Of course,it is the famous 1930s marketing campaign created by De Beers, the celebrated diamond cartel, that really brought the giving of engagement rings to the fore. The campaign educated the public about the ‘4 Cs’ - cut, carat, colour, and clarity of diamonds, and launched the famous slogan - "a diamond is forever".

Getting engaged can never be under estimated as one of life’s most important moments. It signifies the beginning of the next chapter of your life, a strong personal commitment to the one you love.

It shows the world that you intend to spend the rest of your days with a partner that you truly love. Traditionally, popping ‘the’question is accompanied bythe giving of an engagement ring. This tradition is believed to date back as far in history as the Ancient Egyptians. Evidenceof Egyptian men presenting their brides to be with handmade rings made from reeds, sedges, papyrus and other natural elements such as leather, bone or ivory have been discovered.

The first recorded giving of an engagement ring was by Archduke Maximillian of Austria to his fiancé Mary of Burgundy in 1477. However, it was not until the 1870's when diamonds were discovered in South Africa that diamond engagement rings became more widely available through the jewellery industry.