Last Updated on August 5, 2022
Beautiful and unique, baguette and emerald cut diamonds are two popular step-cut diamonds.
But while the two diamond cuts may appear similar to the untrained eye, there are a few fundamental differences between a baguette and emerald cut diamond.
Here’s a look at what separates a baguette cut diamond from an emerald cut diamond and which is right for you.
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Baguette Cut Diamonds
Baguette cut diamonds are long, rectangular diamonds with four pointed or tapered edges. Baguette cut diamonds are step-cut and narrow toward the center of the ring.
Baguette cut diamonds are typically smaller in size than other cuts of diamonds and are a popular choice for accent stones.
Emerald Cut Diamonds
Emerald cut diamonds are octagonal in shape and have four sides of equal length, as well as four rounded corners. Emerald cut diamonds are step-cut and deliver a unique “hall of mirrors” effect.
Emerald cut diamonds range in size and are much larger than baguette cut diamonds, making emerald cut diamonds a popular center stone choice.
Baguette And Emerald Cut Diamonds: What’s The Difference?
Baguette and emerald cut diamonds are styles of step-cut diamonds that feature long edges and a distinctive elongated shape.
The fundamental differences between the two include:
Fire
Fire, also known as sparkle, is an important factor when choosing a diamond.
Baguette cut diamonds produce less fire than emerald cut diamonds. This is due to the limited number of facets, which are responsible for refracting light and creating sparkle.
Because baguette cut diamonds only have 14 facets, the fire of the diamond will be minimal. However, what baguette cut diamonds lack in fire they make up for in clarity and luster.
Emerald cut diamonds on the other hand deliver more fire. This is because emerald cut diamonds have 57 facets that radiate from the center toward the edge of the stone, refracting more light and increasing sparkle.
Popularity
While baguette and emerald cut diamonds may appear similar to the untrained eye, the two differ in overall popularity.
Baguette cut diamonds are one of the most popular cuts of diamonds for accent stones and are often used in eternity rings.
Because few jewelers stock loose baguette cut diamonds, it is uncommon to see baguette cut diamonds used as a center stone.
Emerald cuts are considered the fifth most popular cut of diamond and are used for up to 3% of all center stones in engagement rings.
Quality
Baguette cut diamonds are typically used as accent stones and generally have a lower overall quality than other cuts of diamonds.
Emerald cut diamonds are typically higher quality than baguette cut diamonds and are used more often as center stones in engagement rings.
Inclusions
Inclusions, also known as flaws, are common in both baguette and emerald cut diamonds due to large facets and the distinctive shape of the stones.
For both baguette and emerald cut diamonds, it’s recommended to select stones with a minimum clarity of VS1 to reduce the risk of visible inclusions.
Because of the large facets in emerald cut diamonds, reduced clarity and yellow tinting may be visible in emerald cut diamonds graded J or below in clarity.
Baguette and emerald cut diamonds of higher clarity will have less risk of displaying a yellow tint often seen with baguette and emerald cut diamonds of lower quality.
Durability
Baguette cut diamonds are rectangular in shape and typically have four pointed edges. Because the edges of baguette cut diamonds are sharp, they may snag on clothing or other items.
Emerald cut diamonds have rounded edges and are less prone to snagging on clothing or other items. Emerald cut diamonds are also less likely to chip compared to other cuts of diamonds.
Inclusions can also reduce the durability of an emerald cut diamond.
It is also recommended to pair emerald cut diamonds with appropriate setting styles to increase durability.
Price
When it comes to price, baguette diamonds are much more affordable than emerald cut diamonds. This is because the overall quality of a baguette cut diamond is lower than that of an emerald cut diamond.
While baguette cut diamonds are typically more affordable than most cuts of diamonds, the price is highly dependent upon the 4 C’s: color, cut, clarity, and carat.
Emerald diamonds are much more likely to be more expensive than baguette cut diamonds. This is because emerald cut diamonds are available in larger carat sizes and are considered more desirable as a center stone than baguette cut diamonds.