The Popular Baguette Eternity Band

The baguette eternity band has a very special place in the jewelry industry. One look through the sleek and sophisticated baguette diamond, and you will flashback to the days of the Art Deco era, where clean lines and geometric forms characterized designs.  The unique cut reflects both that of the past and the present. Today’s re-imaged baguette diamond jewelry and bands are both ultra-contemporary and inimitably vintage. It is a diamond cut with the power of popularity – past, present, and future. In this article, we will cover all the important details you need to know about the popular baguette eternity band. Then we will show you some of our majestic baguette diamond bands at Diamonds By Raymond Lee and Raymond Lee Jewelers in Boca Raton.

What is a Baguette Diamond?

A baguette diamond is a svelte, elongated, rectangular-shaped diamond. They often have a 5-to-1 ratio of length to width. Baguettes are step-cut diamonds, so they have large straight facets arranged in parallel lines on all four sides. The arrangement of facets resembles that of steps, hence the name. Baguette diamonds only have 14 facets. This is much less than modern brilliant diamonds, which have over 50. Because of this, baguette diamonds are meant to show beautiful clarity and luster, whereas modern brilliant diamonds' cuts are brilliant, scintillating, and fire.

• Additional Details About Baguette Diamonds

Baguette diamonds are members of the Step Cut family. This family also comprises Asscher and Emerald Cuts. One prominent feature that distinguishes Step Cut diamonds is their straight and well-defined facets. With these facets, diamonds like Baguette diamonds get a distinct look different from Round Cut diamonds.  Although virtually all unisex Baguette diamonds are Step Cuts, yet, you may find some hybrid Brilliant Cut Baguette diamonds. When you have this type, you get additional facets. Hence, you also get a much more breathtaking radiance. That must be tempting! Meanwhile, keep in mind that a ring set with Brilliant-Cut Baguette diamonds will cost you more. That is because it does not only feature the Baguette itself. It also features a higher quality center stone that comes in to add that appeal. Maybe not too tempting then, if you’re on a tight budget. In all, a unisex baguette diamond is a step-cut diamond typically employed as an accent stone or side stone. These Baguette diamonds have extended figures with rectangular or tapered structures. They also feature a total of 14 facets. Olivia Landau, the founder of The Clear Cut and a geologist certified by GIA, has the following to say: “You usually find baguettes flanking a larger center diamond in a three-stone ring. They are rarely used as a center stone for an engagement ring.” But, understand that this doesn’t make these diamonds any less appealing. They are not as expensive as other diamond shapes. That makes them a terrific option for someone on a budget. Lastly, their shape bestows that lovely vintage appearance to any ring.

• The Baguette Diamond Chronicles

The baguette diamond became prominent during the Art Deco era, which started in France in the 1920s. It was named a “baguette” diamond because the elongated shape resembles a French baguette. So, even though the baguette diamond has a super contemporary appearance and it is trendy in the modern day, it has vintage nostalgia that is reminiscent of the roaring 20s. Edit  Madeline Fraser explains thus: “Reminiscent of the roaring ‘20s, the baguette diamond has a vintage nostalgia that is incredibly alluring. 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.” Baguette diamonds stormed the world of jewelry with a grand entrance in the 20th century. It came in as a contemporary and active cut. Presently baguette diamonds are now a distinguished option for three-stone engagement rings. This is thanks to their shape and typical carat size.

• Straight Baguette vs. Tapered Baguette

There are two main types of baguette diamonds, straight and tapered baguettes. Straight baguettes are perfectly rectangular, while tapered baguettes are narrower on one of the two ends, giving them a trapezoidal shape. Both straight baguettes and tapered baguettes are the best fit as accent diamonds, but it’s more common to see straight baguettes as a focal point, such as a (straight) baguette diamond eternity band.

More on Tapered Baguettes

A tapered baguette is a tiny, elongated diamond that sees the two long sides taper inward. This tapering then forms a long trapezoidal shape. More so, the word “baguette” is a French word for a long, narrow loaf of bread. Note that the tapered baguette is a set cut with the distinctive refinement of the emerald shape and not the glitter of brilliant cuts. Tapered baguettes, like other baguettes, are incredibly clear. Using tapered baguettes as match pairs mean they should be similar in quality, color, and clarity. In addition, they must match the stone they are accents for. In some three-stone pear-shaped and tapered baguette rings, they serve as accents to a center diamond.  Finally, the step-cut appearance is unforgiving in terms of clarity. Hence, little imperfections are much easier to notice compared to brilliant cuts with many more facets concealing inclusions.

Emerald vs. Baguette Diamonds

To the untrained eye, it is possible to confuse baguette diamonds with emerald cut diamonds as they have a similar appearance, being both step cuts. However, baguette diamonds have 14 facets, while emerald cut diamonds have 57 or 58 facets. Because of this, emerald cut diamonds have a lot more radiance than baguettes, and baguettes have a lot more clarity. There is also a difference in structure. Emerald cut diamonds can be square. However, they can also be elongated like baguette diamonds (although baguettes are typically more narrow and longer). But, a constant differentiation is baguettes have square corners, whereas emerald cuts have diagonal corners. Finally, it’s a lot more common to see larger emerald cut diamonds because they are more commonly centerpieces for rings. Generally, baguettes serve as accent diamonds, such as side stones or diamond settings in watches. That said, due to the resurgence in popularity of baguettes, it is not so uncommon to see larger baguettes being used as centerpieces these days.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baguette Eternity Bands

• Are Baguette Eternity Bands in Style?

