History of Engagement Rings - Sell Diamonds and More

Most women (and men for that matter) just assume that when they get engaged a diamond ring will be exchanged as a symbol of their upcoming marriage. Like many things, most of them probably believe that this practice has always been done.

Actually the first record we have of a diamond engagement ring being given was in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave his intended wife, Mary of Burgundy, a diamond ring. Previously it had been common, going back to the Ancient Greeks, to exchange some sort of ring as a sign of betrothal or marriage. These early rings used metals and gemstones. Although diamonds were first discovered around 800 B.C. in India, it is believed that they were too rare to have been widely available for such a use.Today, diamond engagement rings (and wedding band) are worn on either the fourth finger of the left or right hand, depending on your country of origin. The Ancient Greeks believed that the fourth finger contained the vein of love (the vena amoris).

In addition to the fact that diamonds are considered very valuable in today’s society, they still carry the perceptions given to them by many ancient myths and fables. The popularity of the diamond as the gemstone of choice for engagement rings is often credited to once such idea that diamonds bring loyalty and fidelity. The hardness of the stone, indicating the strength of the marriage bond is another reason that dates back to the Greeks. In fact, the word diamond comes from the Greek word adamas, which means unconquerable.

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