Diamonds

The tradition of giving jewelry to signify love and marriage are first mentioned by the Roman poet Plautus in the 2nd century BC. The custom continued through the centuries until 1477 when Maximilian I exchanged a diamond betrothal ring with Mary, his wife. This was perhaps the first royal example of such an exchange, a custom which continues to today's couples.

During the Renaissance, monarchs vie for the best stones to be set in jewelry. The diamond never dominates in the jewelry, and the brooch gives way to the pendant as the preferred jewel. In the 17th century, gold, enamel, and other metals become less important as the stones themselves became the central element in jewelry with the arrival of the rose-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds. To avoid yellow casts on the diamond's white brilliance, yellow gold gives way to silver.

The 18th century sees the diamond become even more important in jewelry because of the quantities of diamonds available on the market from South America. Women are the principal wearers of the stone, and a parure-a matched set of jewelry-replaces the use miscellaneous pieces. As diamonds glittered under the effects of gas and electric lighting better than other stones, women in the 19th century took advantage of the diamonds coming in from South Africa in the later part of the century to enhance their jewelry collections. Also, during the end of the century, the French government after the fall of Napoleon III decided to sell the bulk of the crown jewels and retain only a few key objects for the State. Tiffany's of New York purchased many pieces and the United States announced it had become a major player who would display its wealth to the rest of the world in the new century.

Today, the rise in popularity and an abundance of diamonds has led the diamond to the enviable role of the most important jewel for engagements, and rings as its most important expression. In most western cultures the engagement ring is placed on the woman's left hand ring-finger signifying her acceptance of the man's formal offer of love and marriage. In certain countries, both the woman and the man wear engagement rings, though, especially for the man, this may be a simple band which is later moved to the right hand as the wedding band. Traditions vary and in many European countries, the rings are worn on the right hand and moved to the left after marriage.

For the couple, the decision about what kind of ring to buy may be taken together or the prospective groom may prefer to surprise his future spouse. Still, determining what kind of cut (classic round solitaire, princess, or other), the metal (yellow gold, white gold, platinum, or titanium), and the other quality factors of color, carat and clarity are important. However, regardless of what the couple or prospective groom decides to do, the engagement ring should reflect the personality of its future owner as this symbol of love is for eternity.