History of Engagement Rings

The question looms over what is correct: Did the diamond become a woman’s best friend naturally, or is it something that had been induced with the practice of giving the engagement ring? A debatable issue (though the fans of Marilyn Monroe would claim her to be the originator of the idea); however, pondering upon a few points may bring out an answer worthwhile enough to the question and a stroll down the memory lane is inevitable in this regard.

Engagement rings predate the discovery of diamonds. Quite normal for a trend that was started by the cavemen and cavewomen of yore, the practice was passed on to the ancient civilizations before the Archduke Maximillian of Hamburg introduced it to the European royal families in 1477. That way, Mary of Burgundy was the first one to receive the diamond betrothal ring. However, that’s a known piece of information; what we need to know are the accounts in between.

The ancient ages saw the Roman's naming the engagement ring as the betrothal ring; betrothal means the Truth. It is them who were the first to wear it on the third or the ring finger of the left hand and also the first to start inscribing or engraving the rings. A tradition that still survives was further reinforced by the Egyptian belief; the Egyptians used to believe that the vein from the ring finger goes straight to the heart. 

The Middle Ages witnessed the Gimmal or the bond ring; though quite different from the engagement ring design per se, these ones used to come studded with precious stones like sapphires, emeralds and rubies. However, they were not meant for the average plebian.  The European noble sect took it a flight above by introducing diamond to the existing array of gems; diamond, being the hardest and strongest mineral immediately was symbolized the unbending union of the genders in the wedlock. For the common people, however, it was the Fede or the faith ring that resembled two clasped hands and the modern claddagh engagement rings are based on this design. And with diamonds becoming more abundant in the 18th century AD, (thanks to the discovery of diamond mines in Brazil), the diamond-cluster engagement rings became a fashion statement among the wealthy class. The Kimberley Diamond district was discovered in South Africa a century later; following the law of economics, the prices fell to bring the diamonds within the reach of the common people; as of now, a diamond engagement ring can be afforded with the average salary that a person receives, and this is what that makes 78% of all engagement rings sold every year to be studded with diamond(s).