The baguette eternity band features a classic diamond cut that will never go out of style. In recent years, it has taken both the bridal and aftermarket diamond watch world by storm. It is easily one of the most popular looks in jewelry. You will see baguettes everywhere.  The great thing about buying baguette jewelry or baguette-set diamond watches is that you can be confident of its “slaying” power. Since the birth of the baguette, it has remained in fashion. After all, it comes from arguably the most revered classic jewelry era, the Art Deco era. Now, the real question is, “why are they so popular?” Baguettes complement other diamond shapes and jewelry in an almost majestic way. Side by side with brilliant diamonds, the contrast of luster and clarity with brilliance and fire is stunning. If you have a baguette diamond band, you can confidently wear it with anything in your jewelry box, especially your engagement ring. Another great thing about baguettes is they are so unique. It is not your typical diamond. It has that flat crystal clear ice look, not the frosty flare of modern brilliants. You can see through the baguette it appears like a diamond in a more raw form. Moreover, it’s subtly beautiful. It has a certain elegance and sophistication that only baguettes can produce. Something that will forever remind us of the Art Deco days, which was the epitome of graceful taste. You can’t go wrong with baguette diamond jewelry, baguette diamond bands, or baguette diamond watches. It will never fade from popularity. A quality piece is an heirloom in the waiting.

• Do Baguette Eternity Bands Sparkle?

Baguette eternity bands do not sparkle much. Modern brilliants are cut for fire. Baguettes' cut plays up its clarity and luster. That said, they have a special kind of “shine” that is equally appealing in their own right.  They produce what is known as a hall-of-mirrors effect, which is a larger, colorful reflection and flashes of light. These flashes of light complement the dark planes of each step. Overall, baguette diamonds are so often used as accent stones because they compliment and contrast modern brilliant diamond centerpieces beautifully.  However, contemporary fashion has taken a more subtle, understated approach. This is why baguette diamond bands are mostly the featured diamond element in jewelry, rings, and watches.

• What Should You Look for in a Baguette Diamond Band?

As baguette diamond bands are not the best as regards brilliance, the main thing to pay attention to are color and clarity. Brilliant cuts will appear whiter than a baguette with the same color grade, so you need to go for a higher color grade with baguettes. The same thing applies to inclusions.  Since baguette diamond bands have larger facets than modern brilliants, they will show inclusions easier. This is why you want to focus on a higher clarity grade too. That said, you don’t need the highest color or clarity grade. The highest grades are perfect under a 10x magnification. If you want to get the best bang for your buck, you simply need a grade that is perfect to the naked eye.  When shopping for your baguette diamond band, if the lighting is not bright, ask the jeweler to turn up the lights or shine some light on the piece. Have a look with your naked eye, and see how it looks. If it looks great under a bright light with your naked eye, you are good to go. Additionally, you need to see the paperwork. Ask for a GIA certification if the baguette diamonds are sizable. You want to see what GIA grades them as, if possible.

• Which Precious Metals Work Best for Baguette Diamond Bands?

Baguette diamond bands will almost always look best in white metal. So, platinum or white gold. This is because you want to express what the diamond cut's major features are, clarity and flawlessness. With yellow or rose gold, the color of the metal will show up in the baguette diamonds particularly strongly, which is not ideal. It can work, of course, but if you want a classic, glassy look, white gold or platinum is the way to go. In any case, this comes down to personal preference, so choose what catches your eye. Nevertheless, you won’t find too many diamond baguette bands with colorful metal. You will, however, see diamond-flooded luxury watches of rose gold or yellow gold with baguettes. It seems to work a lot better with timepieces.

• How Are Baguette Eternity Bands Priced?

It depends on the grade of the baguette diamond. Prices vary greatly, just like any other diamond cut. However, generally speaking, small loose baguettes are not as expensive as other diamond cuts because they are often lower quality, being that they are best as accent placement.  That said, for high-grade baguette diamonds, the price is on par with other common cuts, if not more. They can cost higher because high-grade sizable baguettes are rare.

Baguette Diamond Band Maintenance 

There is no difference in how you take care of your baguette diamond from how you would take care of any other diamond type. Keep it clean using a jewelry cleaner or soap and warm water. Pay attention to choosing a well-made setting. Landau also adds, “Since baguettes have pointed corners, you want to make sure that when they get set, the corners are protected.”

Conclusion

Baguette diamonds are perfect fits for eternity bands. Combine a row of straight Baguette diamonds with a channel set, and you have a ring with a clean and grand appearance. With Baguette diamonds, you also keep the cost as low as possible.  That is better in comparison to matching the ring by using high-quality, brilliant cuts. In the end, they will all be mostly hidden.