12 Facts About Engagement Rings?

 

Engagement rings

– How engagement rings became a tradition

– How love is helping bling sales

– Something from the history of diamonds

Metals, diamonds and rings….

Engagement rings are used all over the world now as a symbol and promise of love. Savings and pay-checks are committed to buy precious metals and diamonds befitting such a joyous occasion. But does anyone know any real facts about how and why this tradition came to be?
Some facts about engagement rings:

Tiffany engagement ring

• In 1477, Archduke Maximillian of Austria presented a gold ring set with a diamond to Mary of Burgundy as a symbol of his love. That was how the engagement ring tradition started.
• According to some ancient cultures, there is a vein on the third finger which goes directly to the heart. This vein of “love” is called Vena Amoris.
• The De Beers Platinum is the most expensive engagement ring in the world; it weighs 9-carats and cost about £1.2 million.
• An engagement ring can also be used as a wedding band; there are some designs that incorporate both.
• Is some parts of the world like England, France, Canada and the US, engagement rings are worn on the left hand, while in countries like Russia, Germany and India, the tradition is to wear them on the right hand.
• White Gold or Platinum are the most commonly used metal for engagement ring; another metal growing in popularity is Palladium because it is a luxury but cheaper alternative.
• December is the most popular time of the year for getting engaged.
• Although diamonds were discovered in India around 800 B.C, they were not used on engagement rings or wedding bands until the 15^th century.
• The average carat weight for diamonds in engagement rings is around 0.37 carats.
• A real diamond will glow in the dark for a few seconds if ultraviolet light is shined on it.
• Less than 1% of mined diamonds are conflict related; something called the Kimberly Process has been put in place to make sure that diamonds are not supplied through conflict or civil wars.
• Synthetic diamonds of about 2.5 carats can be developed within four days while the youngest (natural) diamond is about 900 million years old.