The Start and Story of the Diamond Engagement Ring

The modern tradition of exchanging engagement rings was believed to have started as early as 1477 during the time that Maxmillan I, a Roman emperor, gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond engagement ring. This was the first instance that such has been done in history.

There are also beliefs from other people that this tradition had its inception from as early as the time of the ancient Egyptians. The ring is worn on the left hand, on their third finger, with the belief that it has veins which connect directly to their heart.

Regardless of the different origins stated, it cannot be denied that the diamond engagement ring has become a very popular piece of jewelry and symbol of love. The popularity of the contemporary diamond engagement rings can be attributed to heavy advertising. It can also be attributed to the intensity of the diamond industry especially in highlighting the benefits of getting a diamond engagement ring. Now there are scores of different choices when selecting an engagement ring. From the cushion cut engagement rings to pear shaped engagement rings and more – the list seems to keep growing as couples look for something distinctive.

A greater fraction of the American and youth population has already been persuaded by the popularity of diamond engagement ring as they believe that no other ring can be more superior. They are even willing to save large amounts just to give their loved one a diamond engagement ring.

To be assured that you will end up with the best deal in buying a diamond engagement ring, it is essential to have a number of considerations. First, there is a need to have knowledge about the 4 C’s of diamond: carat, color, cut, and clarity. You also need to know the price and stick to those which can be accommodated by your financial allocation.

When buying a diamond engagement ring, you can choose whether buy it online or in retail stores. However, do not forget to but only from credible and trusted manufacturers. Especially if you decide to buy the ring online, do not forget to ask for a money back guarantee just in case there will be defects with the ring.

You also need to have a grading report which is provided for certified diamonds. With this, you will have no more doubt about the authenticity and value of the diamond.

Cushion Cut Engagement Rings

Diamonds have always been a big part of the jewellery world. This is particularly true of engagement and wedding rings – for a long long time, the most popular kind of rings have been diamond cushion cut engagement rings. However, it would seem that a lot of things are changing. These days, diamonds are becoming less and less fashionable, for a number of reasons.

The largest reason, of course, has to do with the publicity surrounding the nature of conflict diamonds, which are diamonds that were created by exploiting people in less developed areas of the world, such as Africa. Obviously, this had a huge impact on the reputation of diamonds – no longer were they seen as the “innocent stone”, or the gem of love, but more as the gem of dollars and profiteering. This was not good for diamond companies, and it makes perfect sense that they began to lose market share, in spite of taking several efforts to certify diamonds as being “free from conflict.”

This led to the second reason, which is that people have started to realize that diamond prices are just too high, in most cases. For a long time, people believed diamonds were expensive because they were rare, but now we know that this is no longer true. Diamonds are no more rare than, say, bananas, or any other kind of stone. The only reason they are perceived as rare is because big diamond firms keep a very careful watch on supply, and restrict it wherever possible, in order to ensure that they are able to keep making a profit.

For this reason, we are seeing a lot of people move to diamond substitutes, such as moissanite or cubic zirconium. Moissanite engagement rings have taken the place of diamonds as the most popular kind of engagement ring sold – this represents a clear shift in customers’ tastes, as well as their price sensitivity. The days of diamonds would appear to be over.