The special feature of these marquise rings is the unusual and ornate shape of the diamond. This special cut was developed for a king of France in the 18th century to remind him of the sultry smile of his favorite mistress. Marquise diamond engagement rings are used by many couples as a symbol of long, enduring love. Buying a quality diamond is as easy as one — two — three — four. This marvelous stone of fiery brilliance will thrill the person who wears it proudly and everyone who witnesses its sparkle and dance. It will also retain its value over the years if a quality gemstone is purchased.
Louis XIV, king of France in the 18th century was madly in love with his mistress Marquise de Pompadour. To carry a part of her with him at all times, King Louis XIV commissioned a diamond to be cut in such a way that it represented her special sultry smile. The result is a marquise diamond, a beautiful oblong shape that is ideally twice as long as it is wide and contains a total of 56 cuts. These cuts almost always produce the image of the bow tie deep inside which delights both proud owners and anyone who gazes wondrously at this special treasure. Lovers everywhere rush to purchase a marquise diamond engagement ring representing the devotion of the King for his favorite mistress in hopes that their life will be so blessed with these wonderful feelings of love and bliss.
These brilliant stones are formed by intense heat and high-pressure deep inside the earth; most are believed to be the result of volcanic action with a few created by meteorites hitting the earth. This is only the start of the traveling of the diamonds. The majority of quality diamonds are found in Australia, about 90% are shipped to India where they are precut. From there they are transported to Antwerp, Belgium, called the diamond capital of the world. There, professional craftsman called sightholders, carefully using the sophisticated technology of today turn these into creations of beauty and great value. Marquise engagement rings are carefully cut in their oblong shapes to maximize the stones and minimize any impurities or flaws, which would reduce the value.
Before purchasing a marquise diamond ring, the purchasers should educate themselves on how these exquisite stones are valued. Values are based on four Cs, which include the carat (the size), the clarity (the perfection), the color (of the stone) and the cut (the brilliance). Although these all contribute to the value, the cut is what gives sparkle and brings the stone to life. A professional jeweler will be able to show very clearly the differences in these stones and how the value is arrived at; to these professionals, the diamonds are a living, dancing and entertaining priceless object that looked best displayed in an intricate setting on the finger of a worshiping female.
A person selecting one of the marquise diamond rings has many choices. These rings give the appearance of a larger carat size making them a perfect first ring for a young and struggling couple starting out. A carat weighs 200 mg, which is given the value of 100 points. A stone with 150 points is 1 1/2 carats. All natural stones have imperfections; the more valuable ones have very small and undetectable flaws. The color should be clear and not cloudy or milky. These two items comprise the clarity class. In diamonds unusual colors of greens, blues and pink are called fancies; these are very rare and expensive. Most diamonds purchased today are clear to a light yellow or brown. These stones are set on their tables (tops) and are graded very carefully by a trained technician under strict circumstances. Clear colorless stones are the most expensive; the next step down is about half the price. The differences between the two classes are undetectable to most eyes once they are mounted in an intricate, ornate setting. Many people purchase a ring from this second-tier diamond class; the glitter and sparkle is still there but the investment is only about 50%. The cut creates the shine and sparkle; the many facets keep the light dancing back and forth inside the diamond, moving from one edge to the other until it burst out pleasing the eyes with its brilliance and depth.
These marquise diamond rings are usually mounted with two prongs on each side holding this precious gem securely to the platinum, white or yellow gold band. Two additional prongs cover the ends of this exquisite stone to protect it from being chipped or fractured by normal activity. The oval-shape makes a great engagement ring or a ring for any special occasion as fine jewelers can create unique and spectacular accompanying rings.
These marquise rings offer exquisite cuts bringing the diamond to life and puts sparkle and romance in the lives of the people who wisely invest in these precious objects.