Dutch Marquise vs Elongated Hexagon: What Is Actually Different
The Short Answer
A Dutch Marquise and an elongated hexagon share the same basic outline: six straight sides, longer than they are wide. The difference is what happens at the two ends. A Dutch Marquise comes to a point at each tip. A stone sold simply as an elongated hexagon often finishes in a short flat edge instead.
Put another way: every Dutch Marquise is a hexagonal cut, but not every hexagonal cut is a Dutch Marquise. The Dutch Marquise is the specific one that tapers to a point.
Faceting is a separate question from either. Both shapes can be cut in a step style or a brilliant style, and that choice changes how the stone sparkles without changing what shape it is.
"Elongated hexagon" is a description, not a cut
This is the part that causes most of the confusion, so it is worth stating plainly. "Elongated hexagon" is not a standardized cut with a fixed set of proportions. It is a description of an outline. It tells you two things: the stone has six sides, and it is longer than it is wide. It tells you nothing about what the ends do, how deep the stone is, or how it is faceted.
That is why two stones both listed as elongated hexagons can look genuinely different from each other. One can be a long box with clipped corners. Another can taper to sharp points. Both descriptions are accurate, and neither is wrong.
The Dutch Marquise is our signature cut, and it is the specific version that tapers. We publish a clear definition of it for exactly this reason, and we hand-set and finish these stones in New York City.
The difference is at the ends
A hexagon has six sides and six corners. When you stretch one lengthwise, you have a choice about what sits at the two narrow ends: a corner, or an edge. That single choice is the whole difference.
A Dutch Marquise puts a corner at each end. From the widest part of the stone, the two long sides angle inward and meet at a single point. The stone narrows to a tip, the same way a marquise does. The ends are not softened, not rounded, and never cropped to a flat edge.
A flat-ended elongated hexagon puts an edge at each end. The sides angle in and then stop at a short straight edge across the tip. The outline reads more like a long, clean box with angled shoulders.
Both are still hexagons. Both still face up long and slim. But they read differently on the hand: the pointed version reads sharper and more dramatic, the flat-ended version reads calmer and more architectural.
The long sides are worth checking too, because this is where a Dutch Marquise separates from a true marquise. On a Dutch Marquise the long sides are straight and angled, meeting at a corner at the widest point. On a marquise they sweep as one continuous curve, which is the navette or boat outline. If a stone described as a Dutch Marquise has smoothly curved sides, it is a marquise.
Side by side
| Dutch Marquise | Flat-ended elongated hexagon | |
| Outline | Six straight sides, elongated | Six straight sides, elongated |
| Ends | A point at each tip, tapered | A short flat edge at each tip |
| Long sides | Straight and angled, meeting at a corner | Straight and angled, meeting at a corner |
| Reads as | Sharp, dramatic, elongating | Calm, architectural, geometric |
| Faceting | Varies by maker, step or brilliant | Varies by maker, step or brilliant |
| On the report | The lab's geometric term, not the name | The lab's geometric term, not the name |
Notice how much of that table is identical. These are close relatives, not opposites. The tips are the tell.
Faceting is a separate question
People often assume the outline and the sparkle come as a package. They do not. The outline is the shape you see from above. The faceting is the arrangement of flat surfaces cut into that shape, and it decides how the stone handles light. You can put either faceting style inside either outline.
Step faceting uses broad, flat, parallel facets. It gives clear, mirror-like flashes and a calm, architectural look. It also shows inclusions more readily, so it rewards a cleaner clarity grade.
Brilliant faceting breaks light into smaller, busier sparkle. It hides inclusions better and reads livelier from across a room.
Neither is higher quality than the other. They are two different looks.
We do not make a single house claim that the Dutch Marquise is one faceting style, because there is no industry standard for the term and different stones genuinely are cut differently. What that means for you as a buyer is simple: judge the faceting by how the specific stone looks, not by what the shape is called. Two stones both correctly described as Dutch Marquise can sparkle quite differently.
What the grading report will say
Neither name will appear on the report, and that surprises people. Labs certify measurable geometry, not the words a seller uses. You will not find "Dutch Marquise" or "elongated hexagon" printed on a GIA, IGI, or GCAL report.
