If you are planning to get engaged in style, chances are that you have already heard about marquise diamond engagement rings. But before you and your beau finally decide to go for one of the most unique and romantic engagement rings – you might want to know more about the origin of the unique shape of the precious stone and why it has stood the test of time. In fact, marquise diamond engagement rings have captured the imagination of commoners and celebrities alike, for many years.
It is no wonder that Michael Douglas did not even think twice when it came to gifting his beloved Catherine Zeta Jones with an immaculately cut, 10 carat antique marquise diamond, the estimated value of which runs into a couple of millions!
Be that as it may, if you have set our eyes on marquis diamond engagement rings, it could help you if you knew more about such uniquely shaped diamonds and why they bring a smile on the lips of the wearer as well as the giver. Here is some basic information:
- Marquis diamonds owe its name to 18th century France’s Louis XIV who wished to gift his beloved, the Marquis de Pompadour a diamond which would immortalize her beautiful smile. Thus a diamond was created, resembling the smile of the King’s beloved. The diamond was elongated with pointed ends having 56 facets to it.
- In terms of proportion of length vs. the width, the ideal proportion is 2:1.
- You have perhaps heard about the ‘bow tie effect’ in marquis diamonds. This refers to the dark areas which appear across the central part of the width of the stones that look like a bow tie. Diamond cutters usually try hard to reduce this effect, but at times it is not always possible. You do not have to worry too much about this effect, as it is not really noticeable in diamonds that are meticulously cut.
- The reason for the high price of marquis diamonds is that it is often difficult to find a matching pair, because of the varying shapes that result from the cutting. However, the price is usually 10 to 20% less than its equivalent weight of round-cut diamonds. The high price is also because the diamond cutter tries his best to retain the maximum weight possible. This means that when the cutter is given a rough and uncut diamond, he would always try to cut it in such a way, so that it results in the highest carat.
From the tips given above, hopefully you can end up buying the best cut marquis diamonds which would bring a smile on your face as well on that of your beau.
You are prepared to invest a fortune as the antique style engagement rings that you have in mind are not just for anyone. Such a ring is going to adorn the finger of that someone special, who is the most loved person of your life. In fact, the cost of antique style engagement rings would largely depend on the era you go back to, to which the ring originally belonged. Perhaps you are wondering as to why the cost is so high with antique style rings. The reason for this is that the antique rings are usually handmade and the diamond or any other stone that may be adorning it would normally be hand-cut.
Cushion cut or the old mine cut are the two most popular cuts in this genre of engagement rings. The difference between classic and antique rings is that while the classic type could have its origin 5 periods back in history, the antique rings are those which were made before 1950s.
If you have decided to opt for the antique style engagement rings, you need to be aware of certain factors that affect its quality and price. Like marquise diamond engagement rings, the antique rings are going to cost a pile and having the requisite information about them can make you an informed buyer. Here are some tips:
- The first point you have to keep in mind is that the antique style rings are a rarity as they do not make them anymore. Therefore, like buying marquise diamond engagement rings, buying antique rings could be a challenging task.
- The ring could belong to any of these eras: the Georgian period, the Victorian period, the Art Nouveau period, the Art Deco and the Art Retro period. Since there are plenty of styles and designs belonging to these eras, it might be a good idea to seek assistance from a jewelry appraiser for checking the authenticity and identity of each of these types. The market for antique style rings is filled with fake products and only someone knowledgeable in the trade can help you chose the right item. Though a ring may carry precious stones, they may not belong to the era they claim to belong to. Only an expert eye can detect the authenticity of the claims.
- Since these types of rings are not bought everyday, you could easily be duped by an unscrupulous jeweler. Since the amount of money that you would eventually pay out is huge, it is always wise to take someone knowledgeable with you when you set out to buy these rings. Or else, you might be robbed and bring home a fake product after emptying out your wallet to a fraud.
If you have always marveled at marquise diamond engagement rings, wait till you see the pear shaped engagement rings. They would simple take your breath away! Eternal love, romance, togetherness and all that is wonderful about getting engaged – the pear shaped engagement rings speak of all that and more.
If you have been impressed with the pear cut diamonds, you need to remember that this immaculate style of diamond cutting would not have seen the light of the day, if not for a Flemish stone polisher called Lodewyk van Berquem, who in 1458 invented this magnificent method of cutting diamonds. His efforts resulted from the fruitful assimilation of two of his own inventions: the art of impeccable facet management and the scaif, an innovative wheel for polishing diamonds. It might interest you to know that facets of a diamond, or its cut edges are responsible for adding the glitter and sparkle in the stone, which we so admire. Therefore, it is no wonder that the ‘cut’ is one of the 4 C’s which adds value to a diamond – the other three being color, clarity and carat.
The pear cut also results in the diamond getting the shape of a tear drop. Despite the cutting technology that creates that shape, it is still capable of retaining 50% more of the carat weight than a brilliantly glimmering round-cut diamond.
Pear shaped engagement rings have captured the imagination of the elite, the super rich, the royalty as well as commoners like you and me. Perhaps knowing that a 69.42 carat pear cut diamond was presented to the love of his life Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton, does wonders to your own psyche – that it is indeed a symbol of undying love and devotion for the other half of your life. Incidentally, Taylor later auctioned the pear cut diamond for $2.8 million which was subsequently donated to charity.
In case you are in a dilemma whether to go for marquise diamond engagement rings or the pear cut, you need to know that both are held in equal esteem by connoisseurs. While celebrities like Anna Kournikova and Jessica Simpson might flaunt their engagement rings studded with pear shaped diamonds, the marquise cut diamonds can also make viewers awe-struck by their sparkle and glamour.
If you are still looking for some more validation, the most well-known pear shaped diamond is the Star of Africa adorning the scepter of the King of England. This diamond is 520.02 carat and known as the Cullinan I. This is the largest specimen of a pear shaped diamond in the world.
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