What You Don't Know About the Engagement Ring

With engagement season in full swing, we thought we would share some interesting facts about the engagement ring itself. We found that some of these facts are very interesting and takes a good look at how far we've come!

Most people have heard this before and there is something lovely about it too, in 2800 B.C. Egyptians are buried wearing rings made of a single silver or gold wire on the third finger of their left hands believed to be connected directly to the heart by the vena amoris.

Should we all thank the Archduke for starting this trend? In 1477, one of the first recorded uses of a diamond engagement ring happened when the Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a ring that is set with thin, flat pieces of diamonds in the shape of an “M.”

It was popular belief that an engagement ring was originally part of the “bride price” which represented purchase and ownership of the bride.

How many times have you taken off your engagement ring to do daily household chores and don't want to ruin your ring? Well, in the second century B.C. the Roman bride-to-be were given two rings, a gold and iron one. The iron one was expected to be worn in the home, while the gold one was expected to wear in public.

In the United States, the popularity of the diamond engagement ring declined after World War I and even more so after the onset of the Great Depression.

While gold or platinum are preferred for engagement rings, other common metals used include titanium, silver and stainless steel, allowing the bride-to-be to exert her own style into the ring.

Looking for the perfect accessories (other than your gorgeous engagement ring) to wear on your wedding day? Check out our latest accessories at Dessy.com!

Sources: The History of Engagement Rings, Wikipedia.com