Marquise Cut: Spread, Ratio and Cost
The marquise is sold on the claim that it looks bigger than its carat weight. That claim is true in one specific way and misleading in another, and the difference is worth understanding before you buy one.
Prices read from the Draco Diamond catalogue on August 27, 2026, in Canadian dollars at the metal stated. Millimetre figures are the standard industry weight to dimension references for round brilliant and marquise cuts and are approximate, because dimensions vary with cut proportions. Pieces currently listed at a promotional price are excluded from this comparison.
Does a marquise really look bigger?
The marquise is sold on one claim above all others: that it looks larger than its carat weight. That claim deserves to be taken apart, because it is true in one specific sense and quietly misleading in another.
| Shape | Typical dimensions | Longest axis | What that means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round brilliant | About 6.5mm across | 6.5mm | The reference point |
| Marquise | About 10mm by 5mm | 10mm | 54 percent longer along the finger |
The verifiable part is length. A one carat marquise runs to about ten millimetres along its main axis. A one carat round brilliant is about 6.5 millimetres across. The marquise is therefore roughly 54 percent longer, and because rings are worn with the stone running along the finger, that length is what the eye reads first.
The part that gets overstated is area. A marquise buys its length by giving up width, coming in at around five millimetres at its widest against 6.5 for the round. Total face up area between the two shapes is much closer than the length figure alone suggests. What a marquise reliably delivers is coverage along the finger, not more diamond visible from above.
"A marquise buys length, and it pays for that length in width. Anyone selling it as more diamond for the same money is describing the outline, not the area."
Garrett McMartin, Founder, Draco Diamond
This matters because the two are bought for different reasons. Someone who wants their hand to look longer and their fingers more slender is buying exactly the right shape. Someone who wants the largest possible stone face up for a given budget should compare actual dimensions between shapes rather than assume the elongated one wins.
What is the right ratio, and what is a bow tie?
Two things decide whether a particular marquise is good, and neither of them appears anywhere on a grading report.
Length to width ratio. A marquise at roughly 2.0 to 1 is the classic outline, which is what the ten by five millimetre figure describes. Below about 1.75 to 1 the shape starts reading as an oval that has been pulled slightly. Above about 2.25 to 1 it becomes narrow and the points get fragile. This proportion changes the character of the stone far more than a tenth of a carat does, and it is the first thing to ask about.
The bow tie. Every elongated brilliant cut, marquise and oval alike, shows some dark band running across the middle of the stone where the facets fail to return light to the eye. It is called a bow tie for the obvious reason. A well cut marquise shows a faint one. A poorly cut one shows a black stripe across the centre.
No certificate grades the bow tie. It is a consequence of cut proportions rather than a clarity characteristic, so a marquise can carry an excellent clarity grade and still look dull through the middle. This is the single strongest argument for looking at an elongated stone rather than buying it on paper.
Symmetry is the third check and the easiest to make. A marquise is symmetrical about both axes, so errors show. Look down the long axis: the widest point should sit exactly halfway, and the two tips should be in line. On a round these errors hide. On a marquise they do not.
What does a marquise piece cost?
| Piece | Carat weight | Metal quoted | Price CAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curved floral marquise ring | 0.12ct | 10K gold | 949 |
| Marquise Dawn ring | 2.1ct TW | 14K white gold | 1,889 |
| Marquise tennis bracelet | 5ct TW | 10K base | 2,720 |
| Marquise anniversary band | 5.62ct TW | 10K base | 3,699 |
What marquise pieces cost across the range
Draco catalogue, Canadian dollars at the metal quoted. Carat weight drives the number.
Source: Draco Diamond catalogue, read August 27, 2026.
Four points from the catalogue. A 0.12 carat curved floral marquise ring is CAD 949 in 10K gold. The 2.1 carat Marquise Dawn is CAD 1,889 in 14K white gold. A 5 carat marquise tennis bracelet is CAD 2,720 at the 10K base. A 5.62 carat marquise anniversary band is CAD 3,699.
The spread across that range is instructive. Between the 2.1 carat ring and the 5 carat bracelet the carat weight more than doubles and the price rises 44 percent, which is the usual pattern: cost per carat falls as total weight rises.
Why does shape cost nothing here?
| Cut | Total carat | Price CAD |
|---|---|---|
| Emerald | 5ct | 2,720 |
| Round | 5ct | 2,720 |
| Oval | 5ct | 2,720 |
| Marquise | 5ct | 2,720 |
| Pear | 5ct | 2,720 |
This table is the whole argument for buying an elongated shape from a grown stone producer rather than a mined stone dealer.
In mined diamonds, shape is a scarcity question. A cutter starts with found rough and works out which shape wastes the least of it. Marquise and pear cuts often waste more, so they carry a premium or a discount depending on what the rough happened to be. The price reflects an accident of geology.
