Marquise Cut
A boat-shaped brilliant with pointed ends, designed to maximize carat weight appearance.
Definition
The marquise cut (also called navette) is a football or boat-shaped brilliant cut with two pointed ends. Legend holds that Louis XV commissioned it to resemble the smile of the Marquise de Pompadour. Its elongated shape maximizes the perceived size of the diamond and creates a distinctive, vintage look.
Why It Matters for Ring Design
Marquise cuts have the largest face-up area per carat of any shape — appearing up to 15% larger than a round of the same weight. Both pointed ends require protective V-tip prongs. Watch for the bow-tie effect in poorly proportioned stones.
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