Diamond engagement rings have amazingly deep symbolism. The round ring is reminiscent of eternity without end and beginning and the single essence of two people who decide to tie themselves by family ties.
A diamond is a cut diamond, which means “indestructible” in Greek. A tiny piece of jewelry thus speaks of the indestructible relationship and mutual love of two people connected into a single whole.
Traditions and historical facts
In 1477, Archduke Maximilian gave his bride, Mary of Burgundy, a diamond ring. It is believed that it was this historical fact that began the tradition among European nobility to express the depth and sincerity of their feelings by giving a ring with a precious mineral.
Over the next few centuries, this fashion strengthened among representatives of the royal dynasties, and with the beginning of the development of diamond mines in South Africa in 1870, it began to spread to other wealthy classes.
European unmarried gentlemen had the custom of always carrying a lady's jewelry with a precious stone: they hid it for the time being behind a ribbon on a hat, so that at the right opportunity they could give it to their chosen one.
At the end of the 19th century, the conglomerate De Beers controlled the diamond market: with the help of a powerful advertising campaign, it popularized diamond products and made them a desirable luxury item for the population of America and Europe.
Platinum engagement rings gained popularity in the early 20th century, but with the outbreak of World War II, platinum became scarce due to its strategic importance in the war industry. They were replaced by white and yellow alloys.
Beautiful red gold engagement rings with diamonds
Against the backdrop of the fashion for colored gold, wedding rings made of red gold with diamonds look special; they occupy a special niche in today's jewelry collections.
Firstly, metal in classic shades of red is cautiously but returning to trends, and secondly, it looks stylish only in jewelry created in a vintage style. Considering that the engagement ring will be with you every day, everywhere, for many years, you should be very careful when choosing it. In addition, the chances are too high that it will simply not fit well with other jewelry and with the fashionable looks that you create every day.
Alternative and most interesting solutions for such jewelry are, as always, offered by luxury jewelry brands such as Lugano Diamonds and Buccellati. The designers of these brands literally ignore the cost of precious stones and metals, using them only as expressive means to create jewelry, the main quality of which is a unique design, far from classical ideas. Luxury brands set the tone in fashion, but strictly adhere to the classic principle of creating such jewelry: a very personal way of expressing feelings.
Take a look at the diamond engagement rings in these photos, designer proposals are an excellent investment in your own image:
What is unique?
In the European tradition, a wedding ring, unlike ordinary jewelry, is usually worn on the fourth ring finger.
The custom goes back to the ancient Greeks' ideas about the structure of the human body: it was believed that the vein of the fourth finger was directly connected to the heart. It was called by the ancients the vein of love.
The jewelry company De Beers, a monopolist on the diamond market at the beginning of the 20th century, conducted an unprecedented advertising campaign called “Diamonds are Forever.”
They managed to advertise engagement jewelry with cut diamonds in a difficult way: the company created a special engagement etiquette for future grooms, which is still followed by residents of the United States. It was believed that the groom was obliged to present the future bride with a ring worth two of his monthly salaries.
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Models current in 2022
The most popular trend of 2022 is red gold. Designers offer options with a diamond edge or a smooth surface.
The white alloy does not lose its position in combination with a laconic design and diamond cut. Despite their apparent simplicity, these decorations will sparkle and sparkle amazingly in the sun.
Among the elite niche, royal monograms are considered a trend.
Men's
Men's fashion gravitates towards minimalist shapes and combined colors. Washers, squares and a deliberately rough top layer seem to be contrasted with feminine openwork forging.
Straight edges are decorated with stones with horizontal grooves. Black minerals look interesting and noble against a silver surface.
Women's
The classic model of three intertwined circles of different shades, as well as openwork floral weaves and ornaments, are in great demand.
For business ladies, in the new collections there are pieces with black stones, similar to men's designs.
In the countries of Western Europe of the 17th-18th centuries, among the upper classes there was a fashion for women's wedding rings with a ruby or diamond in the shape of a heart. The stones had a symbolic meaning: they assured the chosen one of the eternal love and fidelity of her future spouse.
Doubles
Paired rings became widespread during the Renaissance. Interesting fact: there could be not two rings, but three. The first was worn by the future bride, the second by the groom, and the third by the witness. On the wedding day, all the rings were combined into one. The paired item was called “Gimmel”: the founder of the Protestant religious movement, Martin Luther, was married with a triple ring.
Today, many pairs are leaning toward the European white gold version, which has a round shape and a flat cross-section.
A simple design can be complemented by stripes with small stones.
With one stone
This is the first time a single diamond has appeared in the collection of the Tiffany jewelry house. Today, this laconic, sophisticated white gold model is in great demand in European countries.
placer
An elegant and very feminine option for sophisticated taste and delicate physique.
