The engagement ring
The timeless engagement ring
There are some enduring values in life… a Chanel bouclé jacket, a pair of Roger Vivier buckle pumps, and an engagement ring from Tiffany’s. The ring is silver-toned with one diamond, the man would say. It comes in a turquoise blue box, the woman would add. How has this image become so iconic? In 1886 Charles Lewis Tiffany, the American jewelry maker and co-founder of Tiffany & Co., introduced the diamond solitaire engagement ring as we know it today, a ring with one brilliant-cut diamond lifted off the ring band. With his then innovative 6-prong setting, Tiffany lifted the diamond to extraordinary light reflection, enhancing the stone’s natural radiance, and establishing a cherished trend to this day.
Tiffany redefined the importance of the engagement ring from merely a form of dowry acceptance to the ultimate symbol of everlasting love and of uniqueness of the lifetime bond two people share.
In 2016, the Tiffany Setting legacy celebrates its 130th anniversary.
Proof of love: How can a man find the right ring size?
Not to leave her man alone to decide on the ring, the clever woman finds the right opportunity to accidentally forget a magazine by the staircase, opened on a page where she has circled Tiffany ads with red pen. Hopefully the man will take the next step of going through his loved one’s jewelry case to use one of her rings as a ring finder for her engagement ring. Alternatively, he might even be so sly as to make a mould of one of her rings out of play-dough. This might actually be the safest option in order to find the exact ring size and make sure the engagement ring fits perfectly.
Left or right hand?
The engagement ring is traditionally worn on the ring finger of the left hand in many countries, whereas in some countries it switches sides after the wedding, from left to right hand. Today many women like to wear their engagement ring and wedding band together on the left or right hand, depending on religion and tradition.
Ever since its first appearance in the 19th century, the much-coveted gift has been presented in its famous “blue box”, making its offering one of the most sought after emotional experiences and the turquoise Tiffany & Co. blue box instantly recognizable. “The Tiffany Setting is the most bought engagement ring worldwide,“ says Gitta Gräfin Lambsdorff, Managing Director of Tiffany & Co. for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Eastern Europe.
Today the classic Tiffany engagement ring comes in numerous variations.
Love tokens weigh differently in the States and Germany
The sparkling solitaire ring symbolizes love, though love seems to be measured differently by different nations. In the US a 1,0 Karat is the minimum and at the same time a classic for an engagement ring, whereas in Germany, the most commonly bought diamond size is a 0.5 Karat,” points out Gitta Gräfin Lambsdorff.
If the purpose of the ring is to convey to the bride-to-be how important she is and reassure her of her man’s intentions, it would be fair to say that the most important material aspect to validate the seriousness of the proposal is the diamond’s quality (usually corresponding to the man’s assets).
So that such exquisite token of devotion is not spoiled by a guilty conscience, Tiffany & Co. guarantees to their clients that they offer no “blood diamonds”. The company buys diamonds exclusively from countries that participate fully to the “Kimberley Process Certification Scheme”, an international monitoring system created to eliminate the trade of “conflict diamonds”. In other words, beautiful rock, clear conscience.
Which wedding band matches with the classic engagement ring?
Ideally, the engagement ring and the wedding band should match perfectly together, as the new bride usually wears both rings on the same finger. A solitaire ring is usually combined with a wedding band to make the “wedding ring set”. Tiffany & Co. offers diamond wedding bands in 18 Karat rosé gold starting at 1850 euro. Besides the obvious function, more and more often bridal bands have become something women will treat themselves to, to celebrate a life milestone or a successful business deal, for example. By downloading the Tiffany app, you can even use a photo of your hand and virtually “try on” different rings!
Translation by Maria Giannakopoulou
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Photo Credit: Tiffany & Co.
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