What is a marquise diamond?

A marquise diamond is an elongated cut with an elliptical body and two sharp pointed tips, sometimes called 'navette' after the French word for small boat. Among all standard diamond cuts, the marquise produces the largest crown surface area relative to carat weight, which makes a stone appear visibly larger face-up than its weight suggests. For lab-grown diamonds, this size-to-carat advantage is especially relevant: a 1.00 ct lab-grown marquise certified by IGI can look comparable in spread to a 1.20 ct round brilliant. The elongated silhouette also creates a lengthening effect on fingers, making it a practical choice for rings, though the cut appears frequently in pendants and drop earrings too. The pointed tips are structurally vulnerable, so a setting with protective prongs at each tip is worth prioritizing when selecting a mounting.