Where Does the Engagement Ring Tradition Come From?

It's a perfect circle, often adorned with a sparkling stone, worn on the left ring finger. The engagement ring is much more than just a piece of jewelry. It's the universal symbol of a promise, the silent prelude to a life-changing "yes." But have you ever wondered where this tradition, so deeply rooted in our culture, comes from?

Its history is a fascinating journey, dating back to antiquity and crossing the ages to become the symbol we know today.

1. The Origins: Ancient Rome and the "Vena Amoris"

The earliest evidence of a promise ring dates back to ancient Rome. Far from being a symbol of romance, the "anulus pronubus" (engagement ring) was a simple iron circle. It was not given out of love, but to seal a contract. By accepting it, the woman legally committed herself to her future husband.

The Romans also owe the tradition of wearing this ring on the left ring finger. They believed that a vein, the "Vena Amoris" (the vein of love), directly connected this finger to the heart. A poetic belief that has survived the centuries, even though science has since proven it to be anatomically false.

2. The Middle Ages: The Diamond, Symbol of Eternity

For centuries, the engagement ring remained a simple circle. But in 1477, an event would change everything. Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave his bride, Mary of Burgundy, a ring adorned with diamonds in the shape of an "M." It was the first-ever documented diamond engagement ring in history. The choice was no accident: diamonds, the hardest stone in the world, symbolize an indestructible and eternal love. The tradition was born, but it remained reserved for the aristocracy for centuries.

3. The 20th Century: "A Diamond is Forever"

The diamond engagement ring as we know it is actually a very recent marketing invention. In the 1940s, the mining company De Beers, faced with declining sales, launched a landmark advertising campaign with the slogan "A Diamond is Forever."

This campaign definitively associates diamonds with eternal love and marriage in the collective mind. Its success is global, transforming a rare luxury product into a near-obligatory standard for marriage proposals.

4. And today?

Today, the tradition is evolving. While diamonds remain a classic, many couples are turning to other stones (sapphires, emeralds, rubies) or choosing more personal rings, sometimes even without a stone.

More than the jewelry itself, it's the gesture that counts. The engagement ring has become the symbol of an intimate decision, the first visible step in a life project together.

Conclusion: A Circle of Promises

From a simple iron contract to a symbol of eternal love, the engagement ring has traversed history, imbued with emotion. It reminds us that, whatever the era, the need to materialize a promise and celebrate commitment remains a universal desire.

Now that you know the history of the ring, discover our ideas for an engagement gift that lasts (after the champagne) .