What Are the Best Ways to Showcase a Marquise Lab Grown Diamond in an Engagement Ring?

Engagement rings are iconic symbols of love and commitment, and choosing the perfect design can be a thrilling yet challenging endeavor. Among the diverse cuts available in the realm of diamonds, the marquise cut boasts a unique and elegant aesthetic that can dazzle and impress. When it comes to lab-grown diamonds, which offer both ethical and economic advantages, the marquise cut remains a popular choice. If you’re considering a marquise lab-grown diamond for an engagement ring, you might be wondering how best to showcase this distinctive shape. Read on to discover the most captivating ways to highlight a marquise lab-grown diamond in an engagement ring.

Understanding the Marquise Cut

The marquise cut, often referred to as the "navette" cut, sports an elongated shape with pointed ends, resembling a small boat or a football. Its origin dates back to the 18th century when King Louis XV of France commissioned a diamond that mimicked the smile of his mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour. This sophisticated and regal shape maximizes the diamond's carat weight, making it appear larger than other cuts of similar weight.

The marquise cut is known for its impressive ability to make fingers appear longer and more slender, adding a touch of elegance and grace to the wearer's hand. It consists of 58 facets, providing ample surface space for the diamond to reflect light and create a stunning display of brilliance. However, the marquise cut can also be prone to the "bowtie effect," a darkened area across the center of the diamond caused by improper light reflection. To avoid this phenomenon, it’s essential to choose a well-cut marquise diamond and the right setting to enhance its extraordinary sparkle.

When opting for a marquise lab-grown diamond, you receive all the aesthetic advantages of a natural diamond with the added benefit of sustainability and affordability. Lab-grown diamonds are indistinguishable from their mined counterparts and are crafted with impeccable precision. The ethical and ecological benefits make lab-grown marquise diamonds a perfect choice for the conscientious bride-to-be.

Choosing the Ideal Setting

The setting of an engagement ring can significantly impact the overall appearance and allure of a marquise lab-grown diamond. Here are some popular settings that can beautifully showcase this elegant cut:

Prong Setting: Perhaps the most traditional and popular choice, the prong setting uses small metal claws to hold the diamond securely in place. A six-prong setting can be particularly stunning for a marquise cut, as it emphasizes the elongated shape and maximizes light exposure, enhancing the diamond's brilliance. The prongs can be arranged so that they align with the points and sides of the marquise, providing a harmonious and unobstructed view of the stone.

Bezel Setting: This modern setting encircles the diamond with a thin metal rim, offering both security and a sleek aesthetic. A bezel setting can protect the fragile tips of the marquise cut while creating a contemporary look. This setting can also be customized with minimalistic designs or intricate detailing, depending on the wearer’s preferences.

Halo Setting: A halo setting surrounds the marquise diamond with a series of smaller accent stones, creating an illusion of a larger center stone and adding extra sparkle. This setting is particularly effective for enhancing the marquise cut's brilliance and making it the focal point. It also provides a dramatic and luxurious appeal that can turn heads.

Tension Setting: In a tension setting, the diamond appears to be suspended between two metal bands, creating a striking and modern look. This setting allows maximum light to enter the diamond from all angles, showcasing its brilliance. The tension setting is ideal for those who admire a bold and contemporary style.

Three-Stone Setting: Featuring a marquise center stone flanked by two smaller accent stones, the three-stone setting symbolizes the past, present, and future of a relationship. This setting not only offers sentimental value but can also highlight the marquise cut's elegant shape. The side stones can be chosen to complement or contrast with the center stone, adding depth and dimension to the overall design.

Accentuating the Marquise Cut with Side Stones

One way to elevate the beauty of a marquise lab-grown diamond is by incorporating side stones into the ring design. Side stones can complement the center stone, enhance its brilliance, and add a touch of sophistication. Here are some ideas for side stone combinations:

Tapered Baguettes: Tapered baguette-cut diamonds, placed on either side of the marquise cut, can enhance its elongated appearance and create a seamless flow. These side stones offer a classic and elegant look, adding a touch of refinement to the overall design.

Trillion-Cut Diamonds: Trillion-cut diamonds, with their triangular shape, serve as striking and unique side stones that can complement the marquise cut. The sharp angles of trillion-cut stones create a captivating contrast with the marquise's pointed ends, resulting in a bold and eye-catching design.

Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds: Round brilliant-cut side stones can provide a softer contrast to the marquise cut’s sharp edges. This combination adds a harmonious balance and enhances the overall sparkle and scintillation of the ring. The round stones can be arranged in various configurations, such as along the band or flanking the center stone.

Colored Gemstones: Introducing colored gemstones as side stones can create a vibrant and personalized engagement ring. Sapphires, emeralds, and rubies can make striking companions to a marquise lab-grown diamond. This mix adds a burst of color and symbolizes various meanings, enhancing the sentimental value of the ring.

Pear-Shaped Diamonds: Pear-shaped side stones, with their teardrop silhouette, can beautifully frame a marquise cut and mirror its elongated shape. This combination exudes elegance and sophistication, creating a cohesive and visually pleasing design.

Band Styles to Complement a Marquise Lab-Grown Diamond

The choice of band style plays a crucial role in showcasing a marquise lab-grown diamond. The band not only enhances the overall aesthetic but also provides comfort and stability. Here are some popular band styles that can beautifully complement a marquise diamond:

Split Shank: A split shank band divides into two or more strands as it approaches the center stone, creating a visual effect that draws attention to the marquise diamond. This design can add a touch of intricacy and elegance while making the center stone appear larger and more prominent.

Twisted Band: A twisted band features intertwining strands that add a unique and dynamic element to the ring. This design can symbolize the intertwined lives of the couple and enhance the marquise cut's beauty by providing a complementary texture.

Pavé Band: A pavé band is adorned with small diamonds set closely together, covering the surface and creating a continuous line of sparkle. This band style can amplify the brilliance of the marquise cut and add a touch of luxury and glamour to the ring.

Cathedral Setting: A cathedral setting features a band that arches upwards on either side of the center stone, resembling the graceful arches of a cathedral. This design elevates the marquise diamond and provides a sense of height and grandeur. It also allows for additional decorative elements, such as pave diamonds or intricate metalwork.

Vintage-Inspired Band: For those who appreciate a touch of nostalgia, a vintage-inspired band can add a sense of timeless charm to the engagement ring. Intricate filigree detailing, milgrain edges, and engraving can create a unique and romantic look that complements the marquise cut's elegance.

Incorporating Personal Elements and Customization

Customization allows you to create a truly unique and personal engagement ring that reflects the individuality of the wearer and the sentiment behind the ring. Here are some ways to incorporate personal elements and customization into a marquise lab-grown diamond engagement ring:

Engraving: Adding a personal engraving to the inside of the band is a thoughtful way to infuse your ring with sentimental value. This could be a special date, initials, a meaningful phrase, or a symbol that holds significance to the couple.

Birthstones: Incorporating birthstones into the design of the ring can add a personalized touch and make the ring more meaningful. Birthstones can be set as side stones or subtly integrated into the band to represent the couple’s birth months or significant dates.

Custom Metalwork: Consider adding custom metalwork to the band or setting to create a one-of-a-kind design. This could include intricate patterns, unique textures, or symbolic motifs that hold personal significance.

Mixed Metals: Using a combination of metals, such as white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold, can create a striking and distinctive look. This design choice can be tailored to reflect the wearer’s personal style and add a contemporary twist to a classic engagement ring.

Family Heirlooms: Incorporating elements from family heirlooms into the design can add a sense of heritage and tradition. This could include resetting a marquise diamond from a family ring into a new design or using vintage-inspired settings and details as a nod to the past.

In conclusion, showcasing a marquise lab-grown diamond in an engagement ring opens up a world of creative and elegant possibilities. By understanding the unique characteristics of the marquise cut, choosing the ideal setting, incorporating complementary side stones, selecting the perfect band style, and adding personal touches, you can create a ring that truly stands out. This distinctive diamond shape, paired with the ethical and sustainable benefits of lab-grown diamonds, ensures that your engagement ring is not only beautiful but also meaningful and conscious of the environment.

Lab-grown diamonds offer a responsible and modern alternative to traditionally mined stones, and the marquise cut enhances their beauty and brilliance. Whether you prefer a classic or contemporary design, the options are limitless. By exploring these suggestions and customizing your ring to reflect your unique style and love story, you can create a timeless and cherished symbol of your commitment that will be admired for years to come.