THE MAGIC OF ENGAGEMENT RINGS
When it comes to asking the person you want to spend the rest of your life with the big question, nothing compares to the moment when you see their face light up as you slide on the ring they have waited a lifetime for. At Abelini we know that luxury is something that is personal, something that has to connect with who you are, that’s why we’ve put together a few pieces of advice we’ve learned from a lifetime in the business.
Know What She Wants
Your partner will have no doubt dropped all kinds of hints about which type of engagement ring they have always wanted. Don’t be afraid to shop around and discuss with a consultant when you go shopping, this will give you everything you need to find the ring of her dreams that she's never even laid eyes on yet.
Get The Size Right
Nobody wants to put a dampener on the magical moment that is an engagement by getting the size wrong. Borrow one of her rings without her knowing and get the size. It may sound like a simple thing to do but you’d be amazed at the number of people who end up panicking at the last minute or worse, guessing. With a little planning, you can take care of one of the most important engagement ring details in plenty of time.
Looking For The Perfect Pair?
Finding the perfect engagement ring can often be only half the battle. After that comes the need to find a wedding band that matches and fits seamlessly up against the engagement ring for a lifetime. At Abelini, we’re always on hand to recommend matching marriage sets that allow you to get both at the same time. Perfect for ensuring that you find the pair that your partner will cherish for a lifetime.
For years it has been embedded into our heads that engagement rings ‘’have’’ to be diamond. In reality, however, you could use rubber bands and call it a day too. The ring only plays a symbolic part in an engagement. It symbolizes love, bond, and unity between two people.
So, before we go down on one knee with a ring, let’s take a look at the short answer as to whether engagement ring truly have to be diamond.
Do engagement rings have to be diamond? A diamond engagement ring is the traditional style of jewellery to be given when making a commitment to the one you love. There are many other styles and fine gems to discover, such as Sapphires, Rubies, Emeralds, Morganite, black diamonds and Amethyst.
So now you’ve got the quick takeaway answer and are ready to hit the Jewellery store, let’s start by looking at some background of engagements and diamond rings!
What's Engagement?
Let’s look below at the 6 main points of an “engagement” and what it signifies.
● When a guy asks for a girl’s hand in marriage or proposes to her, they typically present their loved one with a ring.
● The lucky lady girl wears the ring on her left hand’s ring finger if she chooses to accept the proposal.
● This gesture solidifies their relationship by marking them as to be married.
● Engagements are not only a verbal agreement, but also involve a physical gesture known as the ring exchange.
● This exchange solidifies their relationship not just for them but also in front of the whole world.
● The ring symbolizes love and unity between the couple.
Ok, so guys now you know what it’s all about if you are ready to take the plunge and present your forever lady a beautiful diamond engagement rings!
So, you might be wondering what this glittering symbol of love really is and why diamonds have historically been so popular.
Read on to find out A brief history of diamonds
A diamond is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of carbon. In a nutshell, it’s the rarest and sought-after gemstone.
Discovered in India Diamonds were first used as decorative items rather than in jewellery when they were discovered many years ago in India.
Healing
Diamonds were also believed to have curing powers much like crystal healing today. It was only a thousand years ago when they started to have a more prominent role in jewellery. Even though the trend of diamond rings started only a thousand years back, the idea of engagement rings has been around for many years.
Ancient Egypt
More specifically since the time of ancient Egypt. At that time reed rings were used. The idea of placing the ring on the left hand’s third finger came from the belief that in that finger was a vein that led directly to the heart. It’s from the ancient Egyptians we get the well-known ring finger which has been an ongoing tradition ever since. The tradition of giving a ring to promise a lifelong partnership began when ‘Archduke Maximillian proposed to his love, Mary.
Ownership
However, historically the idea of engagement wasn’t as romanticized before as it is today. In fact, it was almost the complete opposite!
Back then, engagement rings were given to symbolize ownership of a woman by her husband. Women were given diamond rings to wear when outside and cheaper metals were given to them to wear at home.
