An elliptical shaped cut with pointed ends, the marquise cut is also known as

the football-shaped cut, the boat-shaped cut, the eye-shaped cut, or the navette.

The shape was first created in the 18th century when King Louis XV

commissioned a diamond to be cut to the same shape as the lips of his mistress,

the Marchioness Madame de Pompadour. Marquise is also a hereditary rank,

above Count and below Duke — some French courtiers wore the marquise

diamond to denote status.

 

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