Shopping For A Marquise Diamond? Here's What You Need To Know...
No diamond shape ever truly goes out of style. Each year, a few chosen shapes shine brighter than the others and we expect to see the marquise cut among these shining favorites for 2025! Here’s what you need to know about this unique diamond shape.
Set With Care:
While diamonds are strong and more than suitable for daily wear, they are not indestructible! If a diamond is hit at the right angle with enough force, it can chip or break. Fancy-cut diamonds, such as the marquise cut, with pointed corners will be the most vulnerable. It is important to consider this when selecting your ring design. Minimal claws might be tempting to show off the shape of your marquise cut, but we suggest securing the two pointed corners of your diamond with a chevron or ‘V’ claw. The chevron claw covers not only the tip of the diamond but also wraps around both sides to protect the area better and provide a barrier of gold to take the brunt of bumps or hits to your ring. If you want to really emphasize the shape of your marquise and add additional protection, a bezel setting—a full band of gold wrapping entirely around the diamond—could be a great option!
Cut Matters:
Cut grading refers to the diamond's proportions and symmetry, rather than its shape. A well-cut diamond will have maximum sparkle, while a poorly cut diamond tends to appear darker or duller. Cut grading is always an important factor when shopping for a diamond and is even more critical to consider when shopping for a marquise cut. Here are the two main factors to watch out for:
Bow-Tie
The bow-tie effect can occur in various fancy-shaped diamonds due to uneven light refraction when the diamond’s proportions are not balanced. This visual effect appears as a shadowed region in the center of the diamond resembling a bow tie. While it is hard to avoid altogether, a well-cut diamond with the right proportions will reduce the visibility of the bow-tie effect and enhance the sparkle of your diamond!
Ratio
Ratio refers to the proportion of a diamond’s length versus width and plays a large role in the overall look of your diamond. For a marquise cut a ratio between 1.75 and 2.15 is considered classic and would provide a balanced and elegant shape. However, the ratio largely comes down to your aesthetic preference. If you prefer a longer, skinnier look or a wider, more rounded look, you may want to consider a marquise diamond outside of the ‘ideal’ range.
Think High Quality:
While the cut grading is particularly noteworthy in a marquise diamond, the other diamond quality factors are not to be ignored!
Clarity
Due to the revealing nature of this diamond shape, you are more likely to notice any imperfections in the diamond with a lower clarity grading. If you want to avoid obvious visible inclusions in your diamond, consider choosing a higher clarity, usually VS or better.
Colour
The marquise cut is generally shallower and has a greater surface area than many diamond cuts. This unique quality can give your diamond a larger overall appearance for its carat weight compared to other diamond shapes but can amplify the appearance of any colour within the diamond. If you are looking for a noticeably bright white appearance, consider sticking to a DEF colourless graded diamond.
Always Remember...
As always, diamonds come down to preference. Diamonds and engagement rings come in such a vast variety, and no ‘one diamond’ suits all. Whatever shape you choose, we highly recommend shopping for yours in person so you can look at a variety of options up close and get a feel for what suits your style, your hand, and your budget!
