Over the last few years, oval cut diamonds have been one of the biggest engagement ring trends, gracing everyone’s fingers, from Phoebe Tonkin to Lady Gaga. But, when Selena Gomez announced her engagement to producer and “Sexiest Man Alive” Benny Blanco, it wasn’t an oval cut we saw on her perfectly manicured hand—it was a glittering marquise diamond. The choice of cut was no doubt a nod from her fiancé to Gomez’s 2015 track Good For You, in which the singer refers to herself as a “marquise diamond.”
Gomez’s ring is quite an example of the style. Set in a yellow-gold pavé band reports estimate the ring could have cost anywhere between $200,000 and $1 million.
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Despite the price tag, we were intrigued by the vintage cut. There’s been a note of samey-ness in ring trends lately, leading many prospective brides to hunt for more unique engagement ring styles. For us, the marquise on Gomez’s finger felt both unexpected and timeless. It out that’s unsurprising given the cut’s rich and regal history.
Here’s everything you need to know about the cut that is due for a revival.
What Is The Marquise Diamond?
“The Marquise diamond consists of 58 meticulously cut facets,” explains jeweller Monika Ruggerino. “It features various proportions of length and width and is one of the most brilliant cuts, second only to the timeless round in scintillation and sparkle.
Cushla Whiting creative director at Cushla Whiting says there has been an increase in interest in the vintage style thanks to the marquise cut’s ability to make a ring appear larger than its carat weight. A trend for larger diamonds has coincided with increased cost of living, meaning the marquise cut diamond can be a (relatively) affordable solution. We don’t all need to go to Blanco’s lengths. Ruggerio adds that the marquise cut is exceptionally flattering on the hand. “When worn in a north-south orientation, the eye is drawn to the tip of the finger, creating the illusion of length,” she explains.
The Seductive History Of The Marquise Diamond
It’s perhaps unsurprising that the marquise diamond is making a comeback thanks to the continued influence of Bridgerton on fashion (regencycore, anyone?). And, just like Bridgerton, its story is surprisingly sexy.
Whiting tells ELLE that the marquise cut’s origin is romantic and tinged with scandal. “Louis XV of France originally commissioned the cut to resemble the lips of his mistress, Madame de pompadour,” he explains.
The design symbolised elegance and sensuality, capturing her striking beauty. The cut takes its name from the French rank of nobility; Madam de Pompadour was later named a marquise. The title was one of few that could be held independently by a single woman (rather than passed to her through her husband). Thus, it became something of a sleight of hand for kings wanting to bestow prestige on royal mistresses. In English history, King Henry VIII granted the title of Marquise to his second wife and long-term mistress Anne Boleyn, who was raised in the French court, to mollify her when his complicated divorce proceedings with Catherine of Aragon delayed her elevation to Queen.
The marquise diamond has maintained its romantic allure throughout history. “It gained popularity again in the 18th and 19th century as a symbol of wealth and sophistication,” says Whiting. “It also had a resurgence in the Victorian era when it suited the ornate designs of the time.” In more recent history the marquise became associated with the Art Deco movement. Notably, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis received a 40-carat marquise-cut engagement ring, referred to as the Lesotho III, from her second husband, Aristotle Onassis, in 1968.
Celebrities Who Have Worn Marquise Engagement Rings
The marquise style is as popular with Hollywood royalty as with actual royalty. Jennifer Lopez‘s first engagement ring from Ben Affleck featured a six-carat marquise diamond in 2002, while David Beckham proposed to Victoria with a three-carat marquise in 1998. The engagement ring style has also graced the hands of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Portia De Rossi.
Read the original article in ELLE AUS.
