Marriage was also a religious commitment between two people. This added a spiritual element to the binding contract, and maintaining a level of social order. The institution of marriage has changed over thousands of years, and today can be a love commitment between any two people of any gender or race. Here at Christine Marguerite we support anyone who wants to be in a legal commitment or any type of relationship that suits them best. Different cultures have various styles of ceremony, from the Native American to New York City. Here in our studio all love is respected and honored.
Today since the early 1900’s, marriage was more often a declaration of love between two people that wanted to commit their lives to each other. Jewelry was a symbol of that commitment for thousands of years. In Ancient Rome simple ring bands that symbolized eternity, were made of iron or copper that would symbolize their commitment. The first diamond engagement ring was gifted to Mary of Burgundy by the Archduke Maxmilian of Austria of 1477. The tradition of placing a ring on the left hand and the finger was thought to have a vein called the vena amoris that led to the heart.
Diamonds were first found in South Africa in 1866, and which quickly became a commodity by 1872. The output of diamonds exceeded one million carats per year at that time. In the 20th century the company DeBeers made an effort to increase the sale of diamonds, and the groom was expected to spend one month’s pay on his beloved’s diamond ring. The diamond engagement ring became a status symbol during the 1920’s, and throughout the 20th century.
Today there are various types of styles of engagement rings and then a wedding band would hopefully be added. The placement of the wedding band is usually on the bottom of the finger which would be closest to the heart, but this is sometimes not the case in other cultures where the ring was on the top which was chronological.
Our philosophy here at Christine Marguerite Designs, we offer natural diamonds, offer lab grown diamonds, fine gemstones like sapphires, rubies and emeralds. The primary type of gemstones placed in an engagement ring would be at least 9 on the Mohs scale which would be durable enough to wear every day. Other softer, colored gemstones can be used but should be worn more cautiously and not everyday.
There are many styles of gemstone setting that can be used. Prong setting can be a way to highlight a gem, and can be 4 prongs or other multiples. A bezel setting is very secure, but covers a good portion of the gem, and offers maximum protection for your investment and prevents chipping and loss. Flush setting is a drill hole into the metal, where the gemstone sits flush to the top of the metal and is drilled out from the back to allow the maximum light to come through. Channel setting is a design where rails are created and that the gems are set down in, generally in a line and in multiples. The ring would be a smooth metal surface with the gemstones ‘tucked’ down in.
When you have us create your perfect ring, we take a lot into consideration. What is your lifestyle? What designs have you seen that you love? What are your favorite gemstones, colors, and shapes? Over time there are various trends, like the color of gold, the shape of the gemstone, and the style of the ring. We love our job here, and cannot wait to make the next custom design.
We start with a design consultation, and then we offer a single free CAD for you to review, and then, with a commitment we will continue to refine the design to get it just right for you!