An Enduring Symbol: The Story of the Engagement Ring
While the engagement ring can signify a great deal, it's always important to remember that, ultimately, a marriage that is successful is one upon which love, trust, and open communication are based.
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An engagement ring, spanning thousands of years, from ancient Egypt through modern-day proposals, is a cherished tradition. But what happened behind the sparkling diamond and bended knee?
It has, however, shown ancient roots to engagement rings. The Egyptians took a circle as symbolic of eternity and exchanged rings formed from braided reeds as tokens of commitment. The Romans, however, used rings as marriage contractual forms where a groom is said to have given his bride an iron ring to symbolize a binding agreement.
The association with diamonds is, however, a much more modern one. The first recorded diamond engagement ring is said to have been given in 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to his bride with a ring set with diamonds shaped like the letter "M." A fashion soon caught on among European nobility for ever more exquisite and pricey diamond rings.
The 20th century became the era for diamond engagement rings, all because of some ingenious marketing. De Beers, a diamond mining firm, coined the now-famous slogan "A Diamond is Forever" back in 1938, ultimately sealing the deal on the diamond as the last word in love and commitment.
But these traditions are moving with the times. Today, more and more couples are choosing not to go down the diamond route; instead, they might opt for sapphires or moissanites—or even, for that matter, lab-created diamonds, which represent the modern cousin of natural diamonds. This change is largely driven by ethics related to diamond mining and a touch of personality in an engagement ring.
The other traditional aspect of an engagement ring no longer remains bound by gender norms. Same-sex couples choose rings that define their relationship and make love visible, whether by opting for matching bands or styles to suit both partners.
Ultimately, what this ring will mean to these two establishable families is the serious commitment a couple makes with one another for the rest of their lives ahead. Be it from a radiant diamond to a simple gemstone band, it would be that ring symbolizing a promise, liminary experience for a new, excited chapter in marital life.
Beyond the gleam:
While the engagement ring can signify a great deal, it's always important to remember that, ultimately, a marriage that is successful is one upon which love, trust, and open communication are based. There are so many other factors that make the decision unique—but openly discussing the budget with each other, your style, or even taking the more unconventional step of deciding not to wear custom engagement rings at all—these are the things that will truly bring partners closer together in their new journey.
