What You Need to Know Before Buying a Baguette Diamond Necklace

Baguette diamonds typically aren’t the “star of the show”. In rings, they’re mostly used as side accent stones, and fulfill this function wonderfully. Their “stepped” appearance makes them perfect for necklaces, though, creating an effect that’s reminiscent of a hall of mirrors. Before you buy a baguette diamond necklace, here’s what you need to know:

What are baguette diamonds?

While not as well-known as other diamond shapes such as round-cut or princess-cut diamonds, baguette diamonds can still be an excellent choice for those in the market for something a little more unique, but no less elegant.

Contrary to popular belief, they aren’t actually named after the French bread. The word baguette in French translates to “rod” or “stick”. Baguette cut diamonds are named thusly for their elongated and rectangular shape, which give them a sleek and modern appearance that makes them stand out from other diamond shapes.

They belong to a group of diamond cuts called step cut diamonds, a type of diamond cut that features long, narrow facets that run parallel to the girdle of the diamond. These facets are arranged in a series of steps, creating a geometric pattern that gives these diamonds their thoroughly contemporary appearance.

Other types of step cut diamonds include emerald-cut diamonds and Asscher-cut diamonds. Unlike other diamond cuts that feature many small, intricate facets, the step cut has fewer, larger facets that create broad flashes of light rather than intense sparkle. This gives step cut diamonds such as baguette diamonds a subtle, sophisticated shine that is prized by many.

Baguette diamonds, in particular, are highly valued for their straight, clean lines and long table-like surfaces. This creates the “hall of mirrors” effect that offers superior flash.

What is the difference between a baguette diamond and an emerald cut diamond?

Baguette diamonds and emerald-cut diamonds are both step cut diamonds, which means that they have long, narrow facets arranged in a series of steps. However, there are some key differences between these two diamond cuts.

Shape and Proportions

The most noticeable difference between baguette diamonds and emerald-cut diamonds is their shape. Baguette diamonds are typically long and narrow, with straight sides and pointed ends. They are often used as accent stones in jewelry designs, such as in halo settings or to create a tapered effect.

Emerald-cut diamonds, on the other hand, have a rectangular shape with cropped corners. They have a larger table (the flat top facet) that showcases the diamond's clarity and color, and their length-to-width ratio is typically around 1.5:1.

Brilliance and Sparkle

Another important difference between baguette diamonds and emerald-cut diamonds is their brilliance and sparkle. Because baguette diamonds have fewer facets than emerald-cut diamonds, they tend to have less sparkle and fire. Instead, they have a subtle, understated shine that makes them ideal for necklaces, bracelets, and eternity bands.

Emerald-cut diamonds, on the other hand, have a unique sparkle that is characterized by broad flashes of light and dark areas. This is due to their long, narrow facets, which create a pattern of alternating light and dark areas as the diamond moves.

Uses in Jewelry Design

Because of their different shapes and proportions, baguette diamonds and emerald cut diamonds are often used in different ways in jewelry design. Baguette diamonds are often used as accent stones, either in a row or to create a tapered effect. They are also commonly used in channel settings, where they are set next to each other to create a continuous line of diamonds.

Emerald-cut diamonds, on the other hand, are often used as center stones in engagement rings and other jewelry designs. Their rectangular shape and larger table make them ideal for showcasing a diamond's clarity and color, and they pair well with other diamond shapes such as round or pear.

Purchase your first baguette diamond necklace from Suzanne Kalan

Here at Suzanne Kalan, we celebrate the baguette diamond by featuring it extensively in many of our tennis necklace designs.

Our Bold Burst diamond tennis necklace is one of our best-selling baguette diamond necklaces. In this piece, the baguette diamonds are arranged in Suzanne’s classic “Fireworks” design, and are accented with round white diamonds that are uniquely placed around the necklace. It’s a modern twist on how baguette diamonds are traditionally used, making for a necklace that looks like it’s bursting with diamonds. The Bold Burst features 10.02 carats of both round and baguette-cut white diamonds and is available in 18K white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold.

For those looking for a subtler and more understated baguette diamond necklace, we have the Linear Full diamond tennis necklaces. This is a handcrafted piece that can be made out of 18K yellow, rose, or white gold, and features 4.10 carats of baguette diamonds. It’s one of the most fluid pieces in our collection, hanging beautifully around the neck in an almost liquid-like way.