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In Prehistoric times, cavemen would tie string around their mates' wrists, ankles, and fingers in order to bring her spirit under his control. This was aslo used to show others who had already been "claimed" and who was available.
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During this time, arranged marriages were the norm throughout civilizations. Due to the culture of arranged marriages, the groom's entire family was often involved in the proposal to the bride's family. In fact, the bride and groom themselves were rarely involved in the engagement rites.
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In one of the first recorded uses of a diamond in an engagement ring, an Austrian Archduke proposed to Mary of Burgundy. The ring is simple, and unpolished by today's standards.
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Poesy rings, or those with short poems inscribed wiithin them, were vogue in Europe during the 1700's. The Puritans in America, however, saw them as frivolous, and gave their betrothed the more practical gift of a thimble instead.
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A diamond mine is discovered in Cape Colony, Africa. This discovery will begin a massive increase in diamond supply around the world.
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Cecil Rhodes, along with other investors, founded the DeBeers Mining Company. They will soon control over 90 percent of the worldwide diamond market. The company is still in business today.
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Tiffany and Co introduces their iconic "Tiffany Setting", a six-pronged ring designed to make the center diamond appear as large and as brilliant as possible.
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To adress inconsistencies in the qualities and sizes of diamonds being sold, the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) was created. They would soon establishe standards that would change the way diamonds are bought and sold forever.
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Researchers at GIA develop and patent the modern jewelers loupe, a magnifying tool used for closely examining diamonds and gemstones.
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Engagement rings become the most popular line of jewelry in jewelry stores around the world.
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Although men have not begun to wear engagement rings. they have began to wear wedding bands. An American Catholic Priest calls this practice into question, and he is approved by the American Ecclesiastical Review to perform "double ring" ceremonies.
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GIA issues the first diamond grading reports. These become an industry standard, and are still issued today as proof of a diamond's color, cut, and clarity.
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GIA introduces "4 C's" as a standard of determining the quality of a diamond. The C's stand for cut, color, clarirt, and carat, all of which are used to determine the value of a stone. This international grading system is now industry standard, and is the most useful tool for consumers to date.
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GIA creates an app that educates consumers about the 4 C's. The app is very interactive, and allows consumers to practice grading diamonds and gives clear examples.
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Today, engagement is a very common practice before marriage. Nearly every couple utilizes an engagement ring, and 92% of the time features a diamond. According to Huffington Post, the average length of engagement before marriage is between 13-18 months.
