Everything You Need to Know About Baguette Diamonds

Updated 03/31/20

Baguette diamonds stepped onto the scene in the 20th century as a modern and functional cut. Today, baguette diamonds have become a popular choice for three-stone engagement rings due to their shape and average carat size.

What Is a Baguette Diamond?

A baguette diamond is a step-cut diamond commonly used as a side stone or accent stone. Baguette diamonds are long and rectangular or tapered and feature 14 facets.

“You will usually find baguettes flanking a larger center diamond in a three-stone ring,” explains Olivia Landau, a GIA-certified gemologist and founder of The Clear Cut. “They are rarely used as a center stone for an engagement ring.” But that doesn’t make them any less desirable. They are less expensive than other cuts, so they make an excellent choice for someone on a budget, and their shape gives any ring a beautiful vintage look.

History of the Baguette Diamond

The baguette diamond was introduced during the 1920s Art Deco movement. “Reminiscent of the roaring ‘20s, the baguette diamond has a vintage nostalgia that is incredibly alluring,” Gemist founder and CEO Madeline Fraser tells Brides. “It was named for its elongated rectangular shape after a French baguette. It’s timeless in its classic beauty—a cut that will never go out of style.”

What to Look for in a Baguette Diamond

“Cut and clarity matter more when it comes to a baguette-cut diamond,” Fraser explains. “Baguette stones require fewer cuts than other cuts of diamonds. There are only 14 facets in a baguette-cut stone; this means that precision is important. With other stone cuts, you can get away with a lower clarity because many facets help to cover up imperfections.” If you choose a ring with baguette diamond side stones, you should make sure they match when laid side by side and that they don’t clash with the appearance of the center stone.

While baguette diamonds are often accents, that certainly doesn’t mean they can’t be the center stone. “To really show off the shape and look of the stone, the best setting is solitaire or solitaire pavé,” says Fraser. “With this setting, the baguette stone can be oriented north/south for a classic look or east/west for a more modern approach.”

If you do choose a baguette as your center stone, keep this in mind: “They are not as brilliant as other popular cuts such as a round cut or even emerald cut,” cautions Mason Roberts, founder of Ringagement. “And because they don’t sparkle as well, their inclusions and color flaws are more visible.”

Baguettes vs. Emeralds

You might look at a baguette and an emerald and see similarities. Although these are both rectangular, long step-cuts, there are differences between the two. “Emerald cuts have 50-58 facets while baguettes have 14 facets,” Landau explains. “Baguettes tend to be longer and skinnier than emerald cuts and lack the distinctive cut corners. Emerald cuts can also be found in larger carat weights and are popular center stones, while baguettes are usually smaller accent stones.”

How to Care for Your Baguette Diamond

You can take care of your baguette diamond the same way you would take care of any other diamond. Keep it clean with jewelry cleaner or soap and warm water, and choose a well-made setting. “Since baguettes have pointed corners, you want to make sure that when they are set, the corners are protected,” Landau adds.

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J.R. Dunn Baguette Ring

This classic 14k white gold band is made much less simple with the addition of nine small baguette diamonds. It’s simple but elegant, featuring a slightly more masculine look.

SHOP NOW: J.R. Dunn, $2,495

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Multi Baguette Diamond Frame Ring

This dazzling ring shows one way of giving a baguette ring more sparkle: add a whole bunch of them. It features five sets of trios of baguettes, each trio framed with tiny round diamonds.

SHOP NOW: Zales, $2,269

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Vintage Diamond Baguette Ring

This vintage-inspired ring features baguette diamonds alternating with small round diamonds for a uniquely beautiful look. The band is engraved with a floral design that makes the whole ring look extra delicate.

SHOP NOW: Brilliant Earth, $1,590

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Tapered Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring

This classic Blue Nile piece is a perfect example of how baguette diamonds are often used as accent pieces. Two tapered baguette diamonds accent a center diamond in your cut of choice in this timeless style.

SHOP NOW: Blue Nile, $1,210

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Fancy Baguette-Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

This completely unique setting features a center baguette stone along with two small square baguette stones on the side. With its surprising cut-out style, this one is bound to stand out on your finger.

SHOP NOW: Atelier Jewelers, $9,950

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Dahlia Diamond Cluster Ring

A cluster of baguette and round diamonds make up this Art Deco-inspired design. It’s part of the brand’s vintage collection and is a reproduction of an older design.

SHOP NOW: Natalie Marie Jewelry, $3,778

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Sines Diamond Ring

Featuring a different take on a band silhouette, this ring looks like a wave of alternating baguette rings. It gives off a more modern vibe.

SHOP NOW: Brilliant Earth, $1,990

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Classic Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring

Another take on a timeless style, this ring features a round center cut diamond accented by baguette diamonds on either side. The band is lined with smaller round diamonds to give it extra sparkle.

SHOP NOW: Mardo K, $1,325

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Adela Engagement Ring

Most emerald center cuts face north/south, but this one features a pleasing east/west design so it sits differently on your finger. The center diamond is flanked with east/west baguettes to complete the look.

SHOP NOW: Ashley Zhang Jewelry, $23,100

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Baguette Cut Single Diamond Wedding Band

Decidedly less sparkly and featuring a more modern design, the star of this Harry Winston band is the small baguette diamond directly in the center. It’s bezel set in a platinum band.

SHOP NOW: Harry Winston, $4,500

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Custom Pear Cut Angled Diamond Ring

A refreshingly different cluster ring, this one features a tapered baguette diamond accenting a center pear cut diamond. The straight baguette style is a surprisingly nice accent to the pear cut.

SHOP NOW: Bario Neal, $13,100

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Asscher Cut Gypsy Engagement Ring

For those who aren’t looking for a classic band, there’s this ring. Inspired by gypsy rings from the Victorian era, it features a wide band with a stunning Asscher-cut diamond flanked by two baguettes.

SHOP NOW: Ashley Zhang, $23,900

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V. Barboné Lance Baguette Band

This authentic vintage wedding band features a center baguette diamond, which can be hard to come by. There’s a tapered baguette on each side, followed by three small diamonds in a vintage platinum setting.

SHOP NOW: V. Barboné, $2,100

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Custom Trillion Diamond Ring

You don’t often see an engagement ring featuring a triangular setting, but this one shows that it works. A center trillion diamond is surrounded by four baguettes that form a triangular shape and are separated by small yellow sapphires.

SHOP NOW: Bario Neal, $7,390

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Henrietta Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring

Inspired by the Empire Era, this gorgeous ring is all about the baguette cut. It features five north/south baguette diamonds flanked by two east/west baguette diamonds for a truly unique silhouette.

SHOP NOW: Laura Preshong, $2,375