In the West, the tradition of engagement exchange rings can be traced back to ancient Roman times. At that time, the noble family would use an iron ring (called annuli pronubi) as a symbol of engagement and wear it on the ring finger of the left hand. According to the records of the ancient Roman scholar Pliny the Elder, this is because people believe that there is a blood vessel in the ring finger called “vena amoris” (vena amoris) that goes straight to the heart, symbolizing a profound emotional connection.
It was not until the Middle Ages that diamonds began to become the first choice for engagement rings due to their hardness and permanence. In 1476, the wedding of Mary, Duke of Burgundy and Maximilian, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, further established the status of diamonds in the upper class engagement. At that time, the groom presented a ring with the words “M” inlaid with diamonds, becoming a pioneer in popularity.
But interestingly, the engagement rings of the British royal family are not always featured in diamonds, and colorful gems such as sapphires, emeralds, rubies, etc. have also frequently appeared in the hands of royal brides in the past few decades. The following lists the classic engagement rings and the romance behind the British royal family over a century and a half.
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Queen Victoria
Marriage Year: 1840
In the early 19th century, the “coiled snake” was widely regarded as a symbol of “eternal love”.
Prince Albert presented a serpentine design (ouroboros) engagement ring when he proposed to Queen Victoria in 1839. The snake's head is inlaid with an emerald – a birthstone symbolizing his future wife, and the snake's eyes are inlaid with rubies, which represents enthusiasm at the time. Just like most of their choices, this also led the trend. Many snake rings at that time were decorated with turquoise, and their color was said to be similar to forget-me-nots, further conveying their yearning for long-lasting love.
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Queen Alexandra
Marriage year: 1863
When the future Edward VII proposed to Alexandra of Denmark at the Laken Palace in Belgium, he presented a “letter gem ring” and spelled out the nickname “Bertie” she gave him through the gem's first letter, including beryl, emerald, ruby, topaz, Jacinth (representing the letter i) and another emerald. Edward and Alexandra love to collect jewelry from Fabergé, Tiffany & Co. and Cartier, and many of the collections will be exhibited this spring at the Kings Gallery in Buckingham Palace. However, the ring is believed to have been the most cherished jewelry of Queen Alexandra during her marriage.
