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As fall approaches us, many weddings and engagements are to come. The timeline of “the diamond ring” will help you to appreciate the love that it symbolizes today.

To begin…

Engagement rings can be traced back to Ancient Rome. In these times, Roman women wore rings, not of diamonds, but ivory, flint, bone, copper, and iron. These rings symbolized “a business contract or to affirm mutual love and obedience.”

In 850, the engagement ring was given an official meaning by Pope Nicholas. Nicholas declared that engagement rings represented a man’s intent to marry. At this time, gold was the most popular material for engagement rings.

Diamonds did not appear on an engagement ring until 1477. In 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a diamond engagement ring. Although, proposing with diamond rings did not become popular until 1947.

In 1947, De Beers, a British company that mined diamonds in South Africa, launched an advertising campaign with the slogan, “A diamond is forever.” Through the campaign, slogan, and help of Hollywood stars, diamond engagement rings took off and became the traditional choice for engagement rings.

Find the perfect piece of jewelry for you or someone special at Bernard’s Jewelers by visiting us at 23999 US Hwy. 80, Statesboro or call us at 912-764-5379.