A guide to buying loose diamonds: Marquise cut | BNT Diamonds
Marquise cut

A guide to buying loose diamonds: Marquise cut

04 Mar 22

A marquise cut diamond, also known as a navette cut, is a unique and attractive option for those wishing to make a statement in an engagement ring or investment piece of jewellery.

Keep reading to find out more about this sleek cut of diamond, and discover:

  • What are marquise diamonds?
  • How much do marquise diamonds cost?
  • How to identify good quality loose marquise diamonds?

What are marquise diamonds?

In 18th century France, marquise diamonds were sported as a sign of rank and stature, due to their origin with King Louis XV. Marquise refers to the social rank below Duke, and its other name Navette (meaning ‘small ship’ in French) refers to the elongated shape.

The marquise cut is a modified brilliant cut that tapers to a sharp point at each end. The elongated oval shape resembles an American football and can include anywhere from 50-60 facets, depending on the cut. Its many facets can provide a lot of fire, brilliance, and can stand out more compared to more commonly seen diamond shapes like round brilliant, or cushion cuts.

The distinct elegant shape is a unique choice and is flattering on the finger. This style of cut also appears bigger than other diamonds of the same carat weight, which is an added benefit of investing in this cut of loose diamond.

Marquise cut 2

How much do marquise diamonds cost?

Compared to round cut diamonds, such as the more traditional brilliant stone, loose marquise diamonds can be around 20-30% lower in cost. Not only are you able to buy more carat weight for less cash, but the elongated cut emphasises the larger coverage the stone provides.

How to identify good quality loose marquise diamonds?

With their unusual cut, it’s important to look at a few different areas for a ‘quality’ loose marquise diamond.

Be sure to look at a diamond in neutral videos or in real-life to assess the quality. Though inclusions can be midden well within the many facets, you also need to consider the way the light hits the centre of the elongated diamond.

If the cut is of poorer quality, it can create a ‘bow-tie’ effect caused by even distribution of light throughout the stone. This is where the central facets don’t reflect light and create dark patches horizontally across the diamond, in a bow-tie shape. In order to see if a stone has the bow-tie effect, look at the diamond face on, at a 90-degree angle.

Like other fancy cuts of diamond, loose diamond marquise cuts will show their colour more. To find a ‘good quality’ marquise that has an icy white look, be sure to inspect the pointed tips as the colour is more concentrated there.

Invest in high-quality loose marquise stones with BNT Diamonds

BNT Diamonds buys diamonds straight from the source to offer you the best quality diamonds at the best price. In addition, all our diamonds have passed through a renowned certification agency, such as GIA or HRD. Are you thinking of investing in diamonds? Ask the experts at BNT Diamonds for advice or talk with our team directly at +32 3 201 24 90.

Fabienne Rauw
About Fabienne Rauw
BNT Diamonds Antwerp

Fabienne, manager of the German market is able to guide every client with finding the right jewel. She takes care of most of the German orders, but also takes other task on her plate. Thanks to her six years of experience at BNT Diamonds she acquainted well with the product and the marketing around it. Her degree in PR ensures that BNT Diamonds is well presented across all media channels. For anyone looking into a new investment opportunity, Fabienne is the perfect guide in this process. No question will be left unanswered, and she will help you every step of the way.

With this article, BNT Diamonds strives to inform you thoroughly about investing in diamonds. No investment can be guaranteed to be without risk or fully according to your expectations. That is why we recommend to research the risks and aspects of investing in diamond properly to ensure that you make the right choice for your portfolio.