Diamond engagement rings

Diamonds first arrived in Europe, through Venice, Bruges and then to Antwerp in the latter part of the 15th century, first from India and then from Brazil.

Very expensive they were reserved for the most powerful and rich of people primarily the nobility.

It is only later in the second half of the 19th century that diamonds found a greater popularity mainly because prices were drastically reduced due to the discovery of vast alluvial deposits on the beaches of South Africa.

Antwerp in Belgium has always been a diamond cutting centre. A man called Lodewijk van Bercken around the end of the 15th century has been attributed in establishing the first diamond cutting factory in the city which has been linked with diamonds ever since and still is to this day.

The custom of wearing a diamond ring on the middle finger of the left hand goes back to the time of the ancient Egyptians. They were convinced that the ‘vein of love’ ran straight from the heart to the tip of the third finger on the left hand.

The first giving of a diamond engagement ring has been attributed to Archduke Maximilian of Austria in 1477 who offered it to Mary of Burgundy.

Today the giving of a diamond engagement ring is widespread, in fact over 80% of all gem quality diamonds sold are destined for engagement rings.

Diamond engagement rings can be made in a variety of metals, however gold and platinum are the most popular.

The engagement ring can be produced in two ways.

The first is an industrial method. The engagement ring is carved in wax, then from this a mould is made, the original wax carving melts away and is lost and from the mould as many items can be produced by injecting the molten metal into it by centrifugal force. This is called the ‘cast’ method.

The second method is that of the fully and individually hand crafting of the diamond engagement ring. The result is a one off example. More expensive to produce but as the metal has not gone through an initial ‘molten’ stage, it can better be altered or repaired during its life and will last longer. The added advantage is that it is very exclusive to the person wearing it as it is not possible to EXACTLY replicate it.

Once the engagement ring has been produced the diamond is then set and the whole is polished ready for sale.

Diamond engagement rings come in a variety of guises. The most popular is the ‘solitaire’, then the ‘trilogy’ style. The band can or cannot be set with a variety of small diamonds as well.

External links

• Jewellery Web Shop