Why do you propose with an engagement ring?

While some kind of offer has always been necessary for a proposal, a ring wasn’t always used. So why do you propose with an engagement ring? The tradition of the engagement ring can be traced back to Ancient Rome where ivory, copper, iron or bone ‘betrothal rings’ were given as a financial investment to initially uphold the groom’s intention to go through with marriage. However, there is also more of a romantic reason behind these betrothal rings. A ring, having no beginning or end, has become the symbol of enduring commitment and everlasting love.

The age-old tradition of offering an engagement ring has roots in Judaism dating as far back as the Hebrew Bible. For most of Western history, a simple gold band was seen as a stylish enough design to get the point across. The first actual record of a diamond engagement ring wasn’t seen until 1477. Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed with a ring that had the letter ‘M’ spelt out in shards of diamonds. Seems like he was the ultimate trendsetter and your initial necklaces are, in fact, not very original but still very cute.

However, besides for the very wealthy, having a diamond engagement ring wasn’t essential or all that affordable, especially in the post-war economy, until 1947 when De Beers famously launched their ‘A diamond is forever’ marketing campaign. This iconic slogan marketed diamond engagement rings as the ultimate token of everlasting love being that the diamond in the ring will literally last forever. This was also consolidated by the song, ‘Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend’ by Carol Channing in 1949.

Since then, over 70 years later, we’ve already seen an evolution in engagement rings with the rise of men’s engagement rings and more alternative engagement rings being sought after including coloured gemstones and more!

Marriage Proposal Traditions: Wedding Traditions Through Time

Leah Blundell

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