What steps did history take to get to the lovely engagement rings of today?
In the 15th century, wealthy Europeans added diamonds to wedding rings to symbolise enduring conjugal fidelity; by the end of the 1600s, separate engagement rings began to appear. Fashionable 17th-century rings had clusters of small table- or rose-cut stones in gold and enamelled settings. For two centuries from 1700 engagement rings featuring gemstones were popular. A very romantic touch was to use the first letter of the gem stone to spell out the name of the giver, the recipient or a word, such as “dearest” – diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, emerald, sapphire, turquoise. The origin of the Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring The diamond engagement ring as we know it has been around since 1477. Today it is the popular first choice as an engagement ring because of the beauty of the diamond, the symbolism of strength and longevity it represents, and as the ultimate token of love and affection. That’s why we say a diamond is forever. Major diamond discoveries of the 1870s in South Africa
