A pair of earrings that fully exhibit the unique character of the extremely rare marquise diamond.
At first glance, this appears to be just a regular pair of earrings, each earring set with four marquise shape diamonds. However, a closer look reveals a three-dimensional style with a strong impression of brilliance. When worn, the elegant nature of this jewelry becomes apparent in its eye-catching yet surprisingly wearable design. A fine home is planned with full consideration for the comfort of the people who will live there. Likewise, these earrings are of a simple construction that fully displays the unique character of the diamonds in 950 platinum. The friction posts are 0.9 millimeters in diameter and 10.5 millimeters long (0.03 and 0.41 inch, respectively), but wear very comfortably in spite of their size.
Finding eight similar-looking 0.5-carat-size marquise diamonds of gem quality is more difficult than one would imagine. As of 1999, just over 20-million carats (4 tons) of diamonds were polished annually. Of these, 70 t0 80 percent are round brilliant cuts, and the rest are the various fancy shapes. Marquises make up about three percent of the total, an estimated 600,000 carats. These include stones of varying character, differing in beauty and tone of color and ranging from 0.05 carat to several dozen carats. Searching the world over, it would probably be difficult to find the marquise diamonds too make any more than one-hundred pairs of these earrings per year.
Below are bezel-set marquise diamond and marquise tsavorite pendants. They have an understated charm that is appropriate for both casual and business use, making them popular among women in their twenties, Tsavorite is a green variety of garnet that was originally mined in Africa in the 1960s and first introduced to the world market by Tiffany & Co.
Pendant
Tiffany & Co.
950 Platinum
Diamond
Size (mm):L405 x W9.0 x H2.4
Pendant
Tiffany & Co.
18K Yellow Gold
Tsavorite
Diamond
Size (mm):L405 x W9.0 x H2.4
copyright Tiffany and Company
Prong-Set Marquise Diamond Earrings
Tiffany & Co.
Metal : 950 Platinum
Total Weight : 4.8 grams
Size(mm) : L12 x W12 x H15.5 each
Copyright Tiffany and Company
Diamond
Untreated
Gem Quality
MARQUISE
FACE-UP PUTLINE
A 2-to-1 length-to-width ratio (see B, to the right) is generally considered standard for the marquise cut. Regardless of size, the quantity of rough material that is suitable for cutting to these dimensions is limited. If rough that is suited for a round brilliant cut is made into a marquise instead, much of it ends up as dust, making it uneconomical. Each rough gemstone is different, and since the cutter decides on the exact shape to polish according to the rough, some may end up as somewhat thin stones (A) or wide stones (C) that do not have a length-to-width ratio of exactly 2-to-1. High-quality diamond rough is very expensive, making it necessary to consider the price performance of the finished stone, and the ideal length-to-width ratio is a matter of personal preference.
Among marquise cut diamonds of the same size, there are those that have an angular, lozenge shape (D), or a nearly oval shape (E). Both of these are considered to be lacking in beauty, and are not used in fine jewelry except in special cases.
PRONG SETTING AND
BEZEL SETTING
It is impossible to think of gemstones are precious metals separately when developing the conception for gemstone-oriented jewelry. The size and shape of the gemstones dictate the use of the precious metals. Without overpowering the gemstones, the precious metals help to create the beauty of combination of each gemstone’s inherent beauty.
The prong setting shown in the top photograph uses five prongs to secure four marquises. The four marquises are held in place on one side by the shared central prong, and are securely set with one outside prong each. The upper bezel (stone seat) securely holds the sides of the diamonds, giving the piece a feeling of stability when it is worn.
The bezel setting shown in the bottom photograph supports the marquises completely around their perimeters. By accentuating the attractive outline of the small marquises, it succeeds in fully maximizing the potential beauty of the gemstones. An ideal piece of jewelry is one in which the metal serves to bring out the beauty of the gemstone, making the gemstone a part of a precious adornment that is a comfort to wear.
