likely be visibly colorless. Stones in the G to Z range will have increasing amounts of yellow tint. How strongly the yellow tint appears will be dictated largely by the quality of the cut and the size of the stone and will appear concentrated near the points.

Clarity

Practically all diamonds have inclusions to some degree. Fortunately for marquise diamonds, they are part of the brilliant cut family. With their 56-60 facets, they’re fairly good at hiding blemishes within their sparkle and shine. But since marquise diamonds appear larger, there’s more surface area for inclusions to be seen.

Similar to the pear cut diamond, marquise cut diamonds are more susceptible to damage around their points. Larger inclusions in these areas should be avoided for the integrity of the diamond. To increase the durability of the stone in these spots, some cutters use French tips. These are modified star and upper girdle facets in place of a large bezel facet. This technique keeps multiple facet lines from converging at the tip of the point.

And if you’ve already read about oval and pear cut diamonds, you may have expected to hear about the bow-tie effect with marquise diamonds as well. The bow-tie effect is a dark shadow that appears across the middle of the diamond. The darker and wider it is, the more negatively it will affect the appearance. While all marquise diamonds are likely to show some degree of bow-tie, it should be possible to find a pleasing one with minimal effect.

Carat

Marquise cut diamonds are available in a variety of carat weights and proportions. Similar to pear cuts, the marquise diamond won’t necessarily have linear changes in carat size and dimensions because the quality of the stone being cut will dictate the resulting weight and size.

It will be universal that when compared with other diamond shapes of the same or similar carat weight, marquise cut diamonds will appear larger. This is an extremely beneficial feature of this cut since it allows for greater emphasis to be put on value building quality factors like cut without necessarily having to compromise or sacrifice on size.

The Guide to Marquise Cut Diamonds (2024)

FAQs

What is the ideal size for a marquise diamond? ›

Much like a round brilliant, the marquise cut is made up of 57 facets. With 33 facets on the crown and 24 on the pavilion, it has exceptional sparkle. A marquise diamond with a length-to-width ratio of 1.60 - 2.25 is considered ideal.

Why not to buy a marquise diamond? ›

Marquise diamonds offer numerous benefits such as a larger appearance, vintage charm, and a finger-slimming effect. However, like any diamond shape, they also have their drawbacks. The pointed ends of marquise diamonds can be prone to chipping and snagging, and the shape is less popular than round or princess cuts.

What is so special about the Marquise diamond? ›

The Marquise Cut is also known as the 'Navette'. It is shaped like a little boat - a slim oval which narrows to a point at both ends. Because of its shape, a Marquise allows the diamond cutter to preserve more of the rough stone than may be possible with a Round Brilliant.

How many prongs should a marquise diamond have? ›

A classic look for any marquise cut diamond is a solitaire setting. Since the two points need to be protected, choose a 6 prong setting, the setting method we most commonly use for marquise diamonds. A four prong setting (with a prong located at each tip, and one at each side), is less common but also possible.

Is a 2 carat marquise diamond too big? ›

The face-up size of this 2 carat Marquise (13.08×6.54×3.99mm) is within the normal range for 2ct diamonds of this shape. Compared to 2ct Marquise reference diamond (see below), this diamond is of adequate size when viewed from the top. In short, all is OK, this diamond looks its weight.

Are Marquise diamonds out of date? ›

Marquise diamonds are not out of date - they are simply unique. The Marquise is a historic, enduring diamond shape that has consistently been worn throughout history.

What does a marquise diamond say about you? ›

The Marquise Diamond

This is for the woman who commands attention, who is outgoing, and a risk taker. The marquise cut is the ultimate in elegance. Its oval shape meets in pointed ends, resembling the hull of a ship — this cut is also known as the Navette cut (meaning “little boat” in French).

Are marquise diamonds becoming popular again? ›

While pear-shaped diamonds have gained popularity in recent years, the marquise is making a comeback. We'll compare marquise diamonds with various wedding bands and explore Halo versus non-Halo designs. If you've been considering a marquise shape, you're in for a treat.

Do marquise diamonds chip easily? ›

MARQUISE DIAMONDS ARE MORE PRONE TO DAMAGE

Thanks to those pointed ends, marquise cuts can more easily chip than a shape with no hard edges. Having said that, a well-made setting with prongs or a bezel to protect the tips will mitigate this risk.

Is color or clarity more important in a marquise diamond? ›

As with all diamond shapes, clarity tends to become very important the moment any inclusions are visible to the naked eye. Marquise cut diamonds, like all brilliant cuts, tend to hide smaller inclusions very well compared to step cut diamonds (such as the emerald cut).

When were marquise cut diamonds popular? ›

A marquise cut diamond is a chic diamond silhouette that not only boasts a noble name, the marquise but has an actual royal history to its origin. The marquise diamond cut was heralded in regal circles for centuries—and its popularity trickled down to mainstream consumer appreciation in the late 60s to the early 1970s.

What is the spiritual meaning of the marquise cut? ›

Marquise: The marquise diamond is an elongated oval shape that tapers at each end. It's often called the "romantic" diamond shape because of its unique curves. The meaning behind a diamond marquise shape is love, joy, and celebration.

How do you pick a good marquise diamond? ›

Tips for choosing the best marquise diamond
  1. Ensure your marquise diamond has Excellent or at least Very Good symmetry, meaning the two tips will be perfectly aligned and each side is equally weight.
  2. A ratio close to 2.0 is a good aim; this will be not too rounded, not too elongated.

What is the best marquise ratio? ›

Couples that want a plump Marquise should look for length-to-width ratios closer to 1.6 (you can go lower if you want a real plump stone!) Couples that want a long, skinny Marquise should look for length-to-width ratios closer to 2.2 (you can go much higher if you want more of an avant garde shape.)

What is the actual size of a marquise diamond? ›

1 carat Marquise reference diamond
Calculated values:
Length:10.38 mm
Width:5.19 mm
Depth:3.17 mm
*Est. face-up area:38.25 mm²

What is a respectable diamond size? ›

No matter the cut, a 1-carat weight is a popular choice— it's the average diamond size for a typical engagement ring in the U.S., which can range between 1.08–1.2 carats, according to diamond consultants The Diamond Pro.

What diamond size looks too big? ›

Too big is relative. While a 1.5 carat diamond is larger than the average, what is considered “too big” is personal. If you prefer a more petite diamond of around 0.5 to 1 carat, then yes, it would be too big. However, if you are looking for a larger stone of 2 carats and up, then a 1.5 carat would be too small.

Do marquise diamonds look bigger? ›

Do Marquise Diamonds Look Bigger? Marquise Diamonds are one of the bigger looking ones than all other diamond shapes. This means that a 1-carat marquise diamond has a larger crown surface area than a round or oval cut diamond.

What cut makes a diamond look biggest? ›

The marquise diamond shape has the largest appearance of any shape. It has a similar elongated look as the oval and pear shapes, but both ends form tapered points. The marquise shape will always look the largest because those tapered points create the largest surface area of all the shapes.

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