Diamond engagement rings are tailored jewellery pieces that guys hand to their sweethearts when it is time for them to be together forever with their special someone. A lot of ladies are very excited when given with these rings, and they think of them as some of the most important treasures in their lives.
An engagement ring indicates to people that the wearer is engaged to another and is about to be married. The presentation and presenting of such ring is part of a tradition of courtship in many nations, particularly in Western cultures. In Ireland, North America, and the UK, these rings are normally worn only by women. In other lands, both genders put on rings, typically matching each other. And in some nations, engagement rings can be used as wedding rings. In general, accepting the ring signifies that the lady accepts the marriage proposal and represents a formal agreement to a marriage sometime soon. Traditionally, it is worn on the left hand of the ring finger.
The custom of presenting engagement rings goes back to Roman times. However, it was not widely practiced in the West until the 13th century. In fact, the first recorded use of a diamond ring to signify the formality of a marriage proposal was in an imperial court in Vienna in 1477. During that time, the Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented a ring to his betrothal, Mary of Burgundy.
Engagement rings were not the only betrothal gifts that were used decades ago. For example, before the 20th century, the bride-to-be received a sewing thimble rather than a piece of jewellery. The custom was commonplace, particularly in lands where strong religious groups abhor jewellery. In the islands of the Pacific, cowries were used in lieu with the ring. Engagement rings did not become customary betrothal gifts until the final years of the 19th century. In fact, it was only in the 1930s when diamond stud earrings and diamond rings as gifts for engagement were common.
Nowadays, more than 80% of ladies in the West are given a diamond ring during a marriage proposal.