Which type of cut is normally most susceptible to chipping or breaking?

• A. Emerald cut
• B. Marquise brilliant
• C. Princess cut
• D. Cushion cut

Answer: (B)

A shape with pointed ends concentrates stress and has exposed tips that are easy to chip if hit or snagged. The marquise brilliant features two long, slender points at opposite ends. Those tips are thin and sharp, so any impact or pressure tends to cause chips or breaks there more readily than on other cuts. The risk is heightened in wear, especially in rings where the points can catch on fabric or hard surfaces.

In contrast, emerald cut has cropped, non-pointed corners and broad flat facets, which distribute stress more evenly and don’t present sharp tips. Cushion cut combines rounded corners with softer edges, which absorb and diffuse impact better. Princess cut has sharp corners, but the overall shape is square, and its edges are less elongated than the marquise’s points, making it less prone to tip-chipping in typical wear.