Grown stones are produced to specification. There is no found rough to work around, so asking for marquise instead of round is a change of instruction rather than a change of yield. Every cut on the 5 carat tennis bracelet lists at CAD 2,720 for exactly that reason.
The practical consequence is that shape should be chosen on how it looks and how it wears, with no thought given to what it costs. That is not true across most of the diamond market and it is worth using while you are here.
How should a marquise be set?
A marquise has exactly one structural weakness and it is at the tips. Those two points are where the stone tapers to its thinnest, and an exposed point will eventually meet a door frame.
V shaped prongs are the answer and they are not optional on a ring worn daily. A V prong wraps each tip and covers it. Any setting that leaves a point standing proud is a design decision made in favour of appearance over the stone.
Orientation is the second decision. Almost all marquise rings are set north to south, running along the finger, because that is the orientation the shape was designed for and the one that produces the lengthening effect. Set east to west across the finger a marquise looks striking and catches on everything.
Metal at Draco is a fixed percentage of the 10K gold base on every piece: silver runs 30 percent below, 14K adds 18 percent, 18K adds 38 percent and platinum adds 45 percent. On the 5 carat marquise tennis bracelet that is CAD 1,904 in silver through to CAD 3,944 in platinum. Colour is free at any karat.
How do you choose a marquise?
A marquise is defined by its proportion. Around 2.0 to 1 is the classic outline. Shorter and it reads as an oval that has lost its nerve; longer and it becomes fragile and thin. This ratio changes the look far more than a tenth of a carat does.
Every elongated brilliant cut shows some dark band across the centre where light fails to return. It is called a bow tie and it is a cutting outcome, not a flaw on the report. No certificate grades it, so you have to look at the stone.
The two tips are the thinnest part of a marquise and the only place it is genuinely vulnerable. V shaped prongs cover them. A setting that leaves a point exposed is asking for a chip.
A marquise is symmetrical about both axes, which makes any error obvious. Look down the long axis and check that the widest point sits exactly halfway and that both tips align. Poor symmetry is far more visible on this shape than on a round.
A marquise reads longer on the finger than a round of the same weight, which is why people choose it. It does not necessarily cover more area. If total face up size is the goal, compare actual dimensions rather than assuming the elongated shape wins.
The length that makes a marquise flattering also makes it sit across more of the finger, so it catches more when worn east to west. Most marquise rings are set north to south along the finger for this reason.
Every Draco diamond is IGI certified at E to F colour and VS2 or better and ships with its certificate; the report can be provided on request before purchase and verified free at IGI.org. Every piece carries 30 day returns, the Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee, free resizing, and free insured worldwide shipping to 25 markets with signature on delivery.
Nothing is held in finished inventory, so a marquise in a specification that is not in the catalogue is a change of brief rather than a bespoke surcharge. Browse the ring collection, start a commission at create your piece, or send a competing quote and Draco will price directly against it.
Marquise cut FAQ
How big is a one carat marquise diamond?
A one carat marquise typically measures about 10mm by 5mm, against roughly 6.5mm in diameter for a one carat round brilliant. That makes the marquise about 54 percent longer along its main axis, which is what produces the lengthening effect on the finger.
Does a marquise cut really look bigger than a round?
It looks longer, which is not quite the same thing. A marquise gains length by giving up width, so total face up area is much closer between the two shapes than the length figure suggests. If you want the finger to look longer, the marquise delivers. If you want maximum area, compare actual dimensions.
What is a bow tie on a marquise diamond?
A bow tie is a dark band across the centre of an elongated brilliant cut where the facets fail to return light. Every marquise and oval shows one to some degree. It is a cut outcome rather than a clarity characteristic, so no grading report records it and the stone has to be looked at.
What is the best length to width ratio for a marquise?
Around 2.0 to 1 is the classic outline and corresponds to the standard 10mm by 5mm proportions at one carat. Below about 1.75 to 1 the shape reads closer to an oval; above about 2.25 to 1 it becomes narrow and the points get fragile.
Does a marquise cost more than a round diamond?
Not at Draco. Every cut on the 5 carat tennis bracelet lists at CAD 2,720, because grown stones are produced to specification rather than cut from found rough, so shape is an instruction rather than a question of yield. In mined diamonds shape does affect price.
Are marquise diamonds fragile?
Only at the two points, which are the thinnest part of the stone. V shaped prongs cover the tips and eliminate most of the risk. A setting that leaves a point exposed is the one genuine vulnerability this shape has.
How much do Draco marquise pieces cost?
A 0.12 carat curved floral marquise ring is CAD 949 in 10K gold, the 2.1 carat Marquise Dawn is CAD 1,889 in 14K white gold, a 5 carat marquise tennis bracelet is CAD 2,720 at the 10K base and a 5.62 carat marquise anniversary band is CAD 3,699.
References
- Draco Diamond catalogue pricing, read August 27, 2026.
- International Gemological Institute, diamond grading standards.
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