The History of the Diamond Engagement Ring

A diamond engagement ring has long been the ultimate symbol of everlasting love and commitment; the unmatched strength and beauty of the diamond has made it the most popular choice when it comes to those special rings. However, when did this association between love and diamonds begin?

The tradition of giving a ring to your future bride has been around for centuries, with the Romans believed to be the first to wear an engagement ring on the third finger of the left hand. There are a few theories as to the reasons for this choice of finger. Some suggest that it is because there is a vein from the heart that extends down to this finger, and hence, this finger leads straight to the heart. However, the diamond has not always been the traditional stone for a betrothal ring, and the giving of a diamond ring is still relatively recent. Diamond engagement rings first became popular in the 1930s, but the tradition of using a diamond is believed to have originated in 1477, when the Archduke Maximillian of Austria presented a diamond engagement ring to Mary of Burgundy. It was after this proposal that the use of diamonds in engagement rings became a popular trend among the rich and famous. However, it wasn’t until 1870 and the discovery of several diamond mines in South Africa that diamonds became more available and affordable to the general public. As supply increased, declining costs allowed many members of the public to invest in diamonds for their fiancees and sales flourished. It was in the 1930s that the diamond trend really took off, even though many were suffering the effects of the Great Depression. Even though rubies, red in colour, signified love, diamonds became synonymous with eternity. Since then, a diamond engagement ring has been consistently used and even expected when couples become engaged. It was in 1947 that De Beers launched its famous slogan, ‘A Diamond is Forever’, which stimulated even more sales, with the implied durability of a diamond going hand-in-hand with the idea that marriage is forever. By 1965, 80 percent of all new brides in the United States wore one. In 1992, the average cost of a diamond engagement ring was $1,500, but today, the average cost is closer to $5,000. As demand for a diamond’s sparkle and beauty has increased, the diamond has become the universal symbol of a man’s commitment to the woman he loves.

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 a distinctive, one-of-a-kind diamond engagement ring, 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.