The History of the Engagement Ring
TL;DR: Engagement rings trace back to ancient Rome, with the diamond specifically entering the tradition through a 1477 Habsburg betrothal. The modern expectation of a diamond centre stone is largely a 20th-century development, driven significantly by a famous De Beers advertising campaign rather than ancient tradition alone.
Ancient Origins
Betrothal rings date back to ancient Rome, where a ring symbolised a binding agreement between families rather than romantic love specifically — an early version of the engagement ring functioned more like a contractual token than a modern proposal gift.
The First Recorded Diamond Engagement Ring
The first well-documented diamond engagement ring is generally credited to Archduke Maximilian of Austria, who gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring in 1477 to mark their betrothal — a genuinely early instance, though diamond rings remained the preserve of European nobility for centuries afterward rather than a widespread custom.
Why Diamonds Became the Default
For most of history, engagement rings featured a wide range of gemstones, with no single stone dominant. The modern expectation that an engagement ring means a diamond specifically is a considerably more recent development, significantly shaped by a De Beers advertising campaign launched in 1947 with the line "A Diamond is Forever" — one of the most successful marketing campaigns in history, which reshaped consumer expectations around engagement rings within a generation.
The Two-Months-Salary Idea
The suggestion that an engagement ring should cost roughly two months' salary also traces to De Beers marketing rather than any older tradition — see our pricing guide for why this figure has no real basis and shouldn't guide your budget.
Modern Engagement Rings
Today's engagement ring market has genuinely diversified again — coloured gemstones, lab-grown diamonds, and non-traditional designs are all widely accepted choices, arguably a return to the broader historical range that predates the mid-20th-century diamond-specific expectation.
At À Vie Diamonds
We design engagement rings across every stone type and tradition — get in touch to discuss what's right for you, regardless of convention.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did diamond engagement rings become standard? Largely in the mid-20th century, driven significantly by a 1947 De Beers advertising campaign, rather than reflecting an older, continuous tradition.
What was the first recorded diamond engagement ring? Archduke Maximilian of Austria's 1477 ring given to Mary of Burgundy is generally credited as the earliest well-documented example.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · À Vie Diamonds