Marquise Shape Diamonds

Short Description

Modified brilliants include the Marquise or Naiveté (French for “little boat," because it resembles the hull of a sailboat), heart, triangular trillion (also trillion or trillionth), oval, and pear or drop cuts. These are the most commonly encountered modified brilliants. A Marquise cut makes a beautiful diamond engagement rings, which is how they are most commonly seen. Anyone who is a fan of history will certainly enjoy the history that is behind this beautiful cut of a diamond.

Characteristics

The amount of facets that a Marquise cut diamond should have ideally is 58. The length to width ratio for a Marquise cut diamond should 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. Many women love 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.  

History

Oval-shaped diamonds were created and introduced by Lazare Kaplan way back in the 1960s. Marquise cut diamonds are not as popular as princess cut or round brilliant but they do have a loyal following who adore this cut of stone in their diamond jewellery. There is history behind this cut of diamond that many may not be aware of. In France, during the eighteenth century, King Louis XV ordered that a diamond be cut in such a way that would resemble the lips of Marquise de Pompadour who was his lover. The cut that came from this demand has come to be called the Marquise cut. Jewellers sometimes refer to this cut as a Naiveté cut. 

Buying Advice

One thing that should be remembered when choosing jewellery with a Marquise cut is that the pointed ends should be protected. If the points are not protected, the diamond could be damaged or chipped. Claws should surround 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.

Celebrity who opted for a Marquise cut for her engagement ring

Victoria Beckham’s husband, the football star David Beckham chose a marquise-cut diamond back in 1998. By now she has got an impressive collection of engagement rings, but this one was the original one.  

Which settings complement the Marquise Cut Stone the most? 

Choose a solitaire setting for stunning simplicity, or place a Marquise diamond in the centre of a multi-stone setting alongside round, princess, or baguette side stones. It looks great when the points are placed horizontally across the band, or if you would like to go for a proper vintage look than choose heavier settings such as below.