Are diamond engagement rings really the best choice of ring?

• A diamond is forever’ is a well-known phrase that all of us know. We’ve all got that friend who got a diamond from her boyfriend at Christmas that made us believe he must be truly in love with her. But where did this tradition come from? Can love really only be represented by a diamond? Do diamond engagement rings outshine the rest because people who wear them have greater love and respect for one another? Surely not.

So why have diamond engagement rings become so popular?

A diamond is a natural stone. It is beautiful, sparkling and impressive to the human eye. But, like love, it has tiny imperfections that make it real. Perhaps this is why people have come to like its appearance in engagement and eternity rings.

Of course, the monetary value of diamonds shows a level of commitment in a relationship. A man isn’t going to buy a diamond for just any girl. But should it really be that men have to prove their love for us by buying diamond engagement rings? We should know when our boyfriends love us by the way our relationship is. A diamond shouldn’t really change anything.

They’re pretty. A diamond sparkles like no other gemstone. That said, sapphires are lovely, too, and come in a variety of colours. Perhaps a less common gemstone like tanzanite or opal could represent a marriage just as well as a diamond. It might not represent as much of a hefty price tag, but a tanzanite ring could be just as wonderful and impressive as one of the many diamond engagement rings.

That said, diamonds are precious and just because you choose this gemstone for your ring does not mean you are trying to prove love or success. If any item in your jewellery box is going to be a diamond, then why not your engagement ring? It will be worn every day and will be, no doubt, one of the most important pieces of jewellery you own.

Also, the strong durability of diamonds means that they are a practical gemstone. They are not prone to too much wear and tear. That said, it is important to consider the 4 Cs before you buy a diamond. Cut. Clarity. Carat. Colour. There is a lot of advice about buying diamonds which means that you can be confident when choosing one of the many diamond engagement rings.

Ultimately, diamond engagement rings are not necessarily the only gemstones that represent eternal love and commitment. The marketing slogan ‘A diamond is forever’ (as great and successful as it is) should not define the engagement ring that represents the best relationship. Like our relationships themselves, an engagement ring should be unique, personal and loved for what it is, whether that is an 18 carat diamond or a dress ring from a foreign market. Romance isn’t in the gemstone, after all; it’s all about the happiness of you and your groom-to-be.

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 journey of discovery in search of 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.