Marquise Cut Diamonds

Though it's one of the rarest fancy cuts, the shape maximizes carat weight, giving you a much larger-looking diamond for your dollar. The ability of Marquise-shaped diamonds to look large for their carat weight makes them popular for anyone on a strict budget.

Another aspect that affects the price is the "bow-tie effect", a darkened area across its middle. The amount of darkness, however, varies so look for a diamond with a minimal bow tie to maximise light performance and your investment.

Marquise hides inclusions well. Save on a lower clarity grade and you'll get an eye-clean diamond for less.

The shape was created in the 1700s when King Louis XV of France commissioned a jeweller to design a cut in the shape of his mistress's lips.