November is the month of proposals, and what better way to propose to your fiancée than with a diamond ring? Historically, the tradition began in 1477. Then the Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy with diamonds set in the shape of an M. The De Beers Company carried on and popularised the practice in 1947 with their timeless slogan, A Diamond Is Forever.
Simplicity was a dominant factor in the design of the engagement ring during the 1950s. Thus, a simple band with a single round solitaire was the preferred design. At the peak of De Beers campaign, Marilyn Monroe's performance of Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend in the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes cemented the association of diamonds with a marriage that lasts forever. The sentimentality of a lasting marriage transformed the idea from diamonds as a luxury to diamonds being essential when proposing!
With the turn of the millennium, proposals featuring diamonds became more common. Halo Rings, a centrepiece cushion-cut diamond surrounded by a halo of pavé diamonds, was the bling.
With celebrity engagements showcasing coloured diamonds, diamond jewellery collections grew from proposing with just a single solitaire to solitaires surrounded by pavé halo studded bands! Two banded diamond rings with a centre cushion cut diamonds have also made a comeback.
With so much emotion around the diamond, why not propose using them? With the popularity of online shopping and millennials thinking about marriage, they have begun to buy diamond jewellery online. Today, diamond sellers also sell matching diamond sets and eternity bands set with 1-carat diamonds online. Today, engaged couples have the choice between vintage designs and contemporary designs. This means that diamonds have become affordable for everyone who aspires to a lasting marriage. Thus, despite the different generations, the diamond really does last forever as the choice for engagement rings.