Gemini Mini or Diamond Press Marquis

Love this question. Years later I know since first asked. But relevant today too. I own BOTH. I stopped using the mini gemini electric almost instantly when the Marguis by Diamond Press came into my life. As much as I hate the cost and warping issues with the cutting folders if you use other brand dies it’s like so many say hands down the superior machine. Or the one so many of us reach for for so many reasons. There is just not one reason. That says a lot. I can carry it camping, to the neighbors outside under my covered patio or just when I travel for what ever reason I want to burden myself with something to drag along and do. Hey each our own. It does cut like butter. I gifted a neighbor a 6″ opening machine that does not use a sandwich system either and she loves it. It was my first machine used once or twice when I decided to jump to the BIG boy’s. And she fell in love with this expensive hobby too. But here she is with some dies and in the throws of making several cards for her grown kids BD’s and so I hand her the DP Marguis. OH DEAR in her favorite color pink/blush too. Yeah I felt so guilty I wouldn’t just gift her this gem she’s melts along with the butter of running it through. She didn’t believe me when she first said it didn’t cut. I said Oh yes it did. Open up the folder and look. She’s like jaw dropping OH MY Word what just took place. I KNOW. That’s the thing that snags us all. So I have a mini gemini but electric. The larger DP is larger opening. I have two Spellbinders, One sizzix also it’s their electric, I have two DP large Marquis machines. I am selfish I know. I just line the two up in a row I have a specific spot for in my crowded die cutting room and they along with the smaller Spellbinder Platinum are my constant most used machines. So the biggest issue for all of us is the cost of the cutting folders and that so often on their site and on HSN they are out of stock. There is no excuse for ever being out of stock on that item. And second the cost seems to have gone up over 60% since I first ordered though I will jump and pick up 2-3 sets when ever they do go on sale and come back in stock. Once again they just ran specials on DP products on HSN and sure enough the folders are out of stock. With the exception of this one huge flaw by far hands down I’m a huge fan of DP larger Marguis. I don’t have the smaller one but I do have the Tim Holtz Sidekick for full disclosure. I use the large Platinum machine for my large collection of 8 to 8.5 inch wide steel rule dies and over sized dies. I do love them and the smaller Platinum runs steel rule dies too but I usually just run them on the larger machine and it’s kept away most of the time in a drawer. (Steel rule dies for earrings and fabric and faux leathers or super weight paper products like chip board or multi layers for larger projects you may still want to pull out the machines with the platforms and strength and mouth size to run such through. But if you are interested only in the smaller dies and most really are under 4.5″ then the Diamond Press is impressive. And yes my go to machine. If I were more casual with what I do or infrequent I would keep the DP. Kind of like as I age I might let go of the larger and electrics and eventually just cling on to one if not both of the DP’s. Hope this gives some deeper thoughts about what others might think about so many machines to choose from. PS I also bought an Empress last year. I forgot about that.

I have tried them all and the Marquis e is by far the best. Works especially with dies that have a lot of detail. Cuts it with one pass through. Was thinking about getting another one because we all know how things go away and don’t come back:(

does anyone know when will HSN be having a sale with a bundle on the diamond press marquise?
Thanks Joannie

I have been buying craft HSN products for 15 years and my opinion is that Diamond Press is the highest quality “hands down”. Their smaller manual machine and dies had everyone beat for ease, reliability and quality dies by a mile. Their new Marquise machine with the larger opening is even more powerful than their smaller machine and cuts that foam craft paper with ease and precision. I bought two Marquise machines just in case. The new kits they made with instructions last year and this year are fantastic. Their new alphabet kits allow 3 D personalization of my cards at the next level. I am such a FAN!!

I have the Marquis. I’m sure the CC Mini is a good machine but I purposely passed on it when it launched as a TS because I knew the Marquis was coming out with the larger opening. I am so glad I did! I absolutely love the Marquis! It’s a workhorse! It’s a well-built, sturdy machine and it cuts dies like butter, including the most intricate and dainty dies! I have the full size Gemini and I love it, but if a die will fit through the Marquis, no matter how detailed, I’ll run it through the Marquis instead of the Gemini. It’s my go-to machine. You can also use a piece of foam like an embossing mat in the folder and the Marquis will emboss the die beautifully! You can’t go wrong with either machine for portability but for me, the larger opening was the deciding factor! If you go to YouTube, there are a lot of people with reviews on both machines as well as using them for projects. That way you can see both in action! VianneyCreates is a great source on YouTube and she actually has both machines and she prefers the Marquis. Hope this helps.