The History and Symbolism Behind Engagement Rings

Did you know that more than 2 million engagement rings are sold in the USA every year? In 2019, the diamond engagement ring market alone in the USA and Canada was assessed at $28.6 billion. Analysts expect it to reach $39.7 billion by 2027. When you think of the global wedding ring market, (wedding bands and engagement rings), the expectation is that it will grow to a staggering £107 billion by the end of 2027. 

The engagement ring is a piece of jewelry that we probably take for granted as just being there. It is accepted as a symbol of love and intention to marry in many different countries and both Eastern and Western cultures but it's far from being a modern phenomenon. The diamond engagement ring is not only iconic but also has a wonderfully interesting history. 

What they look like and what they represent in today's society might not have been the same as in all the preceding centuries and even ancient times!

Let's take a look at the history of engagement ring design over the years and how its symbolism evolved. 

The Ancient World - Ownership Rings

Where it all began. Like so many customs including jewelry,  the culture of engagement gifts and engagement rings can be traced all the way back to ancient civilizations.

The Egyptians used rings of braided materials like reeds and hemp to cement a marriage. They chose a ring to represent eternity. They also chose the left-hand ring finger as the preferred place to wear the ring in the belief there was a vein - the vena amoris - that connected directly to the heart. 

When we move onto the great and powerful era of Ancient Rome, according to experts at the Gemological Institute of America, women would wear rings made from flint, ivory, bone, copper and stone but most common were iron rings. 

Precious metals, well, more specifically gold, was preserved for the upper classes and the wealthy of roman society. A yellow gold ring and other types of more ornate jewelry were found in the preserved remains of Pompeii.

These rings were worn for one of two reasons, either to physically signify a business contract or to affirm a commitment of mutual love and obedience for a partner. Sound familiar when applied to a modern context?

The Middle Ages - An Official Mark Of Marriage

For many centuries, engagement rings continued to be seen as a symbol of ownership and commitment as well as a formal betrothal. It did however gain official recognition.

In 850 AD, Pope Nicholas I declared that the engagement ring was to be used to represent a man's intent to marry a woman. He also stated, despite it being beyond the means of the majority of European citizens at the time, that the rings should be made of gold.

Accordingly, rings were mostly plain and simple bands but for those who could afford them, they became symbols of wealth and accordingly, trends in betrothal ring design happened and more effort was put into engagement ring style

It wasn't however until more than 600 years after the papal announcement that we saw the first diamond engagement ring. The trend for diamond rings that continues unbroken to the present day was started by Archduke Maximillian of Austria in 1477, When he proposed marriage to Mary of Burgundy, he presented her with a ring set with a diamond, customized in the shape of the letter M.  

The Renaissance - Original Stacking Rings

In the 15th century, engagement rings started to become an embodiment of symbolism that intertwined notions of unity, eternity and commitment that we generally still think of them being representative of today. The Renaissance saw the rise in popularity of gimmel rings, which are rings that are comprised of three interconnected bands.

These rings would begin their existence as individual plain bands, one worn by each half of a couple who were engaged. On the day of the wedding, the two engagement bands would become connected by a third, which was classed as the 'wedding' band, and all would then be worn by the new bride as part of a complete wedding ring set.

The Age Of Enlightenment - Posy Rings

Gimmel rings remained a popular choice for engagement rings all the way into the Age of Enlightenment (17th century and 18th century in Europe), but another style also came to prominence during this time, posy rings.

Posy rings were very detailed and intricate bands that held engravings and hidden inscriptions on the inside, usually lines of love poetry and similar. Sometimes, a silver posy ring would be exchanged for a more impressive gold version during the wedding ceremony, to denote the significant step from engagement to marriage. 

The Twentieth Century - Diamonds Are Forever

Although the Archduke used a diamond in the 15th century as we mentioned, it doesn't seem like he started a trend for diamond engagement rings. Even though diamond rings found their way to the USA in the mid-19th century, they did not truly become mainstream until as late as 1947! This is the year when De Beers, a British diamond mining company based in South Africa, launched a successful advertising campaign.

With the help of some of the biggest Hollywood stars of the day and the catchy slogan of "a diamond is forever", the powerful marketing campaign saw the popularity of diamond engagement rings absolutely rocket across the world. 

The 21st Century - Modern Trends

In more recent years,  there has been a dramatic shift in modern engagement ring preferences and trends. There is no doubt that the solitaire diamond is still a popular option, but more and more fiancés are being treated to engagement rings that run the gamut of every style and the entire spectrum of colored gemstones. White gold is now the most common choice but there are also lots of different materials other than precious metals that are used for the ring band.  

Celebrity culture also has a major influence. For example, the diamond and sapphire halo ring presented in 1981 by Charles to the future Diana, Princess of Wales (now worn by Katherine, Princess of Wales) spawned a massive trend in copycat rings and this is still a majorly popular look today.  And there are plenty of other famous engagement rings.  Actress Blake Lively was proposed to by Ryan Reynolds with a stunning light pink oval diamond in a rose gold setting, Katy Perry was presented with a really unique ruby in a floral halo design by Orlando Bloom, and Ariana Grande received a unique pearl and diamond bauble design ring from Dalton Gomez in 2020.

There is a much wider range of choice today than there ever was before, but the potent symbol and deep meaning of the ring itself remain much more important than any specific stones, metals or colors that are used in its creation.

If you would like to explore all of the fun and interesting options for modern diamond engagement rings, then browse the exceptionally varied and beautiful collection at Moyen & Co. You'll find a wide range of sizes, shapes, carat weights, cuts and designs. Whether you are looking for a simple solitaire ring or an incredibly intricate and detailed design,  you will find something that makes the perfect symbol of marriage and eternal love.