The History of Engagement Rings

 

The tradition of engagement rings dates back to prehistory. Although nobody knows exactly when it first took hold, we do know that the ancient Romans used iron bands to symbolize betrothal. Before them, the ancient Greeks may have been the ones to establish that the engagement ring should be worn on the “ring finger” of the left hand, because of the vein they believed ran to the tip of this finger directly from the heart.

 

In the ninth century, Pope Nicholas I declared that all men wishing to marry must present their future brides with a gold ring, symbolizing their financial ability to support a wife and family. Later, in 1215, Pope Innocent III declared a mandatory waiting period between betrothal and marriage. The rings could be iron or silver as well as gold, and engagement rings were then used to symbolize betrothal during the waiting period. Diamond engagement rings were not the tradition at the time, however.

 

The earliest engagement rings were commonly made of iron, silver, or gold in a plain band, depending on what the family could afford. Gemstones were the province of the aristocracy. During the earliest times, only the privilege classes were allowed by law to have engagement rings that featured various gemstones. This allowed an engagement ring to serve as a class indicator, allowing anyone to know a woman’s social rank at a glance.

 

Before the fifteenth century, clusters of gems were grouped together on a ring to symbolize the birthstones of the parents as well as the bride and groom. In some rings, the gem setting could be removed to reveal a compartment where the bride could keep a lock of her beloved’s hair.

 

The first recorded diamond engagement ring was given by Archduke Maximillian of Austria to his fiancée, Mary of Normandy, in 1477. At that time, diamonds were believed to have magical properties that encouraged love and fidelity. However, diamonds were still too rare and expensive to become common on engagement rings for some time.

 

During the 19^th century, large diamond deposits were discovered in Africa. Their sudden abundance made them more affordable and easily available to the general public. Even then, however, diamonds were not the dominant gems in engagement rings. Victorian tradition favored multiple-gemstone rings in which the initials of each gemstone would spell out a sentimental word, such as “Dearest” or “Regards.”

 

However, the abundant diamonds from Africa did flood the market—and led to the creation of the De Beers conglomerate. Still, diamond rings weren’t selling well in America, especially during the mid nineteenth century. Caught between the Depression and the start of World War II, American consumers simply weren’t spending a lot of money on diamond rings. 

 

De Beers developed an advertising campaign to increase the public taste for diamond engagement rings: “A Diamond is Forever.” They began aggressively marketing diamonds as the ideal gemstone for an engagement ring, the perfect symbol for a storybook love affair. They even invented the convention of two months’ salary as an appropriate price for a ring. 

 

Today, diamond engagement rings are practically a must-have if you want to symbolize your love and lasting commitment to a woman. And what better stone is there for the purpose? Diamond is the hardest natural material on earth, and many diamonds are billions of years old. With their tough makeup and longevity, they’re the perfect symbol of undying love. Buy one with your sweetheart, or create your own diamond engagement ring today—and get started building a union that lasts.