Marquise and oval cut diamonds are fancy shapes that offer an alternative to traditional round cut diamonds.
Each can serve as the center diamond on an engagement ring or complement the main stone as diamond accents.
We’ll compare marquise versus oval cut diamonds across the traits that most affect a diamond’s quality and appearance, so you’ll know if either of these cuts are right for you.
What is a Marquise Cut?
The distinguishing feature of a marquise cut diamond is its elongated shape that’s wide in the middle and extends to two sharp points on each side.
It often has 58 total facets, with 33 on its crown and 25 on the pavilion.
Marquise diamonds are modified brilliant cuts, which means the shape of its facets are comparable to a round cut.
The triangle and kite-shaped facets enhance its brilliance, so one of the pros of marquise cuts is it has a unique shape that doesn’t sacrifice brilliance.
The ideal length to width ratio of a marquise cut is 1.75-2.15, but they come in a variety of ratios.
It’s believed the cut was named after the Marquise of Pompadour.
King Louis XIV of France had the marquise cut designed to resemble the shape of her lips.
The cut is also called a “Navette”, which means “small ship” in French. It’s also referred to as an eye- or boat-shaped diamond.
What is an Oval Cut?
Oval cut diamonds are a modern cut with rounded edges.
Its design combines the techniques used to create round and pear cut diamonds. As a modified brilliant cut, its facets return a significant amount of white light.
There are a variety of shapes available within the oval cut category. Some are stretched and more shallow, while others are condensed with a deep table.
The ideal length to width ratio is between 1.35-1.50.
It was designed in the mid-1900s by a Russian diamond cutter named Lazare Kaplan.
The idea was inspired from his expertise in cutting away the pieces of damaged gemstones to form new shapes. He’d take the large, rough cut and create small diamonds.
One of these diamonds became the oval cut.
What are the Differences Between Marquise and Oval Cuts?
In comparing marquise versus oval cut diamonds, you should understand how they’re different across the qualities that make up a diamond.
While the two may look similar to the naked eye, there are significant differences in many areas such as size, popularity, and prices.
Let’s explore each of these aspects and more in detail.
1. Size
The size of a diamond isn’t measured by its visible appearance. It’s measured in carats, which is a unit of weight equal to 0.2 grams.
If you place two diamonds next to each other, and they both weigh 0.75 carats, they’re the same size, even if one looks bigger than the other.
Some buyers are less concerned about the weight of their diamond than how large it appears to the naked eye. Certain cuts look larger than others, even if they’re the same weight.
Marquise diamonds are known to look larger than oval cuts and all other cuts. Its stretched shape gives it a wide surface area.
From end to end, it’s length is longer than oval cuts, which gives the illusion it’s a larger diamond.
If the size of your diamond is a priority, you should consider a marquise cut. You could also opt for a lower carat weight and put that savings toward a diamond with better color or clarity.
You’ll have a diamond that looks the same size as another cut of a higher carat without paying that premium.
2. Popularity
Some buyers are drawn to round brilliant cuts because they want the most popular type of diamond for their engagement ring.
Others want to avoid the traditional route and choose a fancy shape that stands out from other diamonds.
It’s estimated marquise diamonds are the third most popular cut behind round and princess, making up five percent of diamonds sold.
Oval cuts rank sixth, capturing less than three percent of the diamond market.
The market share of each is reflected in the number of options you’ll have to choose from at most diamond retailers. You’ll often have far more choices of round cut compared to marquise and oval cuts.
For example, James Allen is an online diamond retailer with one of the largest inventories. We explored the number of diamonds greater than 0.5 carats for sale for each cut.
Here are the numbers available:
- Round: 120,710
- Marquise: 1,844
- Oval: 14,232
At Blue Nile, another leading diamond seller, you’ll find similar numbers:
- Round: 133,590
- Marquise: 1,614
- Oval: 13,326
This demonstrates how even though marquise diamonds are generally more popular than oval cuts, you’ll have more options for oval cuts.
But neither can compete with the popularity of round cuts, and the number of available options at retailers reflects that.
3. Prices
Marquise cuts often cost more than oval cuts. For example, Blue Nile used its own inventory to compare diamond prices by their shape.
It found marquise diamonds sell for 23 percent higher than oval cuts with the same characteristics.
We compiled prices for marquise and oval cut diamonds from James Allen with the following traits:
- Carat: 1.00
- Color: F
- Clarity: SI1
The average price for a marquise cut with those qualities is $4,636. The lowest priced marquise cut is $4,030, and the highest is $5,140.
For an oval cut, the average is $4,224, with a range of $3,550-$4,960.
That results in a 10 percent premium for a marquise cut versus an oval cut diamond.
Both fancy shapes are less expensive than a round cut. At Blue Nile, there’s an average of an eight percent increase in price for a round versus marquise cut and a 32 percent increase over an oval cut.
If you’re looking to maximize the carat weight of your diamond or want to improve its clarity, cut, color, or setting, you should consider a marquise or oval cut over a round cut.
4. Types of Settings
You should also take into account the types of settings that best fit certain diamond cuts.
The setting that holds your diamond adds an entirely new element to the ring and presents the buyer with a variety of choices.
Marquise cuts require a setting to hold each end.
The most popular design features four prongs, with one prong on each tip and one grasping both sides.
This minimal design allows the most light to enter the diamond through its exposed table.
Others feature four more prongs around its edges or a bezel setting wrapped all the way around.
Marquise diamonds can also be surrounded by a single or double halo. By placing accents around the center diamond, you add sparkle to the piece and create the illusion of a larger diamond without the corresponding price increase.
