Tradition of the Diamond Engagement Ring: Earliest surviving records tell us that Archduke Maximillian of Hamburg may have started the diamond engagement ring trend among the European elite of giving diamond engagement rings in 1477 by giving Mary of Burgundy a diamond betrothal ring however this is pure speculation.

Where the tradition really came from: In 1953 Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell were the stars of the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The plot involves Monroe and Russell chasing potential husbands on a cruise to France. The movie also features a famous song sung by Marilyn Monroe, Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend. This film would have undoubtedly influenced public opinion at the time and will have advanced the popularity of diamonds for years afterwards through Hollywood glamour.

This is where the tradition of the diamond engagement ring really started, from an advertising campaign! Now you see that buying a diamond engagement ring isn't really a popular ancient tradition as many people are led to believe.

Engagement Ring Finger: The ancient Roman's were the first to wear the ring on the third finger of the left hand. This surviving tradition seems to stem from the Egyptian belief that the vein from this finger leads straight to the heart. The ancient Roman's called their engagement ring the betrothal or truth ring and it's also thought that the Romans were the first to start inscribing or engraving their rings.