Marquise Diamond Size Chart, Ratio and Price
Last updated 27 October 2026
Quick answer
A marquise diamond is a long brilliant cut with two pointed tips, and it looks bigger than any other shape at the same weight. A 1 carat marquise from our stone feed measures about 10.5 by 5.3 mm, against 6.5 mm across for a 1 carat round, and costs about $1,360 as a loose IGI-graded stone. Almost all of our marquise stones sit at a length-to-width ratio between 1.85 and 2.15. Choose it for length and presence, in a setting that protects both tips.
Shape at a glance
| Detail | Typical detail | Buying note |
|---|---|---|
| Facet pattern | Modified brilliant with two pointed ends. | That long outline makes symmetry and tip protection matter more than they do on a rounder shape. |
| Typical ratio | About 2 to 1. Almost all of our marquise stones sit between 1.85 and 2.15. | Below about 1.85 the stone reads fuller and softer; above 2.15 it reads slender and dramatic. |
| Size at 1 carat | About 10.5 by 5.3 mm, measured across our stones. | Longer from tip to tip than a 2 carat round is wide, which is why the shape looks so big. |
| Sparkle | Bright when well cut, with possible bow tie through the centre. | Steer clear of stones with a heavy dark bow tie or two halves that do not quite match. |
| Best for | Solitaire, bezel, halo and hidden halo rings, and pavé bands. | Choose marquise when you want the centre stone to lead the whole design. |
What is a Marquise Cut Diamond?
A marquise diamond is an elongated brilliant cut with gently curved sides that taper to a point at each end. Because the shape spreads right across the finger, it tends to look visually large for its carat weight.
The outline is so distinctive that small symmetry issues have nowhere to hide, so both tips should line up on the same centre line and both curved sides should mirror each other cleanly.
What size is a marquise diamond at each carat weight?
A 1 carat marquise measures about 10.5 by 5.3 mm and a 2 carat about 13.2 by 6.6 mm. These are the typical sizes of the IGI-graded marquise diamonds on our stone feed, so they come from measured stones rather than a formula, and the ratio column shows how much two stones of the same weight can differ in shape.
Length is what you notice on the hand. A 1 carat marquise runs about 10.5 mm from tip to tip, while a 1 carat round from the same feed is 6.5 mm across, and even a 2 carat round is only about 8.1 mm.
| Carat weight | Typical size (mm) | Typical ratio (middle 80%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 carat | 10.5 x 5.3 | 1.98 (1.88 to 2.07) |
| 1.5 carat | 11.9 x 6.0 | 1.98 (1.89 to 2.09) |
| 2 carat | 13.2 x 6.6 | 2.00 (1.89 to 2.09) |
| 2.5 carat | 14.2 x 7.1 | 1.97 (1.90 to 2.08) |
| 3 carat | 14.8 x 7.5 | 1.98 (1.88 to 2.10) |
| 4 carat | 16.4 x 8.3 | 1.96 (1.88 to 2.06) |
Measured from the IGI-graded marquise lab-grown diamonds on our builder feed on 26 October 2026, each weight band running to .09 of a carat (1 carat means 1.00 to 1.09 ct). Typical is the median stone.
What is the best length-to-width ratio for a marquise?
About 2 to 1, and that is where almost all of our marquise stones sit, between 1.85 and 2.15. GIA describes a classic marquise as about twice as long as it is wide, and says the marquise diamonds it grades most often fall between 1.6 and 2.2 to 1.
Below about 1.85 the stone looks fuller and softer, and above 2.15 it looks slender and more dramatic. If you love a particular look, choose by ratio as well as by carat weight, and we can filter our stones to the range you want.
How much does a marquise diamond cost in Australia?
A 1 carat IGI marquise costs about $1,360 on our feed, and a complete 18k gold marquise ring starts at $3,350. Every stone we sell is graded by IGI at D to F colour and VS1 clarity or better, so these prices are for high grades, not entry-level stones.
