Engagement rings have been a part of human culture for thousands of years. In fact, the Egyptians were the first culture we know of that used rings as a symbol of future betrothal. For them, the circular band symbolised both passage to the man’s heart and eternal love. Throughout the ages various engagement ring styles have been used to symbolise love and dedication, with both the Romans and Greeks using engagement rings to cement both passionate and political marriages.
The concept of an engagement, and therefore an engagement ring, was actually created by Pope Innocent III in 1215, who dictated that there should be a waiting period between a proposal and a ceremony. This largely only affected nobility, as they were the only ones allowed to wear rings at the time. The idea of diamond engagement rings was popularised in 1477 by Archduke Maximilian of Austria, who proposed to his bride to be, Mary of Burgundy, with a diamond ring. And guess which of the engagement ring styles he used? Yup, a solitaire. When large diamond deposits were found in Africa in 1870, popularity for diamond engagement rings sky-rocketed, creating a whole new range of engagement ring styles. Here are a few that are amongst our most popular.