Articles
Do Engagement Rings Need to Have Diamonds?
by Whiteshark Media White Shark MediaWhen you think of an engagement ring, you probably picture a gold or silver band with at least one diamond. Some have several diamonds and some have a solitaire, but they all have diamonds, right?
Actually this is a fairly new fashion trend when compared to how long people have been giving engagement rings. In fact, statement style engagement rings don't have diamonds at all. Like so many of our customs today, engagement rings can be traced all the way back to Ancient Rome. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Roman women wore rings of ivory, flint, bone, copper, or iron. Gold rings were later found in the ruins of Pompeii, showing that as the trend became more popular people used it as a way to show wealth and opulence.
It wasn't until the year 850 AD that the engagement ring was given an official meaning. Pope Nicholas I declared at the time that the engagement ring represented a man's intent to marry a woman. By this time, gold had become the most popular material for betrothal rings.
The first time diamonds appeared on an engagement ring was in 1477. It was at this time that Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy. This incredible ring featured long and narrow diamonds mounted in the shape of an "M." That doesn't mean the diamond trend took off right away. In fact, diamond engagement rings didn't become popular until 1947. This was the year that De Beers launched an advertising campaign with the slogan, "A diamond is forever." As a British company that mined diamonds in South Africa, they had good reason to want people to buy diamond engagement rings over anything else. Their marketing campaign worked and diamond engagement rings skyrocketed in popularity. Statement engagement rings made or styled before this time period probably won't have a diamond, and a ring made after 1947 probably will.
Both engagement rings and wedding rings carry significant meaning. Choosing jewelry pieces that match your unique style allows you to own a ring you’ll want to wear for a lifetime. Beyond a band with diamonds, what other options do you have? More and more brides are opting for colored stones and rings made out of unique materials. How about a gorgeous sapphire, like Prince William gave to Kate Middleton? You can also opt for a large pearl, an opal, a ruby, or one of many other precious gemstones. In fact, you don't need a gemstone at all. If you work with your hands, like a surgeon who regularly wears gloves, you may want a simple band. It doesn't have to be plain; it could be beautifully engraved and decorated.
Engagement rings can be any ring. They don't have to be a diamond ring or even an expensive ring. Do you like statement engagement rings with more colorful stones? Do you like a band with engravings? It depends on your personal preference and if you want to use your engagement ring as a wedding band. That means you can wear an engagement ring with no wedding band, even after the ceremony.
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Created on May 24th 2021 05:58. Viewed 348 times.
