The Surprising History of Engagement Rings

The history of engagement rings is actually quite surprising. To start, what we consider a symbol of love today may have been nothing more than a mark of ownership to the Romans and Egyptians of the 2nd century BC. Not very romantic, right? Luckily, times have changed, and given the fact that engagement rings are now synonymous with marriage and love, we think it's essential to provide a crash course—and a history lesson—on this famous piece of jewelry. After all, we can't be the only ones Googling "when did engagement rings start?", so read on for everything you need to know.

An Ancient Sign of Ownership

Like so many customs today, engagement rings can be traced all the way back to Ancient Rome. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Roman women wore rings of ivory, flint, bone, copper, and iron "to signify a business contract or to affirm mutual love and obedience." These newer, more durable materials are what replaced the original reed and hemp bands used by the Ancient Egyptians years prior. Specifically, as noted on the GIA website, "It was the Egyptian pharaohs who first used rings to represent eternity. That’s because a circle has no beginning and no end, and reflects the shape of the sun and the moon, which the Egyptians worshipped." Gold rings and other jewelry were later found in the ruins of Pompeii, proving that the yellow metal became the material of choice in the era, replacing the usage of all other materials.

A Mark for Marriage

As further noted by the GIA, it wasn't until 850 CE that the engagement ring was given an official meaning, with Pope Nicholas I declaring that this piece of jewelry represented a man's intent to marry. What's more, according to the Cape Town Diamond Museum, it wasn't until 1477 that the first diamond appeared on an engagement ring by way of Archduke Maximilian of Austria, who proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a stone setting shaped like the letter "M".

The Original Ring Stack

In the 15th century, engagement rings began to embody the symbolism of intertwined unity that we think of today. That's when gimmel rings, or rings comprised of three connected bands, surged in popularity. This piece would begin as individual bands, one worn by each half of the engaged couple, and on the wedding day, the two bands would be connected with a third (the wedding band) and worn by the new bride as her wedding ring set.

An Enlightened Approach

While gimmel rings held steady into the Age of Enlightenment, posy rings also began to circulate amongst the betrothed set. These rings were intricately engraved and hid inscriptions of love poetry on the inside of the band. At times, the silver posy engagement ring would be exchanged for a gold iteration during the wedding ceremony.

The Rise of Diamonds

Even though the Archduke was the first to propose with a diamond ring, he was by no means a trendsetter. In fact, diamond engagement rings didn't become popular until 1947 when De Beers, the British company that mined diamonds in South Africa, launched an advertising campaign. With the help of Hollywood stars and the slogan, "A diamond is forever," diamond engagement rings skyrocketed in popularity for the first time since their appearance stateside in 1840.

The Latest Trends

In recent years, we've started to see a shift in engagement ring preferences. Of course, diamonds are still a popular option, but more and more brides are now opting for colored gemstones and rings made out of unique materials. For instance, just look at Blake Lively's light pink oval diamond in a rose-gold setting from Ryan Reynolds, and Katy Perry's unique ruby sparkler, set in a floral halo design, from Orlando Bloom. Even singer Ariana Grande broke from tradition when she debuted a pearl and diamond bauble from now-husband Dalton Gomez in December 2020. And as of late, there's also been a huge rise in lab-grown diamonds, an alternative and affordable option for those with eco-conscious sensibilities.