DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RINGS
In the Western World a diamond engagement ring is a ring worn on the third finger, left-hand indicating a woman's and more and more frequently a man's engagement to be married. Traditionally in some countries it is customary for the diamond engagement ring to be worn on the right-hand. The diamond engagement ring is generally presented as a sign of betrothal by a man to his intended bride at the time she accepts his proposal of marriage (Note to the Guys: you will lose serious points if you propose first and buy the ring after, it delivers a 'unsure-about-this-and-too-tight-to-take-the-risk' message). The diamond engagement ring represents a formal agreement to a future wedding day.
The tradition of the diamond engagement ring undoubtedly dates back to classical times and the placing of the diamond engagement ring on the third finger of the left hand because of the so-called vena amoris or "vein of love" which runs from this finger, up the arm to the heart. Designs and fashions of diamond engagement rings have varied and developed hugely throughout history and today's tradition and favour of a solitaire diamond engagement ring is the result of an extremely successful twentieth century marketing campaign by De Beers. Today it is not uncommon for a woman to also buy a diamond engagement ring for her man and DiamondGeezer.com would be delighted to help meet that need. A diamond engagement ring is a visible demonstration of the man's commitment to his loved one. DiamondGeezer.com design and make diamond engagement rings from a few hundred pounds to prices that exceed a million pounds. Price is determined by the material used, the diamond size and quality and the biggest influence is of course the retailer's margin. At DiamondGeezer.com our extensive lists of certificated diamonds are uploaded to the site and listed on the web site by DeBeer's site holders themselves using our very powerful, bespoke and exclusive software which we first started developing in 1994. Our site and service provides you with a conduit directly to the diamond cutter, you can't get closer to the mine. The site holders/cutters set the prices you pay for the loose diamond; we take a fee from them, rather than the traditional retail margin from you. The equivalent of "two month's salary" conventional when setting the budget for buying a diamond engagement ring originated from a successful De Beers marketing initiative to increase the sale of diamonds. Of course we don't think its anything like enough and not surprisingly the ladies tend to agree with us ;-). The tradition for using a diamond in an engagement ring is because without doubt a diamond is the most enduring, beautiful and certainly expensive of precious gems. 18ct. gold and platinum are generally recommended for the manufacture of the ring itself due to their inherently higher value and because these metals are more durable than silver. As an option for a gold diamond engagement ring we will employ a platinum setting as it provides better protection for the stone. In our diamond engagement rings, however palladium is becoming popular because of lower cost and higher strength and a pure whiteness that white gold simply aspires to.
The use of the diamond engagement ring itself can be traced back to the Fourth Lateran Council presided over by Pope Innocent the third back in 1215, when Innocent declared a longer waiting period between betrothal and marriage. During this time plain engagement rings of gold, silver or iron were most usual. Diamonds and other gemstones were important and reassuring status symbols to the aristocracy and laws were passed to preserve a visible division of social rank, ensuring only the privileged wore extravagant jewels. This made gem-set rings popular among the upper classes and especially as diamond engagement rings. As time passed and laws relaxed, diamonds and other gems became available to the middle class to wear in their engagement rings.
Today's tradition of the diamond solitaire diamond engagement ring maybe the result of De Beers's marketing campaign of the 1940s - 'A diamond is forever', however the origin of the use of diamonds in rings can be traced back to the Middle Ages and the Romans valued the diamond entirely on account of its supernatural powers. The medieval Italians copied these beliefs and added the "Pietra della Reconciliazone" idea where a diamond was thought to maintain harmony between husband and wife and it was recommended that a diamond should be set in wedding (or espousal) rings, the precursors of today's engagement ring and something we do every day. One of the first examples of such a diamond espousal - or engagement - ring was at the marriage of Maximilian I (then Archduke of Austria) to Mary of Burgundy in 1477.
