Monday, June 25, 2012

Choosing a Diamond Engagement Ring

The process of getting married used to be fairly straightforward. As with many things, they got more complicated over time. Many marriages were arranged in many cultures around the world and some still actively practice it today. An engagement ring was never a necessary part of getting married since the responsibility of betrothal rested with the parents of the future bride and groom.

While it seems like a very long time ago, the tradition of proposing marriage with a diamond engagement ring actually dates back to 1477 when Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor gave Mary of Burgundy an engagement ring as an engagement present It was during the 13th century that the practice of giving engagement rings grew to become an essential facet of Christian marriages. It was only when diamonds became a lot more affordable and within reach of their budget that the common people started buying and giving engagement rings as gifts.

Selecting the perfect engagement ring can be daunting because everyone wants to give an engagement ring that will "wow" their future lifetime partner and create the perfect atmosphere for a "yes". Diamonds are now commonly used in engagement rings because of a clever advertising campaign by the diamond company De Beers during the 1940s. There are a variety of ring designs and precious metals to consider in the choice of a ring.