One of the first recorded accounts of an engagement ring was in 1477 when the Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring 24 hours before their wedding. This introduced a tradition that has spanned several centuries and continents.
For the next 400 years, diamonds were only a luxury for the extremely wealthy, because diamond mines weren't discovered in South Africa until 1870, making diamonds even more rare than today. Because of this, the engagement ring of choice for very many was a colored stone. Long before lab created stones, rings were set with precious and semi precious jewels to signify love and commitment.
Along with many of our ancestors, hundreds of European royals choose sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and aquamarines for their engagement.
Whether you're looking for finger coverage on a budget, or hoping for something different than the ever common diamond, a colored stone engagement ring is surely something to consider. Now, enough of my blabbing.. on to the eye candy!
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| This beauty is a Single Stone creation, with a breathtaking sapphire center stone. |
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| This one is too beautiful for words. A mahenge spinel set in Jewels by Erica Grace's Kylie halo. Look at that color! |
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| Leon Mege Emerald and diamond three stone ring. Drooling yet? |
