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.