Marquise Cut Gemstones

Two opposed points and a long curved belly: the marquise pushes its weight to the ends, for the widest face-up spread of any standard shape — more surface for its weight than a round, oval or pear. The price of that reach is the bow-tie, a dark band an elongated brilliant shadows across the middle; you want it faint.

From 1.75 to 2.15 long-to-wide it stays balanced. Standard millimeter lengths seat it in a head made for it; in our builder, pick V-prongs to cap both tips.