Shoulda Put A Ring On It

ENGAGEMENT RING - The emergence of engagement rings in the United States is actually relatively new and they don’t always have to cost a bundle right out of the gate.

Shoulda Put A Ring On It
A history and guide to engagement rings
By Kelly Frith
540

Go to Google and type in “define: love” into the search engine. You will get more than ten definitions, many of which are conflicting. If you go by Google love can be anything from having “a great affection or liking” to having “sexual intercourse.” So which of those definitions encourages a man to present a woman with a ring and the most important decision of a person life?

According to author Meghan O’Rourke engagement rings were not regularly given in the Americas until the 19th century and didn’t become popular until the 1930s. During colonial times women were given thimbles as a token of love. Despite the exchange of engagement rings in other countries precious metals were considered too valuable in the Americas and when the woman was married she often removed the rim of her “engagement thimble” to form a ring. Coincidently enough the popularization of engagement rings came around the time that courts began to abolish acts, such as the “Breach of Promise to Marry” action, that allowed a woman to sue her ex-fiancé for “damaging” her reputation. At the time a woman had to be a virgin to be considered “marriageable” and a lot of women lost their virginity while engaged. Diamond ring sales grew as men sought to find a way to prove their love to women.

Now, one cannot be honest and say this is the only reason. In 1919 the De Beers diamond industry experienced a loss in diamond sales and devised a plan to increase their sales. Hollywood actresses were convinced to wear diamond rings in public to show that this was “the thing to do.” By 1941, diamond sales had increased by 55 percent. In 1947, the fate of the diamond ring was sealed when Frances Gerety wrote the well known phrase “A Diamond Is Forever.” The phrase was placed over an image of newlyweds on their honeymoon. By 1965, 80 percent of engaged American women would have a diamond engagement ring.

Tradition states that an engagement ring should roughly cost the same as the proposing man’s monthly salary. A lot of couples will start out with a solitary diamond that is upgraded to a larger diamond after 20 or 25 years of marriage. Jackie Frith started out with a solitary diamond ring that was roughly a fourth of a carat. For their 20th Wedding Anniversary Marvin upgraded it to a full carat and for their 25th Wedding Anniversary he added an additional diamond guard made up of smaller diamonds to surround the larger diamond.

A smart shopper can get a gorgeous ring for a relatively low price. When Destanie Overcash picked out her ring it totaled to three-fourths of a carat but was made up of all small diamonds that turned out more inexpensive than one solid diamond. Her husband, Cameron, was astounded at the ring proclaiming that is was so inexpensive and wouldn’t she prefer one of the more expensive ones. She pointed out that the small stones in the center could be taken out and replaced with a larger stone when she decided she wanted a larger diamond.

Diamonds are romantic because they are the hardest, natural substance in nature. They are a symbol of eternal love. Choose wisely.

Kelly Frith is a student at UNA majoring in Public Relations.