Baguette cut gemstones are synonymous with the Art Deco movement. Indeed, that was when this type of rectangular cut became especially popular during this period – the 1910s through to the 1930’s.
According to the Gem Institute of America (GIA), this type of cut is thought to have been based on the 16th century “hogback”, an elongated table cut. Cartier reintroduced this cut in 1912 and renamed it “baguette”. Some people think that the name comes from the long French bread loaf. But the word “bague” means ring in French. So perhaps, baguette is the diminutive word for little ring. No one knows for sure.
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