The Origins And Significance Of Engagement Rings The Symbolic Importance Of The Engagement Ring

Engagement rings have a long history and usually signify a couple’s commitment of love.

An Austrian, Archduke Maximilian got a ring studded with diamonds for his beloved Mary of Burgundy in 14th century. The couple got married within a day of engagement and this the first recorded account of the engagement ring.

However, with continual historic discoveries being made, it seems that the symbolism of the engagement ring dates back even further than the 15th century; this story holds its title simply because of the incorporation of the diamond. The ancient Roman men gave rings to their lovers which they called betrothal (truth) rings, and they later began to inscribe or engrave the rings with their lover’s name.

This tradition was not established without thought to just the symbolic meaning. The Egyptians believed that the vein in the ring finger leads straight to the heart, so by attaching the beloved’s name or symbolic gesture to it, he or she was forever connected to the heart.

The idea of diamond being used for engagement and for symbolizing blessed union started from the Middle ages. The diamond is the strongest and hardest mineral known and it can resist fire and steel too. Thus it is a perfect symbol to indicate the unbreakable bond between a married man and woman. Although, during this time period, only those people with wealth and power could afford to show their love in such a grand way.

Moving forward to the nineteenth century, diamonds were more easily accessible to the average person. Many markets were filled with too many diamonds after the Kimberley diamond region in South Africa was discovered. Many people started to select engagement rings with birth stones instead of diamonds, because they perceived them to be rarer. Those who were rich exchanged diamond engagement rings for those with other gems such as sapphires, emeralds, and rubies with diamond accents, thus opening the diamond door for the general public.

Hollywood’s glamour influenced the 20th Century public into a renewed desire for diamonds. Marilyn Monroe’s song “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” partly contributed to this comeback.

Historically, engagement rings have been made up of more than just diamonds. While diamond engagement rings have gone in and out of fashion, one thing that has not changed is that there will always be a strong demand for engagement rings with some kind of stone. Every young girl has dreams of being swept off her feet by a handsome prince. With a diamond engagement ring on her finger, she will feel like a real princess. Today, the diamond symbolizes wealth and fashion and the ring is a symbol of the relationship.

Richard Keys writes about jewellery and fashion accessories. To compare a wide range of engagement rings on the web have a look at DiamondGeezer