Somalian Girl Fashion Ruby Diamond Engagement Ring 170

 Somalian Girl Fashion Ruby Diamond Engagement Ring.   

By Farzana Aamir.

A DIAMOND IS FOREVER. SINCE WHEN?

This red emission adds to the red color perceived by the subtraction of green and violet light from white light, and adds luster to the gem's appearance. When the optical arrangement is such that the emission is stimulated by 694-nanometer photons reflecting back and forth between two mirrors, the emission grows strongly in intensity. This effect was used by 

Solomon Islands Girl Fashion Ruby Diamond Engagement Ring 169

Solomon Islands Girl Fashion Ruby Diamond Engagement Ring.  

By Farzana Aamir

Slovenian Girl Fashion Ruby Diamond Engagement Ring 168

Slovenian Girl Fashion Ruby Diamond Engagement Ring.  

By Farzana Aamir 

 In the 1870s, though, miners began discovering huge veins of diamonds in South Africa, and ice started flooding onto world markets. Diamonds had quickly gone from 

 being a scarce gem to a pretty common commodity, which was bad news for everyone in the diamond business who wanted to fetch high prices for their wares. These mine owners realized they would have to be clever if they wanted to keep getting top dollar for an increasingly common gem.

Slovakian Girl Fashion Ruby Diamond Engagement Ring 167

Slovakian Girl Fashion Ruby Diamond Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aamir 

While engagement rings have been around for centuries, diamonds are a fairly late addition to the party. For many years, there simply weren’t all that many diamonds on the world market, so diamond engagement rings were pretty rare. The rock Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave to Mary of Burgundy in 1477 was an early exception.

Despite that high-profile ring, things stayed pretty quiet on the diamond front through the late 19th century.

Sierra Leone Women 2014 Fashion Ruby Diamond Engagement Ring 165

Sierra Leone Women 2014 Fashion Ruby Diamond Engagement Ring.  

By Farzana Aamir 

The holiday season seems like prime time for new engagements, but have you ever wondered why brides-to-be receive diamond engagement rings? Let’s dig around for some answers.

The idea of giving a ring as a sign of betrothal isn’t a particularly new one. The Romans were known to swap modest betrothal rings or iron; in later periods they switched over to gold. The rings’ popularity hit a lull for hundreds of years before picking back up in the 12th century when Pope Innocent III laid down some new ground rules about weddings. All weddings had to take place in a church, and the bride had to receive a ring. Moreover, couples had to observe a new waiting period between their betrothal and marriage. European aristocrats began giving engagement rings to their beloveds while they counted down the days until they could actually wed.

Seychelles Women 2014 New Fashion Engagement Ring 164

Seychelles Women 2014 Fashion Ruby Diamond Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aamir 

Angelina Jolie

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Who can forget the media frenzy when Brad Pitt gave Angelina Jolie this stunning ring?  Brad helped design the tablet-shaped diamond engagement ring estimated at 16-carats and worth an estimated $500,000.

For more famous engagement rings, check out our Pinterest page.

Serbian Women 2014 New Fashion Engagement Ring 163

Serbian Women 2014 New Fashion Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aamir 

Years later, Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with the oval sapphire and diamond engagement ring that belonged to his mother, Princess Diana.  The proposal took place on a trip the two took to Kenya.  Prince William carried the ring around with him in his “rucksack” for three weeks in Africa before he finally found the perfect moment to propose.

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Senegal Women 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring 162

Senegal Women 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aamir

liz taylor

Princess Diana and Princess Kate

One of the most famous engagement rings of all time is the ring Prince Charles gave to Princess Diana in February 1981. The engagement ring consists of 14 solitaire diamonds elegantly surrounding a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire set in 18-carat white gold. It was created by jeweler Garrard.

Saudi Arabian Women 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring 161

Saudi Arabian Women 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring.

By Farzana Aamir

Elizabeth Taylor

Richard Burton famously purchased a 69.42 carat pear-shaped diamond from Cartier for his wife Elizabeth Taylor.  The diamond was originally owned by Harriet Annenberg Ames. It was subsequently purchased at auction by Robert Kenmore, owner of the luxury brand Cartier for a then record $1,050,000. It is regarded as the world’s first million-dollar diamond.

Sao Tome and Principe Women 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring 160

Sao Tome and Principe Women 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aamir

Grace Kelly

Prince Rainier III originally proposed to Grace Kelly with a Cartier eternity band of diamond and rubies. After a trip to Los Angeles, the Prince realized that all the actresses were wearing large diamond engagement rings.  He then promptly purchased this 10.47 emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Cartier. Stunning!

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San Marino Women 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring 159

San Marino Women 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aamir

Jackie_ Kennedy 1

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were married on January 14, 1954 in a judge’s chambers at San Francisco’s City Hall.  Marilyn did not have an engagement ring, however, wore this beautiful platinum eternity band set with 35 baguette-cut diamonds.

Samoa Women 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring 158

Samoa Women 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aamir

Jacqueline Kennedy

John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Kennedy with a diam

ond and emerald engagement ring.  The ring consisted of one 2.88-carat diamond mounted next to a 2.84-carat emerald with tapered baguettes. In 1962, a total weight of 0.66 carats of round diamonds and 1.46 carats of marquise diamonds were added to the ring.

Saint Vincent Girl 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring 157

Saint Vincent Girl 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aamir

Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth II was presented with this 3 carat diamond solitaire engagement ring from Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, which came from his mother’s tiara. They married in 1947.

Saint Lucian Girl 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring 156

Saint Lucian Girl 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aamir

 Joséphine de Beauharnais

As a symbol of his love for his wife-to-be Joséphine, Napoleon Bonaparte presented her with a diamond and sapphire engagement ring.  The gold ring is adorned with two pear-shaped stones – a blue sapphire and diamond that rest side by side facing opposite directions. The ring recently sold at auction for $949,000.

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Saint Kitts and Nevis Girl 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring 155

Saint Kitts and Nevis Girl 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aami

Lets start where the tradition of giving engagement rings began…

Mary of Burgundy

It is believed that the first diamond engagement ring was given by Archduke Maximilian of Austria when he proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a ring set with thin, flat pieces of diamonds in the shape of an “M.”

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Rwanda Girl 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring 154

Rwanda Girl 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aamir 

Famous Engagement Rings Throughout History

Posted on July 15, 2013 by alson jewelers

Screen Shot 2013-07-15 at 11.12.38 AMThere have been many beautiful engagement rings worn by famous women throughout history.  We decided to take a look at some of these beautiful rings and the women who wore them.  Who can forget the ring Richard Burton gave to Elizabeth Taylor or Angelina Jolie’s spectacular ring?

Russian Federation Girl 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring 153

 Russian Federation Girl 2014 Fashion Diamond Engagement Ring.

 By Farzana Aamir 

Modern Days

So when a young couple enters a jewelry store to buy a diamond engagement ring, they are following a surprisingly recent custom, though one so strongly fixed in our culture it seems to have been here far longer. In fact, if it weren’t for Archduke Maximilian, a boy who lived in 1870’s South Africa and the marketing geniuses of De Beers Consolidated we might still be giving our fiancés cheap tumblers or rough looking iron rings. Whether the change is for the better probably depends on if you’re a man or a woman…

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