For centuries, diamond rings have been messengers of romance, a vow of eternal love and purity like a diamond. When a girl receives an engagement ring from her lover, it shows her acceptance of the boy's proposal. This custom originated in Roman times when the wife wore a ring with a small key to show that "the flower has an owner".
Until 1477, King Archduke Maximillian I of Austria prayed for the soul of French lady Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring. This is the first recorded diamond engagement ring.
This created a trend among European aristocracy to give a diamond engagement ring to a fiance to propose.
The sentimental Victorians transformed ornate engagement ring designs that combined diamonds with precious stones and metals.
The diamond ring has become the prototype and symbol of a love affair. A diamond ring that Constanzo Sforza gave to his bride Camilla D'Aragona in 1475 on their romantic wedding day. The light of the diamond has been compared to the immortal fire of love.
In today's society, the shimmer and purity of diamonds have become a symbol of the passionate love that men have for the women they love. In fact, over 78% of today's engagement rings are diamond rings!
Source: Americangemsociety