Back to tips

What Font Does Balmain Use?

Discover the font used by Balmain in their branding and design. Learn about its characteristics and why it fits the brand's aesthetic.

What Font Does BalmainUse?

Typography plays a crucial role in shaping a professional and modern brand identity. This article explores the font used by Balmain, examining how it contributes to the brand's visual appeal and consistency. We will look into the specific font choice and its impact on Balmain's overall image.

Balmain Logo

What Font Does Balmain Use?

Balmain uses the Smaragd font in their logo, a choice that underscores the brand's commitment to elegance and sophistication.

Smaragd is an all-caps titling face with hairline serifs, created in 1952. It is known for its geometric precision and refined lines. The font is available in a single weight, emphasizing its unique, minimalist design. The hairline serifs add a touch of delicacy, making it stand out in high-end branding.

The impression Smaragd creates is one of luxury and refinement, perfectly aligning with Balmain's image. Its clean, geometric shapes and elegant serifs contribute to a sophisticated look, enhancing the brand's visual appeal and consistency.

Sample Text in Balmain's Logo Font

The History and Evolution of Smaragd

Smaragd was created by Gudrun Zapf von Hesse for D. Stempel AG in 1952. This all-caps titling face with hairline serifs has remained largely unchanged since its inception, maintaining its elegant and refined design. The font's geometric precision and delicate serifs have made it a staple in high-end branding.

Today, Smaragd is prominently used in the Balmain logo, reflecting the brand's luxurious image. It is also favored for other high-end branding and design projects, particularly in logos, headings, and prominent text elements. While Balmain is the most notable user, the font's sophisticated appeal makes it a popular choice in various luxury contexts.

How to Use Smaragd In Your Projects?

To use Smaragd in your projects, follow these steps:

  1. Visit this page.
  2. Choose the appropriate format for your needs (e.g., OTF, TTF).
  3. Review the licensing terms on this page.
  4. After getting a license, download the font file to your computer.

The Smaragd font is available for purchase starting at $29.99 USD.

5 Fonts Similar to Smaragd

  • Optima: Optima is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by Hermann Zapf. It features clean lines and a modern look, available in multiple weights and styles. Like Smaragd, it is often used in luxury branding and high-end design projects.
  • Century Gothic: Century Gothic is a geometric sans-serif typeface with a sleek, minimalist design. It offers a range of weights and is commonly used in advertising and headlines. Its geometric shapes make it a close alternative to Smaragd.
  • Avenir: Avenir, designed by Adrian Frutiger, is a geometric sans-serif font known for its clean and modern appearance. Available in various weights, it is widely used in corporate branding and digital interfaces, similar to Smaragd's high-end appeal.
  • Frutiger: Frutiger is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by Adrian Frutiger. It features a clean, legible design with multiple weights and styles. Often used in signage and corporate branding, it shares Smaragd's refined and professional look.
  • Gill Sans: Gill Sans is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by Eric Gill. It offers a range of weights and styles, known for its versatility and readability. Commonly used in publishing and branding, it provides a sophisticated alternative to Smaragd.

Move from Design to Code Fast with Subframe

With Subframe, create page templates, UI snippets, and design components and export them directly to React or Tailwind. You can also take advantage of the large font library, including Smaragd and other typographies.

Build and create pixel-perfect UIs in no time. Start for free or explore templates.

Join thousands of happy builders.

Subframe lets you build stunning UI with beautifully crafted components and a drag-and-drop visual editor.