One of the special items to purchase for a wedding is the engagement ring. However, have you ever wondered how the wedding tradition came to be? According to anthropologists, this tradition has a Roman custom origin wherein wives wore rings that are attached to small keys to indicate the ownership of their husbands. It was started in 1477 by Archduke Maximillian of Austria when he commissioned the first engagement ring on record to Mary of Burgundy, his betrothed. What ensued was a trend in using diamond rings among the nobles and aristocrats. The Victorians, on the other hand, made the ornate engagement ring designs that include gemstones, precious metals, and enamels popular. In 1947, DeBeers, the international company that specializes in everything that has to do with diamonds, began its classical slogan “A Diamond Is Forever.” Diamond’s durability conveys the meaning to Americans that marriage is forever. The stone’s purity and sparkle have become symbols of the depth of commitment of two individuals to each other.
The Popular Cuts
Through the years, the most popular diamond engagement ring cut is the round brilliant. This has 58 facets that divide the stone into upper and lower halves. The other popular cuts include the princess cut, oval cut, emerald cut, and the cushion cut which has become a popular trend.
Highly Unique Engagement Ring Ideas
When it comes to engagement rings, they can be as unique as you want. After all, women’s rings don’t want to have engagement rings that look just like all the others. You may pick from any of the following ideas that completely stand out.
Personal note. Instead of the usual engraving of initials on the inside of the band, you can make it less conspicuous by making the initials part of the setting.
A lustrous pearl. The round cut stone is replaced with a pearl in the center. It gives every woman a vintage and at the same time modern look.
Band aid. The classic style always includes five stones. To make it unique set in a super-thick and ultra-modern band.
Shape shifter. Colorful rings are totally a hit, but you can have a sapphire-colored stone that comes in a triangular shape to be unique.
Rough look. You can have irregular-shaped stones which are in fact uncut diamonds. That only means that they are super shiny, but you can’t duplicate the shape, making them a cut above the rest literally.
Twisted setting. The solitaire diamond engagement ring is a classic, but you can put a twist on it by having the rough-cut diamond paired with a twisted wraparound setting. This will allow the attention to be gravitated to the center stone.
There are many other options to consider if you want to be as creative as you want to be in choosing an engagement ring.
