ENGAGEMENT RINGS: A HISTORY
December 06, 2021
For as long as we all can remember, engagement rings have always been part and parcel of a long-term relationship. After all, if you’ve been in a committed relationship for a long time and you decide that it’s time to take that plunge known as marriage, there’s almost always going to be that engagement period where you’re required to present a beautiful ring to your partner before the wedding actually happens. But where exactly did this tradition of giving engagement rings to one’s partner come from? In fact, when did these rings become such a widespread concept in the first place?
Here, the jewellery industry experts of Vella Diamonds lets you take a look at the history of engagement rings.
Ancient Times
While they may not seem like it at times, the origins of engagement rings are almost similar to the origins of wedding rings as they can be traced back to the time of Ancient Rome. Unfortunately, in those days, people didn’t always marry for love and therefore, both engagement and wedding rings weren’t always given to a woman as a sign of their partner’s love and devotion. Instead, they were given as a symbol of the man’s ownership of their spouse or to signify a business deal that was sealed between a man and the woman’s father. Apart from that, depending on the material the ring was made of, it also signified the groom’s prosperity. Gold in particular was a favorite crafting material for betrothal rings and if a woman was gifted one, it was a sign that their partner was more than financially stable and capable of taking care of their spouse and their future family.
Medieval Periods
As the world entered the Medieval period, the engagement ring gradually took on a more romantic and spiritual meaning, especially in the eyes of the church. In fact, it was Pope Nicholas I who, in 850, declared that the official role of an engagement ring was to announce a man’s intent to marry the woman he fancies and it was during this time that people began to give them to their partners as a symbol of love rather than to signify a business deal with another person.
Usually, in those days, engagement rings were made of gold with a few gems like sapphire, emeralds, and rubies inlaid in them. However, while the aforementioned gemstones were the most popular at the time, it was also during this period in world history that the first diamond engagement ring was recorded. That ring was the engagement ring of Duchess Mary of Burgundy, given to her by her betrothed Archduke Maximillian of Austria, the future Holy Roman Emperor, in 1477. According to historians, the ring featured long and narrow diamond rings that made up the letter “M” for Mary’s name.
Renaissance to Victorian Era
As the world went from the Medieval to the Renaissance periods of history, gaudy and extravagant rings with gems were the most common ring to use as an engagement ring. However, as time went by, the Renaissance also saw the emergence of two popular engagement ring types: gimmel and posey rings. Gimmel rings were designed with two or three hoops that fit together to fit one ring. During the engagement period, the engaged couple would each wear one part of the ring and once they marry, the couple would reconnect their bands(plus the third band, if there is one) to form one ring for the bride to wear, which also signifies the notion of two people becoming one through marriage.
Posey rings, on the other hand, are engagement rings that were popularised by none other than the Bard of Avon himself, William Shakespeare. According to expert jewellers, these rings usually had an engraving on the inside in the form of short love poems or ballads. In some cases, they were even used as wedding rings as well. Regardless, their popularity persisted well until the Victorian Era until they were finally surpassed by diamond rings when the Edwardian Era came to be.
20th Century to Present
As stated before, Maximilian of Austria was the first person to propose with a diamond engagement ring. Unfortunately, however, neither he nor the aforementioned Edwardian Era was by no means a trendsetter as diamond rings only gained traction during 1947, when the DeBeers Group launched the classic advertising slogan “A diamond is forever”. It was only thanks to this campaign that diamond rings finally gained their footing as a viable ring to propose with, a notion that is still clearly going strong today as plenty of people still prefer to get down on one knee and pop the question with a diamond engagement ring over any other rings with different gemstones.
Want to take the next step in your relationship with your partner but you can’t find the perfect engagement ring to propose with? Make your troubles go away almost immediately by turning to Vella Diamonds, one of the best jewellery stores to turn to when it comes to bespoke jewellery. Our professionals have plenty of experience in the jewellery industry and are more than dedicated to helping you obtain the perfect ring for your proposal plans. We won’t let you down! You may visit our website to see the large collection of engagement rings and wedding bands that we have on offer or learn more about diamonds and gemstones if you want to make a custom engagement ring. You can rely on us!