Diamond rings are today considered to be a token of love, particularly when given to one by a suitor. The tradition of diamond rings being used for engagements is believed to have begun when Austria’s Archduke Maximilian made a gift of a diamond ring upon his engagement to Mary of Burgundy.
The wearing of a diamond ring on the ring finger, or fourth finger of the left hand, is derived from the ancient Egyptians. This is due to their belief that the vein that extends from this particular finger to the heart is also the ‘vein of love’. This tradition is still practiced today, much like the giving of a diamond ring as a symbol of engagement and true love.
“Carat” of course refers to the weight of the gem; a carat is equivalent to about 2 decigrams, or a mere 1/150th of an ounce. That means the largest cut, polished diamond in existence – the famed Star of Africa – weighs just a little over 2-1/4 pounds.
Among such occasions to be considered are: a girl’s sixteenth birthday (or any other birthday that you deem to be special), the birth of a child, religious milestone events, personal achievements, holiday gifts etc. Perhaps the best reason of all to give a woman the gift of a diamond is ‘just because’. If you have a special person in your life, whether it’s a lover, a wife, a sister, a daughter, or a mother – you can rest fairly well assured that a diamond makes an excellent gift for almost any occasion.
During the Dark Ages, diamonds were believed to hold medicinal value. There were instructions that those suffering illnesses or having wounds should hold a diamond in the hand and make a sign of the cross for healing. Some even believed that ingesting diamonds could assist in recovery (and even a cure) from various illnesses.
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