Engagement rings make any everlasting love relationship even more special and sweet. However, have you ever stopped to ask how this custom came about for the first time?
Thousands of years ago, Egyptians buried the remains of their loved ones with gold and silver rings around the middle finger; They believed that this particular finger had a direct link to the heart, the so-called “love vein.” In the 1st century BC. C., sheikhs and sultans used engagement rings as markers for each of their wives.
In 1217, the Bishop of Salisbury declared engagement rings legally binding, and in 1477, the first documented use of a diamond ring was recorded to declare the engagement between Archduke Maximillian of Austria and his beloved Mary of Burgundy.
Other fun facts about engagement rings :
Now that we’ve had a look at the history behind the engagement ring, let’s take a look at these trivia: In many Western countries, wedding bands and engagement rings have traditionally been exclusively for women. In Central and Eastern Europe it is accepted to wear the wedding band on the right hand and the engagement ring on the left.
Interestingly, the smallest engagement ring ever produced in history was given to two-year-old Princess Mary. Mary was the daughter of the infamous King Henry VIII, of the House of Tudors in England. She had been engaged to another baby, Prince Dauphin of France. Therefore, the ring was made to fit perfectly on the girl’s finger.
In Persia, tradition dictates that the groom has to give a ring to all the guests attending the ceremony. Most interestingly, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert handed out six dozen rings at their wedding, each engraved with the queen’s profile.
The design of the English royal engagement rings consists of three to five diamonds. Interestingly, in the Charter of England prior to Magna, there were laws that prohibited non-royalty or non-church members from obtaining rings that were adorned with multiple stones .
Have you found any of these fun engagement ring facts interesting and engaging? If you want to have your own personalized and handmade engagement ring, book an appointment with us ! Let’s discuss how we can turn your one-of-a-kind engagement ring concept into a brilliant reality.
