The marquise diamond cut is also known as the football-shaped cut, the boat-shaped cut, the eye-shaped cut, or the navette, which means ‘little ship’ in French.
It has an elliptical shape with pointed ends featuring 58 facets.
It dates back to the 18th century when King Louis XV of France (1710-1774) commissioned a jeweller to design a diamond cut that resembled the lips of his mistress, Jean Antoinette Poisson, the Marchioness Madame de Pompadour.
The name “marquise” refers to a hereditary rank above a count but below a duke and comes from the fact that courtiers wore marquise cut diamonds in order to show off their rank.
Though the marquise cut began as a cut for diamonds, it is widely used with other gems like emeralds, rubies, and sapphires.
It has the effect of making your finger appear longer and more slender.
The sharp ends are susceptible to chipping if not protected properly by the jewellery setting. Ensure the corners have protected claws to keep them safe.
Symmetry is important. The two points at the ends of a marquise diamond need to align perfectly with one another or it will affect the balance of the ring setting.
Celebrities who own marquise cut diamond rings include Victoria Beckham and Catherine Zeta Jones.