Marquise costs a little more than round at the same weight: a typical 1 carat marquise is $1,357 against $1,244 for a round, and at 2 and 3 carats our complete marquise rings are the dearest of any shape we make.
| Carat weight | Typical loose stone | Most stones (middle 80%) | Complete 18k gold ring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 carat | $1,357 | $1,283 to $1,590 | $3,350 to $3,900 |
| 1.5 carat | $2,289 | $1,786 to $2,665 | Made to order |
| 2 carat | $2,593 | $2,294 to $4,170 | $5,350 to $5,950 |
| 3 carat | $4,153 | $3,230 to $8,224 | $9,950 to $10,550 |
| 4 carat | $8,326 | $4,573 to $10,103 | Made to order |
Loose stone prices from our builder feed and complete ring prices from our carat collections, 18k gold, checked 27 October 2026. Rings at other weights are made to order: choose the stone and setting in our ring builder.
The story behind the marquise cut
The marquise cut has one of the better origin stories in jewellery. Around the middle of the eighteenth century, King Louis XV of France asked his jewellers for a diamond cut to echo the shape of the smile of his favourite, Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, better known as the Marquise de Pompadour, and the long, gently pointed shape they came back with has carried her title ever since.
You will also hear the shape called a navette, which is French for little boat, a nod to the way the curved sides and pointed tips trace the outline of a hull. Whichever name you use, the marquise has held on to its association with the French court and a certain quiet grandeur, and that is part of why it still feels like such a statement on the hand today.
Madame de Pompadour
The marquise the cut is named after.
Louis XV
The king said to have asked for the cut.
What to check before choosing
Inspect symmetry first
The two tips should sit on the same centre line and the curved sides should match each other, because a marquise that is even slightly lopsided is very hard to disguise once it is in a setting.
Check the bow tie
A little shadow through the centre is normal in any elongated brilliant cut, so what you are really looking out for is a strong dark band that makes the stone look split in half across the middle.
Protect the tips
The pointed tips are the most vulnerable part of the shape, so look for V-prongs, a bezel or another protective detail that physically covers each point for daily wear. Some marquise diamonds are also cut with French tips, small extra facets at each point that help it resist chipping.
Settings that suit this shape
- A north-south solitaire, with the marquise running along the finger, gives the most lengthening effect, as in our Margot setting.
- A bezel wraps metal right around the stone and covers both tips, which makes it the most protective choice for everyday wear, as in our Gigi setting.
- A halo frames the outline and buffers the tips (our Ziphora), while a hidden halo keeps the solitaire look from above and adds sparkle from the side (our Taylor).
- East-west settings, with the marquise across the finger, and toi et moi designs pairing it with a second stone, suit the shape too, and we make both as custom designs.
Who does marquise suit?
Marquise suits anyone who wants a diamond shape with movement, length and a clear personality. It is a lovely choice when the ring design is meant to feel sculptural and a little different.
Watch for
- Unprotected tips can chip if the ring catches on something, so the setting has to do its job.
- A strong bow tie can leave the middle of the stone looking dull and shadowed.
- A very long ratio can feel a little fragile or too sharp on some hands, so try a few lengths on.
Watch: thinking of buying a marquise?
A quick look at what to weigh up before you choose a marquise cut diamond.
Frequently asked questions
- Are marquise diamonds more expensive?
- A little, at the same weight. On our stone feed a typical 1 carat marquise is $1,357 against $1,244 for a round, and a 2 carat marquise is $2,593 against $2,496. Because a marquise looks bigger, you can also choose a smaller carat weight for the same look.
- Is a 1 carat marquise too small?
- No. A 1 carat marquise is about 10.5 mm from tip to tip, which is longer than a 2 carat round is wide, so it reads as a sizeable stone on the hand.
- Is a 2.5 carat marquise big?
- Yes. A typical 2.5 carat marquise on our feed measures about 14.2 by 7.1 mm, which covers a lot of the finger from knuckle to knuckle.
- Why is it called a marquise cut?
- The marquise cut is named after Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, the Marquise de Pompadour. King Louis XV of France is said to have asked his jewellers to cut a diamond in the shape of her smile, and the elongated, pointed shape has carried her title ever since. It is also known as the navette, French for little boat.
- Do marquise diamonds look bigger?
- Yes, more than any other shape at the same weight, because the weight is spread out along the finger rather than packed into a compact outline. Compare the millimetre dimensions as well as the carat weight so you know what you are getting.
- Are marquise diamonds fragile?
- The diamond itself is just as hard-wearing as any other shape, but the pointed tips do need protecting, so V-prongs or a bezel are important for a ring you will wear every day.
- What setting suits a marquise diamond?
- Solitaire, bezel, halo and hidden halo settings all suit a marquise, as long as the tips are protected. East-west and toi et moi designs work too, and we make those as custom designs.
