History of the Diamond Engagement Ring

Today’s engagement ring has an ancient history. The old Roman tradition was to give an iron ring, a symbol of the cycle of life and of eternity, as a public pledge that the marriage contract between a man and woman would be honored. Gold was introduced some time in the second century A.D.

Your diamond engagement ring has royal roots. In the fifteenth century, diamond engagement rings became the established feature of the weddings of European kings and queens and the proxy marriages of their children.

The dream becomes reality for a wider public. Diamonds became increasingly sought after. But the great discovery of diamond mines in Africa made diamonds accessible to a far wider public. At this time Peruzzi, a Venetian diamond cutter, is attributed with inventing the first version of the 58 face cut diamond, now known as the round brilliant cut.

The tradition is set. By the Victorian era, a bride could expect two rings: a gem-set engagement ring and a slim gold wedding band.