Marquise Diamond

Published by admin

The Marquise Diamond – by Royal design…

All the best diamonds have the power to put a smile on the lips of the wearer, but in the case of the Marquise diamond, the diamond will also smile back.

According to popular legend the unique design was thought up by King Louis XV who based it on the mouth of his chief mistress, Madame de Pompadour. Oval in shape but with more sharply pointed ends like a pair of lips, a Marquise diamond also look like tiny ships and are sometimes known as navette – French for “little boat.”

With such a fascinating history it is no surprise to find that diamonds cut in the Marquise shape are often found on antique pieces and may particularly suit those looking for a cut that is stunning but different enough from a traditional round diamond to truly stand out.

In addition to looking stunning a Marquise diamond can also be a more economical choice as the final form wastes less of the raw stone. The elongated shape can make such a diamond appear considerably larger and heavier than a round cut stone of equal weight. For this reason Marquise cuts are extremely popular in solitaire engagement rings, particularly in a platinum setting which can help accentuate the stone even more.

When Michael Douglas proposed to Catherine Zeta-Jones, he presented her with an antique 10-carat Marquise cut diamond ring to seal their engagement.

Left Right

The Marquise Diamond bow-tie effect

If you are in the market for a Marquise diamond, it is important to be aware of the bow-tie effect. This appears as two dark spots in the centre of the diamond, which then looks a little like a black bow-tie.

The effect is most pronounced when the diamond has been cut too thinly. Instead of the light bouncing back out from inside the diamond towards the person looking at it – the reason diamonds sparkle – the light leaks out of the bottom and creates a shadow effect which in turn leads to the bow tie. A similar effect is sometimes seen in oval and pear shaped diamonds.

Some consider the bow-tie to be an integral part of the Marquise’s beauty and say the contrast enhances the look of the diamond. Others find it detrimental and try to avoid it. Not all Marquise diamonds have a prominent bow-tie – the exact amount visible depends on the precise nature of the cut. The best cutters claim to be able to eliminate the effect almost completely.

The other factor to be aware of is the actual proportion of the diamond and in particular the ratio of its length to its width. Traditionally, a Marquise stone will be twice as long as it is wide giving a ratio of 2 to 1.

marquise diamond

If the stone is too long, it will appear too narrow whereas if it is too wide it can look somewhat stubby. For women with long, slender fingers a well-proportioned Marquise diamond can accentuate these qualities, adding an air of elegance and sophistication.

If you are unsure which style would suit you best, viewing a range of diamonds with different ratios and different levels of bow-tie effect will soon help you to work out which you prefer.

The largest gem-quality diamond ever found, the Cullinan, weighed in at an impressive 3,106.75 carats and was cut into nine smaller pieces, two of which ended up cut into the marquise shape.

The Cullinan VI is set in a diamond and emerald necklace and weighs 11.5 carats while the Cullinan VII is mounted as a pendant drop on a diamond brooch and weighs in at 8.8 carats. This latter piece was inherited by Queen Elizabeth II from Queen Mary but is rarely worn. According to the monarch the piece is so large that it is totally impractical and ‘gets in the soup.’ Not a bad problem to have with your Marquise Diamond!