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Marquise Diamonds

Marquise diamonds are elegant, softly curving diamonds with pointed ends. They are quite rare! In fact, at the time of writing, only 1.5% of GIA-certified diamonds available for sale globally were Marquise (18,191 diamonds out of 1,178,007 total diamonds). Rumor has it that in the mid-1700s, the cut was developed for King Louis XIV, who commissioned a diamond in the shape of the lips of his lover, the Marquise of Pompadour.

Couples choosing a this shape are in luck. This is because Marquises are generally less expensive than other shapes, and look larger too! In addition, Marquise cuts elongate the fingers, making an elegant engagement ring. Couples selecting a Marquise cut diamond should be aware of two key features that affect the gem’s beauty: the bow-tie effect and length to width ratio.

Table, Depth & Other Specifications for Ideal Marquise Diamonds

Also known as a “navette,” Marquise cuts may be slender and long, or plump and wide. However, the majority are around twice as long as they are in width. The most important aspect of a Marquise is its graceful cut. This will ensure it shows its noble birth and sparkles!

Like other fancy cut diamonds, the GIA does not grade Marquise cut quality. For this reason, it is important to note that any jeweler that advertises a GIA-certified Marquise with a cut grade is offering their own opinion of its cut. In other words, a GIA certificate will not have a cut grade. There is also no industry standard for what makes an “Ideal Cut Marquise.” However, there are tips and tricks to choosing a great stone. To help couples do just that, we have assembled the below chart for your reference.

marquis

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"Ideal"/Excellent Cut (Most Sparkle)

Premium Cut

Average Cut

Table %

A percentage measuring the width of the top facet of the diamond, divided by the overall width of the diamond.

53 - 62

51-52 or 63-64

Under 50 or Over 65

Depth %

A percentage measuring the height (depth) of the diamond divided by the overall width of the diamond.

58 - 62

56-57 or 63-64

Under 55 or Over 65

Girdle

The outermost edge of the diamond where the top (crown) of the diamond intersects with the bottom (pavilion) of the diamond.

Thin to Slightly Thick

Thin to Slightly Thick

Very Thin or Very Thick

Culet

The small area at the very bottom of a diamond that looks like a point.

None

None

Very Small

Length to Width Ratio

The length of a diamond divided by its width. When comparing diamonds, those with larger ratios appear longer and skinnier.

1.7 to 2.2

1.60-1.65 or 2.21-2.25

Under 1.60 or Over 2.26

Bow-tie

A dark triangular area in the center of a diamond that looks like a gentleman’s bow tie. This occurs in when faceting is not ideal. Always look to make sure that your Marquise cut has even brightness with no dark bow tie in the center!

No Dark Bowtie

Slight Dark Bowtie

Dark Bowtie

Outline

The outline should be graceful arcs, without areas which appear too heavy or flat.

Graceful, Attractive

Somewhat Bulky or Too Thin

Bulky Shoulders or Needle-Thin

Points

Make sure the points on both ends of your stone are nice and sharp. Otherwise you’ll have a “moval” (half Marquise, half oval).

Pointed

Pointed

Rounded

Color Recommendations for Marquise Diamonds

The color grade of a diamond refers to how much color (or lack of a color) the diamond shows. D, E, and F color diamonds are “colorless,” like water. Stones in the G through Z ranges have increasing amounts of yellow tint.

Like most diamonds, smaller Marquise hide more color than larger stones. However, because of the way Marquises are cut, they look larger than other diamonds. So, couples may wish to select a D-F color for a more truly colorless, ice-white appearance. The below chart can help in evaluating color in Marquise diamonds, based on the carat weight of your diamond and your personal color preference.

marquis

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Carat Weight

No Visible Color

Slight Tint

Warmer Color

< 0.5

D - I

J - K

L - Z

0.5-1.0

D - H

I - J

K - Z

1.0-1.5

D - H

I

J - Z

1.5 +

D - G

H - I

J - Z

Clarity Recommendations for Marquise Diamonds

The clarity of a diamond is how “crystal clear” the diamond is. Almost all diamonds have “inclusions”, or internal markings, that are the birthmarks of a gemstone. The less inclusions a gem has, the more “flawless” it is. Many inclusions are too small to see without magnification. Fortunately, as Marquises are brilliant cut, they hide blemishes fairly well within their sparkle.

