Baguette Diamonds vs Emerald Cut Diamonds Guide

Emerald Cut and Baguette Step Cut Diamonds

A Baguette diamond is a slim, rectangular-shaped diamond with an elongated profile and right-angled corners.

In contrast, Emerald cuts feature polished corners. Both styles present a terraced arrangement of facets. In fact, far simpler than the popular brilliant style of faceting.

Our diagrams show both cuts with Baguette (left) and Emerald cut (right). Depending on your own situation, we’ve summarised baguette vs emerald cut with added photography to show both diamond shapes.

Baguette Diamond - Emerald Cut Diamond. Facet diagrams.

Baguette-cut (left) and Emerald-cut (right) facet diagrams.

Baguette and Emerald cut diamonds look very similar. In fact, both diamond styles feature simple step-cut facets. Similarly, both possess a rectangular shape.

Baguette-cut diamond or Emerald cut – Which would you choose?

Both cuts offer a more subtle choice compared to brilliant cuts. Both Emerald cuts and Baguette cuts offer flashes of light and plenty of fire.

Regarding shape, Baguettes have pointed corners. In contrast, Emerald cuts have wedge-shaped polished corners. Typically, emerald-shaped diamonds exist in larger sizes.

Origin of the name ‘Baguette.’

In French, the word Baguette translates into “rod” or “stick.” However, another interpretation comes from Randle Cotgrave’s 1673 French and English Dictionary. In this edition, a meaning of “a little jewel appears.” In fact, the French word “bague,” meant “jewel” at the time and today, “ring.”

What is the difference between an emerald cut engagement ring and an Emerald engagement ring?

Take care when referring to Emerald engagement rings. Don’t mistake an Emerald ring for an Emerald cut engagement ring. Here we refer to Emerald cut and not green Emerald gemstones used for Emerald rings.

Are Emerald cut diamonds more popular?

Yes. Absolutely. They are more popular than Baguettes. Moreover, more demand exists for Emerald shapes. For example, from a Worldwide stock, we found 137 x 1-carat baguette-cut diamonds available.

By comparison, 8223 x 1-carat emerald cuts appeared in our searches.

Do Baguette diamonds sparkle?

Baguette-cut diamonds do not sparkle in the same way as a brilliant-cut diamond. Just like Emeralds, the Baguette produces subtle flashes of light with more fire than brilliance. Remember, fire, brilliance and scintillation carry different meanings.

Availability of baguette-cut diamonds

Availability makes a huge difference. The Emerald cut comes in most carat weights. Also, choose any diamond colour and clarity grade.

Most jewellers sell rings with baguette shoulders. Together with wedding and eternity rings, small sizes make ideal diamonds.

Small baguette cut diamonds alternate with round diamonds in this diamond eternity ring

Small baguettes alternating with round diamonds in a channel setting

Availability of emerald-cut vs. Baguette-cut diamonds

Emerald-cut diamonds are easier to source in larger sizes. In contrast, large Baguettes are hard to find. Matched pairs of baguettes suit the shoulders of many engagement rings.

Emerald Cut and Baguette Cut Engagement rings

Baguette-Cut Engagement Rings (left) and Emerald-Cut ring designs (right)

Buying a Baguette diamond or an Emerald step-cut diamond.

What do you look out for when buying both diamond shapes? There are two important details to consider. Firstly, the proportions of the diamond. Secondly, the clarity of the stone.

Diamond proportions

First of all, proportions are very important. Find a balance between length-to-width ratios.

Choose a length 1.5 – 1.75 times the width. At the same time, look for a nicely proportioned diamond. Thin Baguette stones rarely suit solitaire engagement rings.

How many facets do Baguette diamonds have?

The number of diamonds on a baguette cut varies depending on the size of the diamond. Including the table facet, most baguettes have 25 facets.

The large diamond in our video has 33 facets. 13 facets on the crown including the table. At the same time, 20 facets on the pavilion.

Interestingly, many sources make note of 14 facets. But, even smaller baguettes have an uneven number of facets including the table facet.

Diamond clarity

Next, consider the clarity. Choose VS1 clarity or above for your step-cut diamond. Below this clarity grade, inclusions become visible. In contrast, brilliant-cut diamonds disguise small inclusions.

To explain, small inclusions appear more visible within a step-cut diamond. For this reason, VS1 clarity ensures inclusions remain invisible to the eye.

Few buyers enjoy a diamond with noticeable inclusions. If, however, your budget allows a greater leap, opt for VVS diamond clarity for a Baguette or Emerald cut.

Types of Baguette cut and Emerald cut diamond jewellery

The following are some of the types of jewellery set with a baguette. Interestingly, baguette cuts are more suited to smaller diamonds—cut for eternity rings and diamond shoulders.

