When a couple decides to make the ultimate commitment, it is usually sealed with an engagement ring. Engagement rings have a long history, and it is worth knowing where the tradition came from.
Where Engagement Rings Began
The engagement ring is believed to date back to ancient times. Anthropologists trace the tradition to a Roman custom in which wives wore rings attached to small keys, a sign of their husbands’ ownership.
Then, in 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria commissioned the first diamond engagement ring on record for his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy. This sparked a trend for diamond rings among European aristocracy and nobility.
Victorian and Edwardian Engagement Rings
The sentimental Victorians of the mid 1800s popularized ornate designs that mixed diamonds with other gemstones, precious metals and enamels. Often these rings took the shape of flowers, so people called them posey rings. Diamond rings from the Edwardian era, 1901 to 1915, continued the tradition of pairing diamonds with other jewels, commonly in filigree settings.
A Diamond Is Forever
In the 1930s, demand for diamond rings in the U.S. declined during hard economic times. In response, De Beers began an aggressive marketing campaign using photographs of glamorous movie stars covered in diamonds. Within three years, diamond sales had increased by 50 percent. The opening of the De Beers mines in Africa also made diamonds more accessible.
Then, in 1947, De Beers launched its now classic slogan, A Diamond is Forever. This campaign spurred even more sales. The implied durability of a diamond came to mean that marriage is forever. Today, a diamond’s purity and sparkle symbolize the depth of a man’s commitment to the woman he loves in practically every corner of the world. Diamonds still signify the celebration of a union, though more cuts now make more styles an easy option for diamond lovers.
What People Spend on Engagement Rings
According to The Knot’s 2019 Jewelry and Engagement Study, released this past November, the national average spent on an engagement ring in the United States is $5,900. By region, the average is $7,500 in the Mid-Atlantic states, $6,900 in New England, $5,600 in the Southwest, $5,500 in the West, $5,400 in the Southeast and $5,300 in the Midwest.
Of the engagement rings purchased, 86% had a diamond as the main stone. Another 10% chose other stones such as moissanite, sapphire, morganite and aquamarine. Softer stones like emeralds should not be worn every day, because they can scratch and abrade. Finally, 3% chose colored diamonds and 1% chose rings with no stones at all. It all depends on your wants and your style.
Ready to Pop the Question?
So, what do you do when you are ready to propose but do not know where to begin? That is where DW Gem Services can help. Set up an appointment with me, and we will discuss budget, diamond style, size and quality, and the type of setting you would like. I have access to any diamond you wish for. My jewelry designer can create any setting you want, and if you are looking for a vintage ring, I can do that as well. Working with someone who has experience and understands the jewelry business gives you the assurance of honesty and fairness. I will not be happy unless you are happy.
Call today to set up your appointment: (877) 271-GEMS (4367). And watch for my next blog, where I discuss the 4 Cs of diamonds and what it all means.