Whether you are waiting for your partner to propose, are picking out your engagement ring yourself, or even if you just love a bit of wedding-inspired window shopping, there is nothing quite like a beautiful and sparkling engagement ring to get your heart thumping.
So, to take a little bit of the pressure off this momentous, once in a lifetime (fingers crossed) purchase, why not take a moment to relax before you get married and check out these fun, heart-warming and sometimes surprising, facts about engagement rings.
1. Engagement rings started in Ancient Egypt
The custom of giving and receiving engagement rings originated during the Ancient Egyptian period, and this is where the tradition of wearing the ring on the fourth finger of your left hand came about.
Why? Ancient Egyptian people believed that this finger contained a vein that went directly to the heart.
2. Engagement rings symbolized financial commitment
Unlike the present time, when women were likely to be financially independent on men, back in the day, an engagement ring used to symbolize that a man would take care of a woman financially from there on out. Furthermore, the engagement ring would often be accompanied by a bag of gold coins so that the man could impress his future wife with the extent of his wealth.
3. Elizabeth Taylor was given the most expensive engagement ring in the world
Richard Burton proposed to Elizabeth Taylor with an engagement ring worth an eye-watering $8.8 million; the most expensive engagement ring ever given. The diamond, rated as a Type IIa stone, is the purest diamond that there is. Not falling too far behind, Beyoncé’s ring from Jay-Z was worth a still pretty impressive $5 million.
4. Round brilliant cut rings are the most popular
The most sought-after and frequently purchased engagement ring is a round cut brilliant diamond ring, followed closely by a princess cut. In terms of metals, gold and platinum come up trumps. Click here to see some stunning diamond engagement rings.
5. December is the most popular month to get engaged
Now, you might think that it would be Valentine’s Day, but there is just something about the festive spirit that gets people feeling all lovey-dovey and in the mood for romance. It could be that the run up to Christmas can be as long as 6 weeks, which gives the person wanting to propose plenty of time to get organized and plan a really special proposal, whereas Valentine’s Day just kind of sneaks up on you.
6. Less than half of women like their engagement ring
Sad but unfortunately true, according to a well-known wedding planning company, less than half of the women who have been proposed to actually like the engagement ring that their partner picked.
7. You should choose your wedding ring at the same time
Unless you are planning on keeping your engagement ring as your wedding ring as well, it is recommended by ring designers that you buy both your engagement ring and your wedding rings at the same time in order to ensure that the designs and styles look good together.
