Engagement Ring Tradition & History

Engagement ring tradition is relatively new in comparison to the custom of exchanging of wedding rings. The tradition of the wedding ring goes back to ancient times while the offering of the engagement ring only reaches back to the Middle Ages.¹

The association between rings and marriage is thought to come from the ancient Egyptians who viewed the circle of a ring as a symbol of eternity and the practice of exchanging rings as a promise of eternal love in marriage.

Today we still uphold that ancient tradition of exchanging wedding rings when two people get married but have also embraced the historical Middle Age practice of offering an engagement ring as a symbol of our commitment to the relationship and our intent to marry.

Engagement Ring Tradition

It wasn't until 1477, towards the end of the Middle Ages, that we find the first documented offering of a diamond ring. 

A love struck Austrian named the Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg commissioned a diamond ring as an engagement present for his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy, who is thought to be the first girl ever to receive a diamond ring to celebrate an engagement .  

Although engagement ring tradition is thought to stem from this love affair it would take a few centuries for it to take hold.

In the United States, the common practice of offering an engagement ring didn't surface until the 1840s and the custom at that time was that they were given to both men and women.²

The Tradition of Diamonds

It wasn't until the 20th century that the tradition of a man buying an expensive diamond ring for his fiancée in order to legitimize a marriage proposal became widespread.

Two factors are thought to have played an important role here—one piggy-backing on the other.

The first were marital law reforms that took place in the 1930s and 40s in the U.S. that no longer allowed for any legal recourse in the case of a broken engagement. Since there were no longer any perceived repercussions for breaking an engagement, an expensive diamond ring was seen to fill that void by becoming a measure of one's level of commitment.³

A second factor in solidifying the tradition of the diamond ring as an essential component to any proper wedding engagement was a groundbreaking DeBeers marketing campaign in 1947.

It proclaimed that "A Diamond is Forever" and positioned diamonds as a symbol of love and commitment and was in fact voted as the best slogan of the 20th century by Advertising Age.

In another marketing effort, DeBeers suggested that two to three months salary was a good measure for how much to spend.

They sure were clever marketers!

Diamond sales soared and from that point on, diamond engagement rings became as much a part of engagement ring tradition as getting down on one knee was to marriage proposals.

Which finger and why?  The custom of wearing an engagement ring on the fourth finger of the left hand comes from a belief that various cultures have subscribed to over the years based on the Latin term Vena Amoris which literally means the vein of love and was believed to run from the ring finger directly to the heart. True or not, it's sweet and romantic!

Engagement Rings Today

Although they have a rich history and are steeped in tradition, there are so many more things to think about today when buying an engagement ring that never crossed the minds of the ancient Egyptians, good old Maximilian, or even our grandparents.

The financial aspects of getting engaged today cannot be overlooked and are helping to form new traditions for engagements and weddings.

In tough economic times many couples look for inexpensive ring options or even, well, cheap engagement rings. Yes, there are some beauties out there that fall nicely into either of these categories and some great ways to find discounts, if you know what to look for and where to look.

Always remember that love is not measured by how much you spend or whether you bought an engagement ring on sale. It doesn't matter if it cost a king's ransom or came out of a gumball machine if the commitment and love are real the ring is precious regardless of how much it cost.

Love is what's in your heart and the commitment you have for each other. The ring itself is merely a symbol, so saving money where you can just makes sense, especially if you're looking at getting a loan to help pay for the ring.

Today we have additional costs that previous generations didn't necessarily have, like diamond appraisals and ring insurance to protect both our financial and emotional investments. These are a part of today's reality and being an educated consumer—this can be an expensive purchase so you need to protect it and yourselves.

Finally, given recent statistics on broken engagements and marriages, understanding your options when selling your ring is also something some of us may need to entertain one day—it's the reality of modern day society.

The good news is that in terms of design, the options now are endless and we have so many more choices than the Egyptians, Max or even our parents.

We have jewelers and retailers that offer impressive selections of everything from pre-engagement or promise rings, to bridal jewelry, to designer engagement rings and wedding bands—they come in every conceivable metal and gemstone and can satisfy every taste or budget.

We can even design our own engagement ring online from the comfort of our couch if that's what we want to do.

Engagement ring tradition dates back hundreds of years and has a rich history that has evolved over time to accommodate a changing world.

Social pressures, myths, legends, clever marketing and traditional beliefs have all played a role in the tradition we uphold today and will continue to do so well into the future.

1, 3 - Brinig, M. F. (1990). Rings and promises. Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, 6, 203–215.
2  - Rothman, E. K. (1984). Hands and Hearts: A history of courtship in America. New York: