The Origins of Diamond Engagement Rings

Diamond engagement rings have become an everyday staple in contemporary fashion, with most women owning at least one piece of jewellery containing the sparkling stone. If not already possessed, it is one of the most sought after stones in any shape or form. Following a hugely successful advertising campaign throughout the nineteen forties and fifties, this precious stone overtook popular gemstones, such as rubies and sapphires, and became the ultimate icon of wealth and beauty. Considering it’s such a household article, how much do we actually know about its origins?

Ancient Origins

Originally discovered in India, there were many uses for the beautiful diamond; engagement rings were not one of them, however. Originally, the stone was valued mostly for its strength. It was used in tools so that other materials could be cut without damaging the tool itself. It is still common for saws and other cutting tools to have diamond gilded edges to ensure maximum strength. The stone was also worn as a talisman to warn off malevolent spirits and bring protection on the battlefield. Diamonds were even used in medicine during the Dark Ages in the belief that consuming them would cure various ailments.

There’s a First Time for Everything

The trend of diamond engagement rings was first established by Archduke Maximilian of Austria. The year 1477 saw the first ever bespoke commission for the sparkling stone. As none of the major mines had yet been found, this commission was an extremely rare and expensive request. The purchase was costly, but it initiated the first ever infatuation of the stone set within a ring. However, this trend was followed only by the elite and supremely rich, and even then the stone was said to cost more than most were willing to pay.

Discovery

In the late 1800s, the first mines of the precious stone were found. These were quickly exhausted and led to discoveries of further mines found within volcanic rock. The early 1900s saw a wave of popularity of diamond engagement rings with over two tons of the stones mined within forty years. Advertising campaigns persuaded middle-class families to purchase the ultimate symbol of wealth, prosperity and romantic love. The strength and durability of the stone became representative of ever-lasting marriage and faithfulness, a message which the majority of couples found irresistible.

Even with more and more innovative young jewellery designers moving into the mainstream market, diamonds are still one of the most popular precious stones to use in engagement rings.

Frederick Holm writes for the F&L Designer Guides, which hosts a thriving community of independent engagement ring designers in the UK. Inspired by their search for distinctive, one-of-a-kind diamond engagement rings, F&L now celebrates the works of their favourite designers and helps promote the notion of "Go Bespoke" as a more imaginative and interesting alternative to the limitations of High Street shopping.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.