The DOR Guide

Why Diamonds Are Still The Number One Choice For Engagement Rings

Since as far back as the ancient Roman civilisation, men have been giving ‘betrothal rings’ as a representation of their commitment. But the connection between diamond rings and engagements was made as late as the 15th century.

The proposal that made diamonds synonymous with love was made by the Austrian Archduke Maximillian. His fiancée wore a diamond engagement ring on the fourth finger of her left hand as it was believed that the vein of love ran through this finger and led straight to the heart.

What percentage of engagement rings are diamonds?

According to Marilyn Munro, diamonds are a girl’s best friend. And their popularity has never wavered since the 1900s, becoming the ultimate symbol of love, even today. About 85 – 90% of engagement rings still feature at least one diamond.

Coloured diamonds are a girl’s best friend

Some brides still want that style and class that diamonds bring, but want to infuse their own personality.

When you think of a diamond, it is probably the image of a colourless or a white diamond that springs to mind. But diamonds are naturally formed in the earth and as with most things that are made naturally, variations are bound to occur. The soil or the minerals present around diamond mines influence the colour of the stones formed in that area. So, don’t be fooled by the rocks that I got, not all are created equally. There are gray, white, yellow, blue, orange, green, red, pink, purple, brown, and black diamonds.

A coloured diamond could be given its hue by microscopic amounts of ‘impurities’ present in the stone. For instance, pink diamonds feature a mesmerising blush tint and may also feature a secondary, ‘modifying’ shade of brown or purple.

Another factor that gives a diamond its colour is the structure of the stone itself. Red diamonds get their colour not because of the minerals they contain, but its structure. Pink and red shades are said to be the rarest of diamonds.

The radiant shade of yellow diamonds make them a very popular stone for non-traditional engagement rings. These are also called Canary diamonds and available in a range of cuts and settings.

Because of their scarcity and brilliant colours, these diamonds are often more expensive than colourless diamonds. Their intense shades have made for some spectacular engagement rings.

The Moh’s Scale

The Mohs scale is used to measure the ‘hardness’ of precious stones. Here, ‘hardness’ is the resistance of a precious stone to wear and scratches. This is important to consider for gemstone rings that are likely to be worn often. Mohs scale will give you a good indication of the wear your ring can sustain- will this take the rigours of everyday life.

Diamonds place highest on the Mohs scale with a perfect 10. This is why they are so ideal for everyday wear—they can withstand the knocks and scrapes of everyday life, where a softer stone could be damaged.

Need a helping hand?

We, at Diamonds on Richmond, have over a decade of experience in the field and will be happy to help you through the process. If you’re looking for a diamond engagement ring in Auckland, contact us to make a time to see our collection and choose something unique that sets you apart.

Whether it’s a coloured diamond, supplementary stones that complement and highlight a diamond, or something else altogether, we can help.