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Engagement Rings and Diamonds - Why Do We Use Diamonds for Engagement RingsAs soon as an engagement is announced, the inevitable first questions seem to concern diamond engagement rings "how big, what shape, style, size" are all crucial details. But what is it about beautiful diamond engagement rings that so captures the essence of romance and who put the diamond in to engagement rings in the first place? It is widely agreed that the custom of giving diamond engagement rings dates back to 1477 when Archduke Maximilian, an Austrian aristocrat, gave his fiancée, Mary of Burgundy, a diamond ring when he proposed to her.    Tradition in the Middle Ages offers a practical explanation for the giving of diamond engagement rings. Diamond is the hardest known natural substance and is therefore highly resilient and durable, much like any strong marriage. The giving of diamond engagement rings therefore became popular as a symbol of lifelong commitment. Cynics offer a less romantic explanation and attribute the tradition of giving diamond engagement rings to a clever marketing campaign dreamed up by diamond company De Beers in the 1940s. It was De Beers who first used the caption "A Diamond Is Forever". The glamour and sophistication of diamond engagement rings is then said to have been enhanced by the Hollywood stars of the day. More than fifty years later, Marilyn Monroe singing “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” continues to capture the romance of diamonds. Hollywood continues to showcase some of the most fabulous diamond engagement rings in history. One of the most famous diamond rings of all is the Taylor Burton diamond - a fabulous 69 carat pear shaped diamond given to Elizabeth Taylor by her then husband Richard Burton and sold for $5 million in 1978! Whatever the reason, whether it be Hollywood glamour, royal tradition or the physical qualities of diamonds there’s no denying that diamond engagement rings embody the essence of enduring romance. |
