Why the Marquise Diamond is the Star of Christmas

The elegant round brilliant diamond has long been the star of the show, but now the fancy cut marquise diamond and marquise diamond jewellery is enjoying a moment in the spotlight.

When it emerges from the ground in its rough form, a diamond must go on a new journey to become a perfectly cut and polished gem. Expert diamond cutters will look at each piece of diamond rough and decide what shape it should be fashioned in to.

From the moment it was created in the 1700s, the marquise diamond has been a relatively undiscovered and under-appreciated diamond cut. Now, this exceptional marquise shape is enjoying a sparkling resurgence, making it a fine jewellery must-have. This boat-shaped fancy cut stone is long, slender and eye-catching, but with the perfect balance of symmetrical facets to catch the light and create brilliant sparkle.

If you’ve never encountered a scintillating marquise cut diamond before, here are five reasons why this heavenly diamond shape has become a popular favourite.

Marquise Diamonds Have a Fascinating History

The beautiful marquise shape is sometimes thought of as an aristocratic or royal diamond cut. According to legend, the marquise was developed in the royal court of King Louis XV in the 18th century. The French king purportedly wanted a diamond cut especially for his mistress, Jean Antoinette Poisson, the Marquise de Pompadour, so that it matched her perfectly shaped lips.

Although the marquise diamond pre-dates many other modern diamond cuts, like the popular princess cut diamond, its unusual story is only now being heard.

Marquise Diamonds are Perfectly Cut

The marquise cut diamond typically has the same number of facets as a round brilliant diamond, so they sparkle with similar intensity and fire. Producing the perfect marquise shape requires an expert’s eye and the ideal balance of depth and symmetry. Each pointed end must be carefully crafted to ensure consistency of light and sparkle, whether in a single stone or in carefully-formed arrangements of round diamonds.

Marquise Diamonds Look Bigger

Marquise cut diamonds maximise carat weight due to their characteristic tapered shape. This means that a smaller diamond will look larger and more striking when worn on the finger, or as a diamond pendant or pair of diamond stud earrings. Just like the pear- and emerald-cut, marquise diamonds can give the illusion of longer and more slender fingers, which makes them especially flattering in cocktail rings and engagement rings.

Marquise Diamonds Are Trending

From Instagram to Pinterest, marquise shaped diamond jewellery is a real talking point. Traditionally, these diamonds are worn with the tapered points in the north and south position, often surrounded by a diamond halo setting to create the most intense light-reflecting sparkle. Now, marquise diamonds are being used in new and creative ways, whether set from east to west, stacked into eternity rings and ear climbers, or given an Art Deco twist with sleek bezel settings.

The marquise shape is also the perfect canvas for cluster diamond settings, whereby lots of small round diamonds are expertly placed to appear as one larger stone. This jewellery-making technique is used across pendants, earrings and rings to add depth, dimension and lots more facets to reflect the light.

Marquise Diamonds Are Perfectly Versatile

Marquise shaped diamonds look elegant in traditional settings and can often be found accompanied by vintage millegrain finishes – a late Victorian technique used to add texture to precious metal. At the other end of the spectrum, marquise diamonds can take on a contemporary guise with modern rub-over or bezel settings that give pieces an architectural feel.

Marquise stones pair well with other fancy-cut diamond shapes, especially round brilliant, baguette and oval shaped diamonds. The marquise cut can also be used to transform coloured gemstones, including amethyst, citrine, blue topaz, peridot and ruby, which makes for beautiful and unique pendants and stacking rings. This versatility means you can have all the benefits of a marquise shaped diamond in a jewellery design that suits your style and tastes.

If you would like to take your first steps into fancy cut diamond jewellery, marquise diamonds are a perfect place to start. They have quietly stood the test of time and are now ready to take back their crown as the most striking diamond cut.