Staple jewelry piece
A diamond's classic beautiful elegant look is also amazingly durable. It has a tough and uncatchable surface, which has made it a staple piece in jewellery and other decorative items for centuries.
So why has the diamond been such an important symbol of love and promise of marriage during our history? And why is it that we usually think of diamonds as being the go-to precious gem to express your love and to bind you forever with your beloved?
Why do people wear diamond engagement rings?
For many, engagements are one of the most important milestones to be achieved in a relationship. So why is it that historically and traditionally many have preferred diamond rings over other gemstones? More especially, why choose a diamond ring when other gemstones might be a bit more merciful on the pocket in comparison to a diamond ring, which can be rather expensive.
Well, the easiest and most straight forward answer to that would be the strength, quality, and longevity of a diamond.
A diamond is one of the hardest and durable known gemstones and is also practically indestructible. Did you know that a diamond can only be damaged by another diamond?
A diamond literally symbolizes the type of relationship many have with their partner which is beautiful, strong, and everlasting.
So what kind of alternatives are there to diamond engagement rings? Let’s read on to discover more.
Although for many years, diamond rings have been the go-to engagement gemstone, It's not a given that couples need to only choose diamonds to express their love. However, in this era of constant growth and people with a willingness to break typical stereotypes, the engagement ring-buying game has changed drastically over the last couple of months.
Women and men have started to toss out the idea of following a centuries-old tradition of diamond rings and have started to buy rings that are closer to their personal style.
There are many different gorgeous colors and styles of gemstones mentioned that are perfect alternatives to diamonds rings:
So you might be wondering, is it okay for you to get an engagement ring?
Well, you’ll be pleased to know it’s perfectly okay! As we mentioned earlier, White diamonds aren’t the only option for engagement rings. It might be that your partner has an edgier style, so a gorgeous black diamond for instance might be a fabulous alternative!
Everybody has a style that is unique to them and sometimes diamond rings might not work with you and your partner’s everyday style.
Make your choice based on you and your partner, so If you or your partner want to toss the stereotypical diamond ring out the window, so be it!
Ultimately It all comes down to what you as a couple prefer.
The love between two people is not dependent on a diamond ring, it’s more about the statement of move between the two of you which is more important.
And finally…
So there you have it! Everything you needed to know about whether engagement rings have to be diamond!
Don’t forget to check out our store for beautiful engagement rings of all kinds, perfect to make that forever commitment to the one you love.
If you have always been intrigued by the backstory of your jewelries, then you are not alone. The history of jewelries is a huge topic of digging and discussion on
the Internet, some even bigger than others. Engagement rings are one of those pieces the history of which easily piques the curiosity of enthusiasts. Well, that said, seekers are in luck, for the history of the engagement ring is just as fascinating as you hoped.
The first recordeddiamond engagement rings dates back to 1477. The ring was commissioned by the Archduke Maximillian of Austria, a man of great eminence to his betrothed who was the lovely Mary of Burgundy.
As romantic as that is, it also was a trendsetting move for it sparked the sacred trend of proposing marriage with diamond rings. Not long after, men in European aristocracy were popping the question to their beloved with jaw-dropping diamond rings which they got crafted especially for the occasion.Over the years, this trend which started out as a thing of the privileged passed on to the common people. The trend matured into a ritual and so proposing with a diamond engagement ring became a tradition globally.Although Archduke
Maximillian’s ring was the first ever recorded engagement ring, it was by no chance, the first engagement ring ever. Anthropologists believe that the tradition of proposing with a ring originated in ancient Rome. It was a Roman custom for wives to wear rings with a tiny key hooked to it. The key in the ring symbolized the ownership of their husbands.
If that was how engagement rings came into being, much has changed since. Today, a woman wearing an engagement ring signifies that she has been lovingly taken by the man of her dreams. Through different eras in history, engagement ring designs have been modified to meet the creative temperament of that period. From posey rings of the Victorian era to filigree rings of Edwardian, the engagement ring has overall a long and fulfilling history.
