Pear and marquise diamonds are two beautiful, vintage looking diamonds that are usually incorporated into some very fancy designs, and they are both an amazing option for an engagement ring. But what do you do when you have to choose just one ? Which would be the best for your ring ? Today we’re comparing the marquise to the pear, seeing how they differ, but also discussing their similarities because you’ll soon notice they matter just as much.
As always, we recommend going to a jeweler and trying on several marquise and pears in different ratios. After all is said and done, the way a diamond looks on your finger is the deciding factor.
Pear vs marquise diamond cuts
Pears cuts have a rounded bottom while marquise cuts have both ends sharp, which means the marquise diamonds need more protection than the pears, such as V prongs or bezel settings. The flared bottom on a pear cut would also make it appear larger than a marquise, but pear cuts tend to have a poorer cut than the marquise due to their asymmetry.
Both diamond cuts sparkle the same, have very similar price points, are just as difficult to wear, and they both have a vintage or magical look to them.
What is a pear cut ?
The pear cut is a diamond cut that has a pointed tip and a rounded tip, shaped like a teardrop or a pear when viewed face-up. The pavilion is thickest near the rounded bottom, so it’s a bit off center, with the point being quite thin or shallow. This is a brilliant cut diamond, so it will have plenty of sparkle and in some cases you might see some crushed ice effect towards the ends of the diamond due to the tiny facets.
Pear cuts are asymmetrical and because of this they can sometimes be hard to find with a good cut grade. They sometimes have misaligned facets, or the sharp point could be slightly off center from the bottom one.
What is a marquise cut ?
The marquise cut is a diamond cut with two pointed ends, much like a football or a pair of lips. It’s a brilliant cut as well, so many small facets that are meant to provide brilliance and fire. Just like the pear cut the marquise has a length to width ratio and you can find tall skinny ones, short and stubby ones, and anything in between. Now lets compare the marquise with the pear to get a better idea of just how different and how similar they are.
Read also: How To Choose Diamond Side Stones
1. Pear cuts have a rounded bottom, marquise cuts have two points
A key difference is the fact that the pear has just one pointed end, while the marquise has both ends coming to a point. The rounded bottom of a pear can be very pleasing to some people, and it adds a bit of that softness that a round or oval cut diamond brings. For this reason the pear cut is a bit more popular than the marquise, though not by that much.
But the round bottom would allow the pear diamond to be incorporated into designs that are more organic, less sharp. And for those who don’t want to stray too far from the traditional round brilliant, the pear is the perfect cross between a marquise and a round.
For those looking for a more extravagant look, the marquise delivers. It might be a little difficult to wear as the sharp points aren’t flattering for everyone, but it’s a look and definitely something you can incorporate into an interesting design.
2. Marquise are usually better cut than pears
Diamonds can be cut with different skill levels, and a great cut can make the difference between a bland and a brilliant diamond. Marquise and pear diamonds don’t have much of a standard to which they are cut, like a round or an emerald cut do for example. But between the marquise and the pear, the marquise is the one you will usually find with better alignment between facets, and less mistakes.
Pears tend to have some issues with the point, since it’s a very shallow part of the diamond and reflects any mistake you make when cutting it. Also the outer curve of the pear, from the shoulders to the point, is a highly debated issue. The most pleasing ones have a curve, but it’s much simpler to cut a straight line. And, finally, sometimes the point is not aligned with the middle of the pear bottom, so the entire diamond is off-center.
This happens because the pear cut is an asymmetrical cut. The marquise is a symmetrical cut, both halves look exactly the same, so there is less room for mistakes.
3. Pear cuts appear larger than marquise due to the flared bottom
The pear cut’s flared, rounded bottom looks larger than the marquise point, so overall the pear appears to be larger than a marquise, while the marquise will usually look taller and skinner than the pear (on average).
In person the difference isn’t that much, but it might help you figure out which diamond shape you want for your ring. It can influence the design and it also matters when you decide how to set the diamond(east-west or the classic north-south).
4. Marquise cuts are more fragile, need a very good setting
Both the marquise and the pear have a pointed end, but the marquise has two such ends. This makes it twice as likely to chip, so it needs the most protection out of the two. This protection is usually a V prong set on the very tips of the marquise, or a bezel setting that covers the entire girdle of the marquise.
Does this mean all marquise diamonds will break at some point ? No. But it does mean you have to be mindful of those points when choosing the setting and understanding the limits of these cuts. The V prong and the bezel setting are also used for the pear cut, but this one only has one sharp point. This is something you need to consider when designing your ring with a marquise or a pear.
Similarities between marquise and pear cut diamonds
We’ve discussed the differences between a pear and a marquise, and we think they’re enough to give you a good understanding of their good and bad features. But we also need to talk about their similarities because you’re stuck deciding between them for a reason. By going through these similarities you’ll have a clear idea that whatever you are looking for, both the pear and the marquise are just as likely to offer it.
1. Marquise and pear cuts are similarly priced
If you’re wondering which of these two diamond cuts would give you a better value for your money, there is no real difference. Neither the marquise nor the pear are as popular as a radiant or oval to drive the price higher, and the skill needed to cut them is the same. So there is no real price difference between a pear and a marquise. You can rest assured that no matter which you choose, your will pay the same amount (give or take a few bucks, the price difference is only around 2%).
2. Pear and marquise cuts show a bow tie
Dreading the bow tie ? Both the marquise and the pear have one, so this is something you will have to live with. You can definitely find a pear or marquise with a less noticeable bow tie, but you can’t find one with no bow tie at all. It’s in the nature of the cut to have a bow tie, and some show it more than others.
There is no difference between pears and marquise in terms of which one has the highest incidence of a noticeable bowtie. You can find pears with a strong bowtie and pears with a barely visible one, and the same for a marquise.
So rest assured that whichever you choose, your chances of ending up with a bow tie are the same. We recommend always inspective the diamond in person, this way you can notice it straight away.
3. Marquise and pear cuts have a vintage or fantasy look
Both the marquise and the pear are far from the average engagement ring diamond. They’re a bit vintage and a bit whimsical, and ay remind you of some far-flung stories of princesses, elves, magic rings, royalty, flowers, and anything that is quite fantastic, really. It’s something about the shapes that reminds you of a fairytale.
So if you’re looking for a fantastic-looking diamond or want to have a very magical-lookin ring both the pear and the marquise will fit right in !
4. Pear and marquise elongate the finger, but might not fit everyone
The pear and the marquise are elongated cuts, but compared to other cuts they are difficult to wear. The pear is asymmetrical and can prove hard to wear due to the sharp point, while the marquise has both ends sharp and will work for even less people.
It’s the points that may not fit in with many people’s finger shape or hand shape, even of they are elongated diamonds. especially when compared to an oval or radiant cut that just seem to fit everyone.
So if you’re worried about how a marquise or pear would look on your finger, don’t be. They have roughly equal chances of not looking flattering, with the pear a little more reasonable due to the rounded bottom. or, they might both fit you very well. They’re just so similar in this regard that it’s difficult to choose just one.
5. Marquise and pear cuts have a L/W ratio you need to consider
Like all elongated cuts, the marquise and the pear have a length to width ratio that you need to think of when choosing one. This ratio is when makes some elongated diamonds appear more pleasing to your eyes than others. For example maybe you like taller, skinnier diamonds. In this case the length needs to be higher than the width, such as 1.50:1 or maybe a 1.40:1.
Or, maybe you like your pears and marquises quite plump, so you’d get a lower ratio of 1.20:1, which makes for a wide-looking diamond because it’s not as long by comparison. This ratio is something that you will encounter for both the pear and the marquise diamonds. The perfect ratio for you might be different from one shape to another, but feel free to play around with it.
6. Pear and marquise have the same fire and brilliance
Worried about which diamond will sparkle the most ? Both the pear and the marquise have about the same level or scintillation, and both have some crushed ice effect so you will get essentially the same look, just a different shape. And you might find a poorly cut pear and a very good cut marquise that look completely different from one another in terms of sparkle.
For this particular factor you absolutely need to see the diamonds in person and inspect each of them.
I’m the main author for jewelrymaterialguide.com. I started this site after we did tons of research before our wedding and noticed that there is information about rings, jewelry, and so on that is really hard to find on the internet.