Oval cuts are often held in place by four or six prongs. They’re evenly spread around the diamond in a way that keeps it secure without hiding too much of its crown.
A bezel setting also complements an oval cut because it mimics the shape of the diamond and secures it from hits and drops.
The downside is it hides more of the diamond than prongs.
No matter how the setting holds a marquise or oval cut, you can also add diamonds to any type of ring shank.
Whether it’s channel-set or bead-set diamonds, you can add glimmer to the ring without increasing the size of the main diamond.
If you want all the attention on the center diamond, choose a solitaire setting without accents.
Both cathedral and non-cathedral settings can add prominence to marquise and oval cuts and minimize issues caused by other small diamonds on the ring.
5. Vulnerability to Chipping
Onepro of oval cutsis they’re more durable than marquise cuts.
The rounded edges of an oval are less prone to chipping if dropped.Pointed ends are a weak point in any diamond, and marquise cuts have them on both sides.
If a marquise cut is unprotected and is hit against a hard surface, its ends may break.
The remedy for this problem is to protect them with a strong setting. V-prongs at each end provide some degree of protection but not as much as a six-prong or bezel setting.
You can also add a halo of accents around a marquise cut for an additional layer of protection.
The best ways to prevent issues related to durability for marquise and oval cuts are to remove them during physical activity and choose a setting that prioritizes security over maximizing light performance and visibility.
What do Marquise and Oval Cuts Have in Common?
Although marquise and oval cuts offer a unique appearance and performance, they have several traits in common related to clarity, style, and color.
Let’s examine their similarities in detail, so you’ll know what to expect from both cuts.
Minimizes the Visibility of Inclusions
There are many types of inclusions found in diamonds that result in an imperfect appearance.
Whether it’s transparent twinning wisps, etch channels, or black spots in a diamond, all diamonds have some degree of blemishes.
Some cuts hide inclusions better than others. Marquise and oval cuts both minimize the visibility of inclusions because of their brilliant cut facets.
Their facets capture and reflect high amounts of white light, which can disguise inclusions to the naked eye.
Most buyers prefer a diamond that’s eye-clean. You don’t have to select a flawless diamond for it to appear flawless to the naked eye.
For both oval and marquise cuts, an SI1 clarity grade from the GIA often indicates the inclusions can only be seen with magnification.
You’ll avoid the premium charged for diamonds with higher clarity grades but still have a diamond with no visible flaws.
Causes Fingers to Look Slim
The elongated shapes of marquise and oval cuts make your fingers look more slim and thin.
This feature is coveted by many buyers and is an advantage of marquise cuts and oval cuts over more condensed shapes such as round and princess cuts.
Others don’t find this trait appealing. In that case, you should instead opt against a diamond with a high length to width ratio.
By choosing one with a lower ratio, it won’t have as strong of a slimming effect.
This also emphasizes the importance of trying on the diamond ring at a retail store or choosing an online retailer that offers returns.
Although you can learn a lot about a diamond by viewing its grading report and images, it’s difficult to know if it’s right for you without seeing it in person.
You may find the ability for marquise and oval cuts to make your fingers look more slim is a bonus, but you won’t know that unless you see it for yourself.
Bow-Tie Effect
Marquise and oval cuts aresusceptible to the bow-tie effect. This refers to black lines that span a diamond’s table and form the shape of a bow-tie.
Almost all marquise and oval cuts have some degree of this problem, but its visibility differs depending on the quality of the cut.
In some instances, it’s apparent no matter which angle you view the diamond. In others, it’s nearly invisible.
You can’t tell whether a diamond has the bow-tie effect from its grading report. Even one with ideal proportions, depth, and clarity can have this issue.
By viewing the diamond in-person or through a high-quality photo online, you can avoid a marquise or oval cut with a bow-tie.
Color Shows on Ends
The GIA color scaleranges from colorless to light. As a diamond moves down the scale, it indicates the presence of strong yellow or brown tints.
Like clarity, some cuts hide color better than others. The brilliant-cut facets of marquise and oval cuts hide minor yellow tints, but it’s more likely to show at the ends.
The shallow ends of each cut show more color than the wider, deeper middle areas.
If you’re looking for a marquise or oval cut that appears colorless to the naked eye, we recommend starting your search with ones given an H color grade.
You won’t have to pay the higher prices charged for ones in the “colorless” category, but it’s likely they’ll look identical to the naked eye.
Is a Marquise or Oval Cut the Right Choice For You?
If you’re comparing marquise versus oval cut diamonds, knowing what to expect in terms of their size, durability, clarity, and color is one of the first steps.
By understanding how they perform in these areas, you’ll make a more informed choice.
Here are some guidelines to help you decide if a marquise or oval cut are right for you.
You should choose a marquise cut if:
- Its elongated shape with pointed ends is appealing
- You’re willing to pay a higher price per carat than other fancy shapes
- You’re looking for an alternative shape to a round cut but still want strong brilliance
- You’ll choose a setting that protects its pointed ends from chipping
You should choose an oval cut if:
- You don’t want a round brilliant cut but still prefer rounded edges to sharp corners
- You’re looking for a diamond with a low cost-per-carat compared to round cuts and other fancy shapes
- It’s important to you that the diamond is durable and isn’t vulnerable to chipping
Explore the variety of marquise and oval cuts available at online and in-person retailers.
Pair each cut with different types of settings, so you know which combination fits your style.
Both marquise and oval cuts can serve as the center diamond in any engagement ring or piece of jewelry, and by learning the unique characteristics of both, you can find the perfect diamond ring for you.