What Is a Portuguese Marquise?

A Portuguese marquise combines pointed ends and elongated proportions with an intricate speciality facet pattern.

The resulting diamond can create exceptional finger coverage while offering finer, more complex scintillation than a conventional marquise brilliant.

Marquise Brilliant Versus Portuguese Marquise

A traditional marquise often produces broader areas of brightness and contrast. Portuguese cutting introduces greater visual density across the stone.

The Marquise Bow Tie

Like ovals and pears, marquise diamonds can show a central bow-tie effect.

Different facet arrangements may change how that contrast appears, but every diamond should still be evaluated individually.

Choosing a Marquise Ratio

A lower ratio creates a fuller marquise. A higher ratio produces a slender, more dramatic silhouette.

Neither is inherently better. Balance, symmetry and the relationship between the outline and facet pattern are more important than chasing one number.

Marquise Versus Moval

A marquise normally has two defined points. A Moval softens the ends, creating a shape somewhere between oval and marquise.

Choose marquise for stronger drama and Moval for softer vintage-inspired elongation.