It’s the week of Valentine’s day and it seems the right time to talk about the engagement ring, Today I’ll talk about rules, traditions and curiosities on the most awaited and welcome gift:

1. THE FIRST ONE TO GIVE AN ENGAGEMENT RING AS A GIFT as we mean it today, was Maximilian I of Habsburg. It was 1477 and the lucky addressee of the gemstone was Mary of Burgundy.
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2. The most famous (and desired) engagement ring in the world is the TIFFANY SETTING, created by Charles Lewis Tiffany in 1886. It’s still the most classic one, to which all others were inspired with the frame on six griffe that enhance the light of the stone.
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3. Traditionally the engagement ring has to be worn on the LEFT ANNULAR, because in the past it was believed that this finger had a vein connected directly to the heart: the so-called vena amoris.
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4. The ring establishes the official engagement of the couple waiting the wedding. Since it’s a pledge, it becomes PROPERTY OF THE BRIDE only at the time of the wedding. If the wedding is canceled, the ring stays with her. However, it has to be RETURNED if she breaks the engagement or whether it’s a family ring.
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5. The ETIQUETTE demands the woman to give a watch or cufflinks as a gift. But this doesn’t always happen, it depends on the area and custom.
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6. The most classic one is the diamond, the hardest STONE, symbol of a strong and unbreakable bond. However, rings with sapphires, rubies, emeralds and other gemstones aren’t uncommon. Opal stone for an engagement ring is banned, because it brings bad luck (they say). The one of Kate Middleton is very famous, with diamonds and sapphires.
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7. Regarding the CUT OF THE GEMSTONE, the most classic is the round cut. These alternatives are equally fascinating: pear, oval, marquise, emerald (typical of the green gemstone), heart, princess cut, …
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8. There are four criteria for evaluating a diamond, THE FAMOUS 4Cs 1. Carat, that is the measurement of how much a diamond weighs in carats; 2. Cut, that is how well a diamond’s facets interact with light; 3. Color, grading from the lightest (and precious) D to E, F, G, …; 4. Clarity, an internal feature that indicates the presence or of inclusions (the most precious areIF, inclusion free)
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9. Let’s talk about BUDGET. Obviously it depends on the availability of the person who gives it as a gift, but the rule would like the value of the ring corresponds to a monthly salary of the groom. Over time, this rule changed (marketing choices of jewelry brands?). In fact, now it could be two monthly salary or even more.
10. At this moment, I present this gallery of THE BIGGEST AND MOST FAMOUS engagement rings, starting with the icons of the past:

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Up to the celebrities of today:

Rossella Migliaccio
Image Consultant