The Dark History of Engagement Rings

Engagement rings have been a cherished symbol of love for centuries, and whether a person is engaged, dreams of their partner proposing, or simply loves the sparkle and shine of a diamond engagement ring, most individuals view this bauble as a one-of-kind piece of jewelry. It’s worth noting that the engagement rings we know and love today are nothing like the ones of years past—and, frankly, the history of these sparklers might completely surprise you. What we now view as a physical representation of marriage was 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, but for those interested in learning more about how this wedding accessory rose from infamy to fame, we put together a brief guide on the history of engagement rings. Here’s your crash course on how these sparklers came about, how they’ve evolved, and what they symbolize in modern-day times.

The History of Engagement Rings

Like so many customs today, engagement rings can be traced back to Ancient Rome, when Roman women wore rings of ivory, flint, bone, copper, and iron “to signify a business contract or to affirm mutual love and obedience” to men, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). These Roman baubles were derived from rings worn by Egyptian pharaohs, however, who sported similar accessories to reflect the shape of the sun and the moon, which the Egyptians worshipped, as noted on the GIA website.

As further reported 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. The Cape Town Diamond Museum adds that 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.”

Fast forward to the 15th century when engagement rings began to embody the symbolism of intertwined unity that we think of today. This is when gimmel rings, or rings comprised of three connected bands, began to surge in popularity; each 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. Posy rings—baubles that were intricately engraved and hid inscriptions of love poetry on the inside of the band—quickly followed suit as a popular design, with couples exchanging both silver and gold iterations during their ceremonies.

The Evolution of Modern-Day Engagement Rings

Though Archduke Maximilian of Austria was the first to propose with a diamond engagement ring, he was by no means a trendsetter—diamond baubles 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. Since then, diamonds have become the “forever” symbol of eternal love and a go-to stone for couples getting engaged.

That being said, in recent years, there has been a shift in engagement ring preferences, with people now opting for unique shapes and sizes, colored gemstones, and rings made out of unexpected materials. Case in point? Celebrities are favoring unique sparklers when they get engaged: Selena Gomez now wears a marquise-cut diamond engagement ring, Kate Middleton’s sapphire and diamond ring is one of the most well-know baubles in the world, and Blake Lively sports a light pink oval diamond from Ryan Reynolds. And though their partnerships didn’t work out, Emily Ratajkowski and Ariana Grande both wore toi et moi engagement rings at one point.

There has also been a huge rise in lab-grown stones for those searching for an alternative, affordable, and eco-conscious option. But even with the recent evolution in aesthetics, one thing’s for certain: Engagement rings are now, and forever will be, a symbol of everlasting love.