The placer is presented in the collections of such world jewelry houses as Chopard and Cartier.
Engraving
An absolute hit of the season: unique inscriptions on the inside or outside.
They can be names, dates or love vows. An innovation was the inscriptions on the outer surface: in the old days, such liberty was considered a strange ostentatious eccentricity, which cannot be said about secret engraving, hidden from prying eyes.
Path of diamonds
A model with three or five diamonds arranged in a single line is called a “Princess Ring”: an English classic for engagement.
After the first decades of the 20th century, it was almost forgotten, but today jewelers have introduced it into the collections of world brands.
Black Diamond Engagement Rings in Black Gold
The trend for gold in non-standard shades is being actively developed by leading jewelry brands aimed at a youth audience. All over the world today there is a decline in interest in standard, visually status and expensive jewelry.
Therefore, it is not surprising that one of the most fashionable wedding jewelry is black diamond engagement rings made of black gold:
They literally return the meaning and symbolism of such rings, which are given and worn not for show, but as a sign of love.
Designers use black, rare and exclusive stones in combination with both transparent diamonds and monochrome – absolutely black inlays. Jewelers do not hide the fact that this jewelry is “not for everyone,” and therefore they extremely rarely use classical design standards when creating such rings. However, the fashion for them is rapidly gaining momentum among the most sophisticated connoisseurs.
This is exactly the ring, by the way, that was presented to Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Carrie in the movie “Sex and the City” as an engagement ring.
Materials
Jewelry fashion of the 21st century is characterized by a mixture of shades of precious alloys.
The smallest gold ring, encrusted with a diamond, was received by Henry VIII's two-year-old daughter, Mary, on the occasion of her engagement in 1518. The decoration was the guarantee of her future union with the newborn son of King Francis I of France.
White gold
Noble classic. The popular 585 standard indicates the high durability and practicality of the jewelry in everyday life.
750 alloy shines much brighter, but with prolonged use its surface is quickly scratched.
Yellow gold
It is not very popular in wedding collections (with the exception of combined alloys). It is preferred only in the countries of East Asia and Turkey. Yellow color is more in harmony with stones of warm colors: rubies and emeralds.
If you decide to pay tribute to tradition, opt for the retro version with openwork forging.
Red gold
The alloy is produced by adding a master alloy of copper and zinc. The deep red color is achieved thanks to palladium, and the soft pink hue of the alloy is given by an admixture of silver. The red alloy jewelry with a pure white stone looks royal and noble.
Another distinctive feature of the alloy is its strength and durability: museum exhibits from the late 19th century have still not lost their aristocratic appearance. It is interesting that in the last century, red gold was the main raw material in jewelry factories of the USSR.
Beauty of the East from Boghossian
Boghossian ring with a pink diamond weighing 5 carats
The Swiss jewelry house Boghossian, famous for its unusual jewelry, presented a ring so exotic and sophisticated that it is more reminiscent of oriental patterns and ornaments than a living flower. A massive colorless diamond rests on the golden bed of an improvised flower bud, and on it, as if emerging from the water to the surface, is a bright pink diamond weighing 5 carats. The ring is additionally inlaid with many small colorless diamonds.
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How to choose
We offer several important tips that will greatly simplify your choice and allow you not to get lost in the variety of offers presented on the shelves of jewelry stores and in the collections of famous brands.
- Decide on the metal that appeals to you most or a combination of them. Before going to the salon, study or at least view the collections presented on the seller’s website.
- Try on several models you like to roughly determine the thickness, shape, number and arrangement of stones. Take a closer look at the cut and shape of the stone.
There is no need to be upset if the model you like does not fit: the ring in the photo and on the finger are “two big differences.”
- Do not forget that large, protruding stones will be impractical in everyday life: at a minimum, they will cling to clothing.
- Modern wedding fashion allows for a move away from paired rings: everyone chooses what they like best.
- It is important that the ring does not squeeze the finger or scratch the skin, and also does not fly off the finger freely.
- The decoration must be in harmony with the shape and fullness of the brush. A thin mug will be lost against the backdrop of a full hand, just as a massive ring will not go well with overly thin fingers.
- Products of 750 standard are distinguished by a brighter shine, but lower hardness compared to 585 standard. The cost will directly depend on the height of the sample.
If you need to reduce the size of the selected model, keep in mind: smooth rings with a minimum of stones are much easier to adjust to size than products of complex shapes with diamonds.
For such a solemn and important acquisition, a frame of appropriate value is required: only cases made of velvet in dark green, deep blue or burgundy shades.
After payment for the purchase, the seller is obliged to issue a quality certificate from the manufacturer certifying the authenticity of the diamonds.
