Here at BB we have never been hung up on an engagement ring being limited to a traditional, white diamond. Some of our most inspiring pieces to make, have included coloured diamonds and other precious stones.
So, when a client recently asked us about the history of the diamond solitaire we decided to do a little bit of research on the matter.....
- The first engagement ring fact that we stumbled across is the tradition of wearing betrothal rings on the fourth finger of the left hand. This is accredited to those romantics, the Greeks, who decided that this finger was the most appropriate as it's believed to be where the "vena amoris" or vein of love connects to the heart.
- The second fact is that diamonds were first used in an engagement ring in 1477. Before this, engagement rings had been growing in popularity but had seldom contained a diamond.
- Major diamond discoveries in South Africa, in the 1870s, made diamonds more accessible. Combined with modern cutting techniques, the popularity of the diamond really started to grow.
- It was Charles Lewis Tiffany, who cemented the future of the diamond solitaire in modern society in the 1800s and hence the Tiffany's solitaire became a symbol of engagement throughout Western society.
In modern society the rules no longer apply. Betrothal rings have become all about the individual. You may prefer a more traditional approach or working with us to create something truly unique. In many cases, inherited rings or stones are reworked in a more contemporary style without losing the history and memories associated with these natural materials.
The only rule worth remembering with engagement rings is that you give and receive them with the sentiment that they stand for...the truly individual love between you and your partner.
