Jewelry shopping can be intimidating. That’s why we started Ask Holden, our blog where we answer your FAQs, break down scary industry lingo, and guide you in finding the perfect piece of jewelry.
If you’ve looked at our diamond rings or have been researching diamond cuts, you may have noticed the term “baguette diamond.” The word baguette is typically associated with French baguettes, a crunchy and delicious bread. So why are we comparing a diamond ring to french bread? We promise we didn’t make up the name - baguette diamond rings have a long and storied history. Read on to learn more.
What is a baguette diamond?
One of more modern-looking diamond shapes, baguette cut diamonds are visually similar to their bready namesake - long and skinny. Baguettes, like asscher cuts and emerald cut diamonds, are part of the step cut family. Step cut diamonds are known for simple, straight, and defined cuts which are easy to see. There are only 14 facets in a baguette diamond, while a brilliant cut diamond might have 50 facets or more.
There are two main shapes of baguette diamonds: tapered and straight. Straight baguettes are rectangular shaped, while a tapered baguette diamond is wider on one end. Tapered baguettes are popular accent stones in traditional engagement rings. Our baguette eternity rings feature straight baguettes all the way (or halfway!) around the ring.
When were baguette diamonds invented?
The history of the baguette diamond (particularly its name) is a contested one. Baguette diamonds were officially invented in the 1920s as part of the Art Deco movement. Their clean geometric shapes were a major departure from round diamonds. They’ve been around for 100 years now, and their minimalist design makes them a timeless choice.
But jewelers may have actually drawn inspiration from Hogback diamonds, which date as far back as the 16th century. Hogbacks are elongated, table-cut diamonds often used for monogramming initials into jewelry designs. Not until the 20th century were baguettes given their unique name and the chance to shine on their own.
Some say that a baguette is named after the type of bread it resembles, but the name is actually up for debate. According to The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the baguette might actually be named for the French word for ring: bague. Baguette is the French diminutive for bague, so the word literally translates to little ring. All we are sure of: baguette rings are beautiful and baguette loaves are delicious.
Why choose a baguette diamond?
Because baguette diamonds have fewer facets, individual diamonds don’t sparkle in the same way as a brilliant cut diamond. But an eternity band with 25 or more 14-faceted baguette stones? That makes for 350 facets - at a minimum. That ring will be sparkly, we promise.
A baguette wedding band might also provide a nice contrast to an engagement ring featuring a brilliant cut center diamond. This subtlety is the same reason that baguette diamonds are a popular choice for engagement ring side stones. Of course, if baguette cuts aren't for you and you’d prefer a round brilliant cut eternity band, we make those as well. ;)
If you want to feature a baguette diamond in a different way, our Flush Baguette features a single center stone diamond with a higher carat weight.
After receiving requests for channel set eternity bands made with baguette diamonds, we released The Channel Baguette. Channel settings are a great way to show off your chosen metal - white gold matches the color of the diamond, while rose gold and yellow gold create a lovely contrast.
Shop The Channel BaguetteSo there you have it: a short history of a long diamond. If you have any questions (or custom ring ideas) about baguettes, feel free to reach out to us at help@hiholden.com. We’d love to put you in touch with one of our designers.
Questions? Give us a shout at help@hiholden.com or a ring (pun intended) at 646.722.6817.
