Tiffany & Co introduced the Tiffany style diamond engagement ring, or solitaire diamond engagement ring in the late 19th century. Today, this is still one of the most popular styles chosen by newly engaged couples. The solitaire ring has always maintained the top position among engagement ring selections.

Tiffany & Co. Design An Icon

The Tiffany diamond engagement ring has a specific mount, called a claw, which is a set of prongs that attached the diamond to a plain band. This ring, the Tiffany, is named after the company that created it. This setting was designed to emphasize the beauty and brilliance of the stone. A solitaire mounting of a diamond is inexpensive to create and is very easy to reuse. A jeweler can simply reset the diamond in a different setting, and reuse the solitaire band for another diamond. This allows for the bride to choose a different mounting for her wedding band but enjoy the beauty of the Tiffany solitaire ring during the months of her engagement. Most jewelers are more than willing to accept a return of the solitaire setting if the goal is to re-set the original diamond in another style band of the bride's choosing.

It All Began With One Gift of Love

The diamond engagement ring is believed to have originated in the 15th century when Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave his intended bride-to-be, Mary of Burgundy, a pre-marriage gift of a diamond ring. Since that time, these rings have grown in popularity. In the early years, diamonds and other gemstones were reserved for the wealthy and royalty. So the gifts of engagement rings were very much a part of the upper class until about 1870. It was during this time that diamonds were discovered in South Africa. This discovery made diamonds more accessible and affordable to the general public.

A Slogan to Last A Lifetime

The DeBeers diamond company, founded in Africa in 1888 is still responsible for 40% of the production of diamonds worldwide. Their famous slogan,"A Diamond is Forever", created in 1947 is still popular today. This phrase is used worldwide and has become a catch phrase for all diamond sales. It is believed that this creative sales pitch, which is almost sixty years old, has done more to established the diamond engagement ring as the truest symbol of love, commitment and "happily every after" than any other slogan.