The History of Diamond Engagement Rings

Diamond is the most expensive and seems to be the most sought after gemstone in the world. They have unparalleled resistance and durability, and they are the hardest natural mineral known. Diamonds represent eternal love, purity, innocence and honesty between the couple. The root of word ''diamond'' is ancient Greek word ''agamas'' which means unconquerable and indestructible.

For thousands of years, diamonds symbolized wealth, power, love, spiritual and magical powers. The Greeks considered diamonds to be teardrops of the Gods and they believe that the fire in the diamond reflected the constant flame of love. The Romans believed that diamonds were fragments of tumbling stars.

The earliest record of giving a diamond engagement ring as a promise for marriage began in 1477 when Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond betrothal ring as a token of his love.

In 1518, Princess Mary, who was only two years old at the time, was given the smallest diamond engagement ring ever made by the proxy to the dauphin of France.

Diamonds were first mined around 6000 years ago, in India, but they became accessible to a wider public after the discovery of diamond mines on the African continent in 1870. This event increased demand and influencing design of diamonds.

After extensive marketing campaign by De Beers, the world renowned diamond merchant in the middle of the 20th century, diamonds engagement rings became the accepted norm as they are considered today. He made one of the most famous advertising slogans of all time: ''A Diamond is Forever''.

Diamonds are found in many different colors like red, purple, and pink etc but the most common ones are grayish yellow or yellowish grey in color that many people consider as transparent. Diamond engagement rings most commonly come in a variety of diamond shapes such as pear, round, princess, heart, marquis, and square. Each shape represents the brilliance of a diamond in a different way, and gives the individuality of the piece.

It is said that 78 percent of all engagement rings sold every year are diamond. The diamond continues to be an expression of love representing virtue and passion.

Today, the diamond engagement ring seems to be the most common and accepted piece of engagement ring due to its permanence, beauty, and expense.