Why Diamonds Are the Gem of Choice for Engagement Rings

From the time of ancient civilisations, the ring has been the symbol of betrothal commitment — symbolising both love and the marriage contract. In Ancient Rome, men offered women rings of bone or flint, and later of silver, copper or gold, to signify their love and provide proof of marriage. In Ancient Egypt, women wore rings made of reed on the fourth fingers on their left hands to symbolise their married status.

It was only later that diamond engagement rings became fashionable. 

When Did Diamond Rings Become Popular?

As noted, the ring has been synonymous with marriage as far back as Ancient Rome and Egypt. However, it was only towards the 15th century that diamond engagement rings first appeared. Diamonds had long served as decoration and talismans, but it was only later that they became synonymous with engagement rings.

Credit for the diamond engagement ring goes to Austrian Archduke Maximilian's historically romantic proposal. His marriage offer to Mary of Burgundy made diamond engagement rings the proposal practice du jour. His motive was to win her approval and pave the way for their marriage. He suggested she wear the ring on the fourth finger of her left hand. People believed at that time that the love vein ran through the ring finger, leading directly to the heart. 

For a long time, diamonds were costly and thus only used for engagement rings by the wealthy. In the 1870s, miners found many diamonds in South Africa, and the stones suddenly became more available. In 1947, South Africa diamond merchants De Beers launched a major ad campaign led by the catchphrase 'a diamond is forever.' As a result, diamonds' popularity went through the roof. People began to perceive the beauty and eternal nature of a diamond as the ideal symbol of love and commitment.

Today, between 85 and 95% of all engagement rings feature one or more diamonds. Some are pure and clear, and brilliant colours define others.

Coloured Diamonds — Variety Is the Spice of Life

The traditional clear diamond is timeless. But many modern brides want a diamond ring that has a little colour to match and enhance her individuality. 

With how diamonds form in the earth, magnificent and exotic colour variations do occur naturally. Colour infuses the stone because of the kinds of minerals present in the soil. Diamond mines influence the stones included in that territory. 

The colours you can get include shades of white, grey, brown, yellow, orange, blue, green, pink, red, and purple. There are even the striking black diamonds.

The colour of a diamond can result from microscopic 'impurities' in the stone. For example, pink diamonds have a gorgeous rosy tint, but may also display, to a lesser degree, hints of purple or brown. 

Another factor that affects a diamond's colour is the stone's structured. Interestingly, the red diamonds come into being during the shaping process, not due to the minerals they have in them. Experts say these red stones, as well as pink gems, are the rarest kinds of diamonds. 

The glow present in yellow, or Canary diamonds, make them a highly sought-after stone for original engagement rings.

As coloured diamonds are more captivating but also less available than clear diamonds, they are typically more expensive. The powerful shades of these coloured stones make for unique engagement rings. 

You also need to make sure your engagement ring diamond is up to the challenge of lasting you a lifetime, and beyond. You can figure this out by getting your diamond gem evaluated. 

Measuring the Stones: The Moh's Scale

Diamond mongers use the Moh's scale to ascertain how hard a precious stone is. By the term 'hardness', the experts mean to speak about the precious stone's resistance to scratches and wear over time. 

This factor is essential because an engagement ring will be on a lady's finger for the rest of her life. It may also pass onto the next generation, and even the next and the next. The stone, therefore, needs to be of excellent quality. It should appear bright and flawless after decades and decades of wear. 

The Moh's scale will help to give you a good idea about how much wear and tear a diamond can withstand without deteriorating. 

If you are not sure what kind of ring you would most like to have, you can find inspiration in the collection at Diamonds on Richmond engagement rings. The team can help you find something exactly right for you, whether it is something simple or more ornate that you want.

Get in touch with them today to view their timeless diamond engagement rings.