History Of Diamond Engagement Rings

The diamond engagement ring, as we know it today, is simply a modern form of a betrothal gift. These were common during marriage proposals as they showed the woman's family that the gentleman wishing to marry her had enough income to provide her with a comfortable lifestyle and home. Instead of a diamond engagement ring, however, most betrothal rings were much simpler. Records of betrothal rings date back to Ancient Roman times and did not show up in modern Western cultures until sometime during the 13th century. The first documented record of a diamond engagement ring being used dates back to 1477 when the Austrian Archduke Maximilian presented Mary of Burgundy a diamond engagement ring as a token of his love and commitment to marry.

Before the diamond engagement ring came onto the scene in 1477 and later become tradition around the 1800s, many other tokens were frequently given. Some cultures valued the gift of livestock, an unusual alternative to a diamond engagement ring, due to its ability to help produce food and income for the family once the daughter had married. Other cultures used wooden spoons in place of the diamond engagement ring that were hand crafted and tied on ribbons like a necklace. The potential groom would carve the spoon himself and have it delivered to his loved one. If she chose to wear the spoon in public, it was a sign that she had accepted his proposal, very similar to the fact that donning a diamond engagement ring in public shows that a woman has become engaged. Another popular stand in for the diamond engagement ring was a thimble. This was not only a practical gift, it could also be made to be very decorative and ornate, similar to the ways a diamond engagement ring is made. Many of these practices that involved items such as spoons and thimbles in place of a diamond engagement ring were also popular with cultures and groups with strong religious beliefs which often forbade them from wearing jewellery at all.

Once the custom of using a diamond engagement ring during a proposal took hold, the question of cost quickly arose. The biggest issue that potential suitors faced was how much they should be sending on a diamond engagement ring. The diamond engagement ring itself was still meant to show a woman that the many was financially stable and would be able to care for her once married. Too small a diamond engagement ring could demonstrate financial instability, while too large a diamond engagement ring, when one could be afforded, was often considered impractical.

Eventually, diamond retailers took notice of this dilemma and came up with a solution of their own. The DeBeers corporation created a diamond engagement ring marketing campaign that focused solely on the appropriate amount of money that should be spent on a diamond engagement ring. The method of calculating the budget for a diamond engagement ring was very simple and revolved solely around the man's salary. In essence, DeBeers stated that a gentleman should spend two to three times his monthly income on the purchase of the diamond engagement ring. This campaign not only helped solve the question of how much should be spent, it also seemed to work very well for the diamond engagement ring retailers, as it often encouraged men to spend more than they normally would have on a diamond engagement ring without any established guidelines.

The diamond engagement ring can also be displayed differently, depending on which culture the bride to be belongs to. In England and the United states, the diamond engagement ring is worn on the left hand ring finger. In ares such as the Ukraine and Poland, literally on the other hand, the diamond engagement ring is worn on the ring finger of the right hand. Customs in Germany, however, dictate the woman should wear her diamond engagement ring on her left hand during the engagement period, later moving the diamond engagement ring to her right hand once married. The ring finger of the left hand is often significant for the wearing of a diamond engagement ring since the vein in that finger is purported to connect directly to the woman's heart.

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