A marriage proposal is a wonderful occasion, watching your partner’s face light up at the contents of a small box or a surprise at the bottom of a champagne glass. There is no feeling like seeing the reflection of the diamond gleam in her eyes as she slips on the diamond ring that you selected just for her. A symbol of your love and commitment, the engagement ring is something she’ll cherish for the rest of her life. Is there anything more romantic?
Whatever way you choose to pop the question, giving a diamond ring to symbolize an engagement is an incredible tradition. So where did it all begin? The history and meaning behind today’s custom is quite interesting!
The first recorded engagement with a ring dates all the way back to 1477 in Austria, when the Archduke Maximilian gave his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy, a ring with a diamond in the shape of an ‘M’. After this grand gesture rings were worn more commonly in certain areas of Europe as a way to represent that a woman had promised her love to another. The diamond was chosen for engagement rings because of its special meaning – that a diamonds strength and purity is unmatched by anything else. The diamond represents the power of the bond between two people and how, just like a diamond, love is forever.
Ancient Rome also plays a part in the romantic history; this is where it is said the tradition of wearing the ring on your left “ring finger” began. The left finger was believed to have a vein that connected directly to the heart, called “Vena Amoris” which is Latin for “Vein of Love.” The ring was placed on the left hand so the symbol of promised eternal love would have a direct connection to someone’s heart.