Baguette cut diamond engagement ring with central Aquamarine

Aquamarine edged by smaller baguette-cut diamonds.

Types of Baguette diamond ring

One of our most popular types of baguette diamond ring features a solitaire baguette set into a chamfered bezel setting. We source each baguette on an individual basis.

Modern baguette diamond solitaire ring

Modern Baguette solitaire ring ‘Brook’ design. 

Art Deco and the Baguette cut diamond

Art Deco jewellery takes inspiration from the 1920s and 1930s styling. Popular motifs and geometric shapes feature strongly. For example, we create the Deco design with a fan-shaped pattern on the ring.

This popular ring design uses small baguette-cut diamonds on either side of a Square or princess-cut diamond. In addition to Baguettes and Art Deco motifs, some designs feature beadwork, also called Milgrain.

Art Deco Baguette Cut Engagement Ring

What are tapered Baguette diamonds?

Tapered baguette diamonds often feature in rings as accent stones. They differ from straight baguette cuts.

One end narrows or tapers towards the opposite end. For this reason, the term ‘Tapered baguette’ applies to any such diamonds.

We typically measure baguette-cut diamonds by length x width. Tapered baguettes feature a length and two widths. For example, we stock 4 x 2mm baguettes, whereas we stock 4 x 2 x 1.5mm tapered baguettes.

Tapered baguette diamonds work very well as side stones on either side of an Emerald diamond. Used as a centre stone, an Emerald matches perfectly. Other suitable cuts include Trapezoids.

Other uses include matching sets added to Ballerina rings. Ballerina rings are cluster ring designs modelled on the shape of a ballerina’s tutu. A fan-shaped arrangement of straight or tapered baguette diamonds encircles a centre stone with the grace, harmony and styling of a Ballerina in motion.

Baguette vs Tapered Baguette

The video and images below compare a Baguette cut with a Tapered Baguette diamond. Both types appear in diamond shoulders. Interestingly, tapers, as we sometimes call them, rarely appear in large sizes. Instead, they make popular side-stones used in trilogy engagement rings.

Large Tapered Baguettes demand very high prices, especially in pairs. Tapered baguettes are almost always cut into pairs, specified as a total weight for the pair.

Total weight of Baguette and Tapered Baguette Diamonds

Two examples of the total weights compared can be seen below.

4 x 2mm baguette-cut diamonds – approx. 0.25cts total diamond weight

4 x 2 x 1.5mm baguette-cut diamonds – approx 0.18cts total diamond weight. 

Tapered baguette vs baguette cut diamond compared

Emerald cut diamond engagement rings

Emerald diamond engagement rings come as solitaire designs—set with one diamond. Alternatively, trilogy rings feature an arrangement of three diamonds.

Finally, Halo engagement rings make popular engagement rings. The central Emerald cut is surrounded by smaller diamonds. You can view Emerald cut halo rings online in various designs.

Kiera is a very popular diamond halo ring design. In detail, this photograph shows a 1-carat main diamond.

Emerald diamond pendants

Emerald cuts look amazing set into diamond pendants. In fact, diamond accents enhance the look of an Emerald cut diamond.

Emerald cut diamond pendant with a 1 carat Emerald and diamond loop

Baguette cuts in diamond eternity rings

Baguette-cut stones often feature within diamond eternity rings. For example, one of our latest fusion diamond rings splits into two identical rings. The Cleopatra ring design has a stepped arrangement fitting together as one ring.

Cleopatra diamond stacking rings

Emerald cut eternity rings

Emerald cuts do not exist in tiny sizes. For this reason, smaller wedding rings feature Baguette diamonds. For this reason, most Emerald cut diamond eternity rings feature slightly bigger diamonds. Our example below shows a half eternity ring set with 5 x Emerald cut diamonds, claw set into the ring.

Emerald cut half diamond eternity ring

Bespoke Emerald-cut half eternity ring set with 5 x matching Emerald cut diamonds. 

Baguette wedding bands

Baguette diamond suit channel and bar settings.

But, remember ring sizing can be very tricky when it comes to eternity rings and wedding rings.

The photograph provides an idea of the appearance of White Gold or Platinum.

Baguette wedding bands

About Mark Johnson

My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. By day you'll find me working in our showroom—in a variety of roles. My work (which I love) ranges from photographing jewellery, to writing blog posts and helping clients with my colleagues Drina, Emily and Debbie.

About Mark Johnson

My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. By day you'll find me working in our showroom—in a variety of roles. My work (which I love) ranges from photographing jewellery, to writing blog posts and helping clients with my colleagues Drina, Emily and Debbie.