It is harder to see flaws on smaller diamonds than larger ones. So, a smaller Marquise may have a lower clarity rating and still maintain an eye-clean appearance. However, as Marquise diamonds look larger than other diamonds, you still want to be cautious and have us (or your jeweler) verify that the diamond meets your clarity expectations. The chart below can help you select the right Marquise, based on your preference of clarity.

Note! Ratings in the “Eye Clean” column assume your jeweler has checked that the gem is actually eye-clean. For example, every time a customer selects a Marquise engagement ring from us, our gemologists make sure the diamond is actually clean to the naked eye, and inform the customer if it isn’t.

marquis
marquis

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Carat Weight

Eye Clean

Visible Blemishes OK If Not Obvious

Inclusions Impact Beauty

< 0.5

FL-SI2

I1

I2-I3

0.5-1.0

FL-SI1

SI2-I1

I2-I3

1.0-1.5

FL-VS2

SI1-SI2

I1-I3

1.5 +

FL-VS1

VS2-SI2

I1-I3

Recommended Marquise Cut Diamonds

  • Natural
  • Lab Created

Length to Width Ratio for Marquise Diamonds

All diamonds in our  search engine have the length to width ratio listed. This ratio, which is simply the length divided by the width, determines how skinny or plump the Marquise is. Specifically, the larger the length to width ratio, the skinnier the stone. Likewise, the smaller the length to width ratio, the plumper the stone. Length to width preference is quite subjective. Choose whatever you love!

Pro Marquise Tips!

Plump Marquise
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!)

Skinny Marquise
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.)

Halo Engagement Rings
If you opt to set your Marquise in a halo setting, the diamond can end up looking wider. This is because the halo adds width to your stone, taking up a larger portion of your finger. To avoid your diamond from looking wider than you want, choose a Marquise diamond with a slightly higher length to width ratio than your original preference when choosing a halo setting.

1.80

1.90

2.00

2.10

Settings that Pair Well with Marquise Diamonds

Marquise diamonds are lovely and unique. They can be set vertically, or like Catherine Zeta-Jones’ ring, horizontally! The below rings are a few of our favorite Marquise diamond engagement rings. These Marquise engagement rings are available in all metals, including 14k white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, palladium, and platinum.

Lalana

Petite Milgrain Engagement Ring

white gold engagement ring with halo and split shank

Abila

Split Shank Halo Engagement Ring

Pandora

Marquise and Dot Engagement Ring

Money Tips

When looking for a Marquise, make sure to pay close
attention to the overall shape of your stone, and to maximize the size. Always ensure the gem you select does not have a dark bow tie in the center – that is a waste of money! Also, make sure your Marquise is evenly proportioned, with soft arcs and defined points. These ensure the enduring value of your stone. Finally, always try to maximize measurements within your diamond. For example, you can have a 1.0 carat Marquise diamond measuring 10.50 x 5.30 mm with an ideal cut. But there could also be a 0.96 carat diamond measuring 10.60 x 5.40 mm that is just as ideally cut while also being less expensive.

All diamonds in our “Recommended” stone section above have had their dimensions reviewed to make sure they were being maximized for their carat weight, while maintaining an ideal cut.

3 Things to Ask Your Jeweler

  • 01.

    Photo & Video

    Always ask the jeweler for a detailed picture or video
    like these stones. Look for bow tie effect and symmetrical shape.

  • 02.

    Inspect It

    Ask the jeweler to pull the stone and actually inspect it.
    Confirm consistent color from each point to center.

  • 03.

    Measure It

    Make sure your diamond’s measurements are maximized
    within your carat size.

Other Ring Resources

See our in-depth educational guides, which were made to give practical advice with every aspect of your ring.

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