he history of engagement rings is actually quite surprising—what we think of as a symbol of love today may have been nothing more than a mark of ownership in ancient times.
Like so many of our customs today, engagement rings in Toronto can be traced all the way back to Ancient Rome. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Roman women wore rings of ivory, flint, bone, copper and iron “to signify a business contract or to affirm mutual love and obedience.”1 Gold rings and other jewelry were later found in the ruins of Pompeii, proving the shiny metal became the material of choice in the era.
A Mark for Marriage
According to the GIA, it wasn’t until 850 that the engagement ring was given an official meaning, with Pope Nicholas I declaring that the engagement ring represented a man’s intent to marry with gold as the most popular material for betrothal rings at the time.1 According to the Cape Town Diamond Museum, the first time diamonds appeared on an engagement ring was in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy
The Rise of Diamonds
Even though the Archduke was the first to propose with a diamond ring, he was by no means a trendsetter. In fact, diamond engagement rings didn’t become popular until 1947 when De Beers, the British company that mined diamonds in South Africa, launched an advertising campaign. With the help of Hollywood stars and the slogan, “A diamond is forever,” diamond engagement rings skyrocketed in popularity.
The Latest Millennial Trend
In recent years, we’ve started to see a shift in engagement ring preferences. Of course, the diamond is still a popular option (hello, J. Lo’s jaw-dropping emerald-cut stone), but more and more brides are opting for colored stones and rings made out of unique materials. When Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton, he chose a stunning blue sapphire engagement ring. Actress Blake Lively received a light pink oval diamond in a rose-gold setting from Ryan Reynolds and Katy Perry was given a unique ruby in a floral halo design by Orlando Bloom. Even singer Ariana Grande broke from tradition when she debuted a pearl and diamond bauble from fiancé Dalton Gomez in December 2020.
To buy a wedding ring or engagement ring in Canada,Toronto, contact Leopard Jewelry.
10 Tips for Buying an Engagement Ring
1. Don’t get caught up in a trend
An engagement ring should be a timeless, classic symbol of your love that will last forever, so the goal should be to find the stone that is the perfect match for your future fiancé. Look at their current jewelry to see what would best suit his or her style. Are they a gold or a platinum person? Do they wear statement jewelry or instead opt for minimal pieces? Take cues from their current style to inform how you pick the piece they’ll want to wear every day for the rest of their lives.
2. A stone doesn’t have to be perfect on paper
Diamond experts often site the “Four Cs” (aka color, cut, clarity, and carat), but certificate grading should be just one of the many factors in your decision-making. You don’t need a D Flawless stone to create a beautiful ring. It’s better to judge a stone by the feeling it gives you rather than the GIA grading (diamonds are graded from D to Z by the Gemological Institute of America) it received.
3. Size matters only if you (or your future fiancé) think it matters
Go big or go home shouldn’t be the mantra, unless you think it’s the most important thing to your future spouse. In that case, weigh your options. Perhaps placing more of an emphasis on size and less on color and clarity is worth considering.
4. Know where the stone came from
According to Page Neal, jewelry designer and co-founder of Bario Neal, clients appreciate jewelry with backstories—especially when those backstories involve ethically sourced gems. Neal searches high and low for mines and suppliers who can prove their diamonds, metals, and gemstones have been sourced sustainably—and are completely traceable from mine to market. “I think people really want to know where their jewelry is coming from,” Neal says.
5. The setting shouldn’t be an afterthought
After you’ve fallen in love with a stone, the next step is figuring out what to put around it. “My fiancé collaborated with one of my best friends, Montana Coady, to design my ring,” explains wedding stylist Cynthia Smith of Cynthia Cook Brides. “Her advice was to think of the center stone as a piece of artwork and the setting as the frame. You can be bold and do something different and unique, but it is important that the ring reflect the style of the person who will be wearing it.” Find an expert whom you trust, give them an idea of what you want, and let them guide you in the right direction.
6. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and choose an entirely unique ring
Millennials want everything they buy to feel special, and for a ring’s vibe to match up with their own. It’s becoming more common for women to eschew diamonds and traditional settings entirely and opt for something personal, unique and unexpected. “People are yearning for something different. They want something that feels ‘fashion’ and relevant, but also timeless—not basic, boring, or predictable.
7. Consider working directly with a jeweler
“Custom feels more special than just walking into a store and picking something,” Hannah explains. “Generally speaking, a lot of people now want something that walks the line between vintage and modern. It’s not so much about a big diamond anymore—they want quality over size, or a unique shape, like a rose cut. And a lot of people are ditching diamonds all together. I made a really beautiful ring with alexandrite, which is a color-change stone that is greenish blue in the daylight and purple in incandescent light. [Engagement rings] aren’t one size fits all anymore.”
8. Don’t go it alone
Engagement ring shopping can be a daunting task—get by with a little help from your friends. Ask those who’ve gotten engaged for jeweler recommendations and call upon someone who knows you and your future spouse and whose taste you love and respect for their opinion regarding aesthetics. Nine times out of ten the person you’re buying for has an idea of what they want in their head and may have expressed it to said friend (or added to a Pinterest board).
9. Don’t commit
Unlike the matrimonial commitment you’re hoping to make, try to avoid entering into a binding agreement with the jeweler. Worst-case scenario, if your intended hates what you’ve come up with, you should be able to exchange it for something else. You want your future spouse to love both you and the jewelry you buy forever.
10. It’s not about the price tag
The truth is there’s no exact science when it comes to how much to spend on an engagement ring, and some women prefer smaller, less expensive diamonds (or want to forego diamonds altogether). Some are going the vintage or secondhand route (eBay’s ring market is up 58 percent); and some are choosing a plain band à la Amanda Seyfried. Get the ring that’s perfect for the woman, not the ring whose price tag aligns with an arbitrary algorithm.
Buy a Bridal Set or Engagement Ring in Canada
The advantage of buying an engagement ring and wedding ring set in Canada,Toronto is that the styles will match perfectly and both purchases are made at once, alleviating the stress of purchasing a wedding ring while preparing for a wedding.
As an added bonus, you can expect to save 5-10% off the cost of the set by purchasing the rings together rather than buying them separately.
To buy a wedding ring or engagement ring in Canada,Toronto, contact Leopard Jewelry.