Legendary brands and their collections
The unique design of products from legendary world brands is easy to recognize at first glance. Exclusive models boast a long history: they have become samples and objects of inspiration for many jewelry makers.
Tiffany
- Tiffany Setting. Classic wedding decoration from Tiffany. This sophisticated piece with a large diamond set in the claws appeared about 130 years ago and revolutionized the jewelry world. The excitement was due to a new technique for setting the gemstone. The prongs allowed the sun's rays to refract from the side and bottom edges of the diamond: the product shone on the bride's finger, like a small star.
- Atlas. Openwork ring in white gold with two tracks of tiny diamonds. The middle of the ring has Roman numeral bars.
- De Beers Infinity. Another classic option in the figure eight shape with one or two lines of diamonds. The infinity symbol is made in white alloy.
- Bridal Graff. Once again, a delicate and sophisticated model in white gold with a heart-shaped gem set in the prongs.
Chopard
- Timeless wedding band. A band of square-cut diamonds totaling approximately 2.46 carats, set in brilliant platinum.
- L'heure du diamond. Triple ring set with 69 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling approximately 5.80 carats. The stones are set individually on a 18-carat white gold band.
- Ice cube. A whole line with stones arranged in one or several rows on a bezel made of 18-karat white gold. Each stone is located in a separate square.
Cartier
- Trinity. Three circles gathered at an angle symbolize the trinity of friendship, love and fidelity. A transformer made of combined metals can be worn on a chain as a pendant. The appearance of Trinity has not changed for more than a hundred years. Similar offers are very relevant today and are presented in different price segments.
- Etincelle de Cartier. 18K rose gold and 49 brilliant-cut diamonds, totaling 0.22 carats.
- Cartier destinée. The noble ring is made of 950 platinum and has a horizontal oval-cut diamond weighing from 2.00 to 3.99 carats. Complemented with a pavage of brilliant-cut diamonds.
Branded wedding rings with a “path” of diamonds
In the jewelry community, such and very few pieces of jewelry are called the “gold standard.”
Another model from this category: wedding rings with a “path” of diamonds. The authorship of the design belongs to the legendary Tiffany & Co, which has maintained its reputation as the most romantic jewelry brand for decades.
For the first time, these branded diamond engagement rings appeared in the Tiffany & Co lines half a century ago, as the cheapest model. The narrow ring, encrusted with miniature princess-cut diamonds, looked very laconic. The owners of this premium brand believed that romance and love are not expressed in carats and were not mistaken in their calculations. They focused on poor young people who did not have parental wealth, and created the most popular model in the world. By the way, this particular ring was Marilyn Monroe’s favorite piece of jewelry.
Today, such models are the brand’s calling card; they are readily replicated by other brands, and the model itself surprisingly fits into the global fashion trend. Similar jewelry today is created from platinum, silver and gold of any shades, and their design remains one of the best ideas for paired jewelry.
Take a look at the photo wedding rings made of gold and diamonds - they will express not only your relationship, but also your excellent taste:
Buy in Moscow
You can buy wedding rings in Moscow at the Sokolov jewelry house by checking out the current collection in the online store catalog. Most offerings are presented in combinations of white and yellow gold, but you can also find classic designs made in one color.
Prices range from 12 to 45 thousand rubles. In the collection, sophisticated rings with a laconic single stone are not inferior in beauty to elite samples made of combined metal with several paths of stones.
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Modern jewelry fashion does not impose its standards too categorically; rather, it focuses on the opinions and payment capabilities of consumers, as well as an eclectic mixture of styles.
Lady Di's engagement ring with sapphire and diamonds
The fashion for these jewelry lives according to its own, unpredictable laws. However, there are several models that have gone down in modern history and have become literally iconic. When choosing your own decoration, pay attention to them.
For example, an engagement ring with sapphire and diamonds - the model is officially called “Lady Diana’s ring”, in honor of the English princess . It has become a literal symbol of one of the most striking stories of love and marriage of the last century.
Lady Diana chose her jewelry herself - an 18-carat bright blue sapphire with a diamond and 14 pure diamonds surrounding it, framed in white gold. By the standards of her future marriage, the jewelry cost almost a penny - only 60 thousand dollars, this choice surprised many and even caused ridicule, in addition, it was a ready-made jewelry from the catalog of the Garrard jewelry house. Although she was the one who was entitled to a piece of jewelry with a large, rare diamond, made to order.
Literally on the day of Lady Dana’s engagement, the jewelry became legendary - literally all the brides in the world dreamed of becoming the owner of such a ring. This model is still copied by many brands today; the design and combination of stones have not changed for almost forty years, and the model has remained “personalized”. Her favorite piece of jewelry, which Diana never parted with, is now worn by her daughter-in-law, also a style icon and English princess, Catherine.
