Archive for October, 2011
The history of the modern diamond engagement ring
For generations upon generations now, men have given diamonds and women have worn diamonds as a symbol of their eternal love for one another. But why do we use them and just how did they become so synonymous with love, and most popular precious stone used in engagement rings, platinum engagement rings and the iconic diamond necklace?
Diamonds, for a start, are durable. So durable, in fact, that we use diamonds in industry to cut heavy duty materials. So their durability is symbolic of everlasting love, which is one aspect of their popularity.
Diamonds are also immensely beautiful, and if cut to perfection, can sparkle, gleam and glisten to incredible effect. And, to enhance the stone’s rare and precious beauty even further, diamonds are incredibly difficult to mine.
The Ancient Grecians are said to have been the first to use diamonds in the way that lovers still do today. They believed that the vein of the third finger, the vena amoris, went directly to the heart, and they therefore wore a ring on the third finger as a symbol of eternal love.
The Romans, too, wore something similar – a ‘betrothal ring’ – but modern Europeans, however, didn’t take to the practice until the 13th century. It was Austrian Archduke Maximillian that is said to have rekindled the tradition of a betrothal-style ring, giving one to his beloved, Mary of Burgundy. The ring she wore as a symbol of his love had a diamond centrepiece, and it was used as a sign of the woman’s engagement before her wedding to the Archduke.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, coloured stones were fashionable, and young men would spell out messages of love using the stones’ initials, for example:
- Diamond
- Emerald
- Amethyst
- Ruby,
- Emerald
- Sapphire
- Topaz.
Diamonds, then, were worn only by the incredibly wealthy – until several mines were discovered in South Africa, that is. Diamonds flooded the market, which made the price of diamonds plummet, helping the trend for wearing engagement rings really take off.
The ‘solitaire’ (single diamond) ring came about in the 19th century, while the ‘princess’ ring (several diamonds) became popular in the US, influencing the later tri-stone-style ring in 20th century. It was diamond company De Beers that invented the idea that an engagement ring should cost around two or three months’ wages, and thus, the diamond became affordable to everyone, no matter how little or much they earned, and essential in a day and age when virtually everyone got married early on in life.
Finding the Perfect Dress for any Occasion
You find yourself in a bind. You have a small budget for a fabulous dress in order to wow the people at an upcoming event. Depending upon the function to which you are going, the style of dress also varies. If you are going to a wedding, then a simple yet tasteful dress in understated tones is the best bet. You don’t want to outshine the bride on her day. Depending on the time of year, you have a few choices.
During the summer, you can pair a lovely sundress, knee length or longer, with a beautiful light shawl and a pair of low-heeled dress sandals. This keeps you cool, comfortable and gives you a shawl to cover your shoulders on a cool summer night as you dance the night away. You can find a great deal on summer designer dresses, as well as accessories that compliment them, at many second-hand stores, as well as at discount designer stores.
For a springtime dance such as prom, you can find an amazing selection of evening and cocktail gowns that will give you the look that you want to impress your friends and your date. You can choose from a simple, off-the-shoulder dress that you can pair with a pair of strappy heels, a drop necklace with a gemstone that compliments the dress and earring that match both. Or you can go for a floor-length dress that creates the appearance of elegance; you can pair this type of dress with gorgeous open-toe heels, and a multi-length pearl necklace with matching earrings.
Another choice in designer dresses could be a cocktail dress to wear to your company’s Christmas party. A simple cocktail dress with a few well-chosen accessories can give you the look that would say “relaxed,” yet still impress the bosses who will be hosting the party. You can find a color that compliments your skin tone and shows a little holiday cheer, but you can never go wrong with the little black dress that every women should have in their basic wardrobe.
The little black dress is a classic, and every woman’s go-to dress. It can be can be paired with low heels and a colorful shawl, shrug or jacket. It can also be paired with stiletto heels, some tastefully applied makeup and a few chosen pieces of your favorite jewelry for that hot night out on the town with your girlfriends or that special someone. No matter the occasion, you can find a dress to fit your needs without spending your entire food budget for the month on it!