On one real IGI report for a Dutch Marquise we sell, the shape line read "Hexagonal Modified Brilliant" (IGI report, 2026). A different lab, or a stone faceted another way, may phrase it differently. That is exactly why the report matters more than the label.
Two more things worth knowing before you buy either shape. Most fancy shapes carry no overall cut grade from the labs, so cut quality varies and you have to look at the stone and its proportions. And IGI and GCAL still issue full 4C-style reports for Lab Grown Diamonds, while GIA now grades Lab Grown Diamonds on Premium and Standard descriptive tiers rather than the full 4Cs. (Source: GIA, 2025-10-01.) Read the report line by line and confirm it on the issuing lab's own site.
The rule that covers all of it: a name is marketing, the report is fact. Use the measurements line for length, width, and depth in millimeters, and work out the length-to-width ratio yourself so you know how elongated the stone actually is.
Which one you actually want
If you are drawn to the drama of a marquise but want cleaner, more modern lines, the pointed version is the one you are looking for. The tips do the work: they carry the eye down the finger and give the stone its edge.
If you want the geometry without the sharpness, a flat-ended hexagon is calmer and sits a little more quietly. It also has no exposed points, which is worth weighing if the wearer is hard on their hands. Any pointed shape concentrates stress at the tips, so a setting that protects the points matters more on the tapered version.
One practical note if you are shopping: search results use these terms loosely, so a listing titled "elongated hexagon" may be pointed, flat-ended, or something between. Look at the outline in the photograph and read the measurements, rather than trusting the title. If you want the tapered version specifically, that is the Dutch Marquise, and you can see the settings we build around it.
Still deciding between the hexagon family and something else entirely? Start with the broader hexagon cut guide, or read whether the Dutch Marquise is a real diamond cut.
See the Dutch MarquiseAbout the Author
Tasha Adison
Tasha Adison crafts engaging content that highlights the beauty of jewelry design. Her writing connects readers with the stories behind each creation.
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FAQ's
Both have a six-sided outline that is longer than it is wide. The difference is at the ends: a Dutch Marquise tapers to a point at each tip, while a stone sold simply as an elongated hexagon often finishes in a short flat edge. Every Dutch Marquise is a hexagonal cut, but not every hexagonal cut is a Dutch Marquise.
No. It is a description of an outline rather than a standardized cut, which is why two stones both listed as elongated hexagons can look quite different. The term tells you the stone has six sides and is longer than it is wide, and nothing about the ends, the depth, or the faceting.
It varies by maker. The outline is what makes a stone a Dutch Marquise; the faceting inside that outline is a separate decision, and there is no industry standard for the term. Step faceting gives broad mirror-like flashes, brilliant faceting gives busier sparkle, and neither is higher quality. Judge the specific stone rather than the name.
Neither. Labs certify measurable geometry, not marketing names. On one real IGI report for a Dutch Marquise we sell, the shape line read "Hexagonal Modified Brilliant" (IGI report, 2026). A different lab, or a differently faceted stone, may phrase it another way, which is why you should read the measurements and confirm the report on the issuing lab's own site.
Both are elongated and both come to a point at each end. The difference is the long sides. A marquise has smooth, continuous curved sides, the navette or boat outline. A Dutch Marquise has straight, angled sides that meet at a corner at the widest point, which is what makes the outline hexagonal rather than curved.
Usually no. Most fancy shapes carry no overall cut grade from the labs, so cut quality varies between stones. Look at the proportions on the report and at the stone itself rather than expecting a single grade to answer it for you.
Any pointed shape concentrates stress at the tips, so the setting matters. A setting that covers or protects the two points is worth choosing on a tapered stone, particularly for someone who is hard on their hands. A flat-ended hexagon has no exposed points, which is one practical reason to prefer it.
They tend to face up larger, yes. Elongated shapes spread their weight across a longer surface, so more of the stone is visible from above than in a round of the same weight. They also lengthen the look of the finger, which is a large part of why elongated shapes are chosen.