Diamonds... an Icon of Love

The diamond acquired its unique status as the ultimate gift of love as far back as the fifteenth century.

The tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring as a promise for marriage began in 1477 with Archduke Maximillian of Austria and Mary of Burgundy. At that time, diamonds were looked upon as talismans, or charms that could enhance the love between husband and wife. Even Cupid’s arrows were said to be tipped with diamonds, which had a magic that nothing else could equal. From this time forward, the royal tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring began to be embraced by people around the world, eventually becoming as much of a milestone in one’s life as the engagement itself.

Wearing a diamond ring on the fourth finger of the left hand dates far back to ancient Egypt, where it was believed that the vena amoris (the vein of love) ran from that finger directly to the heart. Placing a diamond, with its enduring power, on that finger, was – and still is – seen as the ultimate way to connect love with eternity.