Diamonds

There is much lore and history surrounding diamond settings and how they came to be popular.

Diamonds have been used symbolically since near the time of their first discovery, thanks to their striking beauty. Perhaps the earliest symbolic use of diamonds was as the eyes of Hindu devotional statues. In Tibetan Buddhism, diamonds are an important symbol, with the Diamond Sutra still being one of the most widely-read passages.

The methodology behind using diamonds for engagement rings can be traced to the Romans. Their fascination with diamond was borne of their belief that they held supernatural powers. Those in the medievil period believed that it kept healthy relations between a man and wife, hence the creation of the engagement ring.

So how did the diamond ring become popular for the left hand?

The Baron d'Orchamps of France was considered an Oracle of mysticism. He declared that a diamond worn on the left hand kept evil away and brought good fortune. Many of his clients were of high society and prone to wearing the latest fashion, so they took his belief to heart and started wearing diamonds on their left hand.

The popularity of the diamond ring as an engagement ring actually stemmed from a DeBeers campaign back in the 30s, though there was sporadic reports of it before then. Diamonds also appear in ring settings as the birth stone for those born in April. As an extension of this, "mother's rings" have gained in popularity, wherein a setting features the birthstones of the children.