Engagement ring: Encyclopedia II - Engagement ring - Material and design

Engagement ring - Material and design

Designs of such rings have varied greatly over the years. It traditionally is a precious band, and mounts a diamond or other gem. Current fashions for engagement rings are for a gold, platinum, or silver band with a single diamond. This trend dates from advertising campaigns in the 1940s by de Beers, the world's leading diamond producer.

An engagement ring is often intentionally expensive as a sign of a man's permanency. The argument for a diamond is that it is the most enduring, beautiful, and expensive gem. Many women, however, prefer different gems or semiprecious stones to the stark clarity of a diamond. Many women prefer colored stones. Sapphires, star sapphires, emeralds, and rubies are often used in engagement rings. Pearls and opals are rare, because these are soft stones.

In some European countries (for example, Germany), engagement rings are usually plain gold bands without a diamond.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Material and design", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki