Marquise cut
A long, narrow diamond pointed at both ends, also called the navette.
How to read it
GIA describes the marquise, also called the navette, as an elongated shape with two pointed ends; the International Gem Society calls it an elongated ellipse, which many compare to an eye or a football. GIA notes that the pointed tips can chip, which is why they are often set in V-shaped prongs.
Also searched as: marquise diamond, marquise shape, navette cut.
Grades describe a stone as a grading laboratory saw it. This page explains the grading scales; it doesn’t grade or value any stone.
More diamond grading
Sources
- Guide to Diamond Engagement Ring Shapes (GIA 4Cs), Gemological Institute of America
- Marquise-Cut Diamonds Buying Guide (International Gem Society), International Gem Society
- The Diamond (Cattelle, 1911), W. R. Cattelle, The Diamond, John Lane Company, 1911, Internet Archive (scan)
Last reviewed September 28, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research