An Engaging Stone

With Valentine’s Day approaching, it seemed fitting to feature the very symbol of love and commitment - the diamond engagement ring.

Most people believe that the tradition of engagement rings began with the Greeks. The practice of wearing the engagement ring on the left hand, however, dates back to an Egyptian tradition of wanting the ring to be on the vena amoris, or the “vein of love”, located on the fourth finger of the left hand. One of the first noted accounts of an engagement ring being given was when the Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy on the occasion of their betrothal in 1477. At that time, diamonds were reserved for royalty and the wealthy. It wasn’t until the introduction of modern mining techniques in South Africa in the late 1800’s that they became accessible to the public.

As every woman knows, engagement rings come in all shape and sizes. This particular ring is platinum with an old mine cut diamond, set with a diamond baguette on either side. The old mine cut predates the current standard, the round brilliant diamond, and was popular in the 18th & 19th centuries (for another example of an old mine cut, see our previous post on the Edwardian pendant). Since this cut predates modern advances in the science of diamond cutting, they can be less brilliant than what we are used to today. Modern cuts adhere to specific guidelines for maximizing the brilliance and light return of a diamond; while old mine cuts can be irregular or have poor symmetry. That being said, they have a certain charm and a very “soft” look that some people prefer. However, while many collectors appreciate old mine cut diamonds, they tend not to fetch as high of a price in the secondary market as modern cuts do. Print this post