Did De Beers invent the diamond engagement ring?

No, De Beers did not invent the diamond engagement ring. The tradition of giving engagement rings dates back thousands of years, long before De Beers’ famous 1947 “A Diamond is Forever” campaign. Ancient Romans are believed to have exchanged rings as a symbol of betrothal, and in 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond engagement ring—one of the earliest documented uses of a diamond for this purpose. During the Victorian era, engagement rings often featured diamonds alongside other gemstones in elaborate designs. By the late 19th century, diamond engagement rings were already appearing in Tiffany & Co. catalogues, further indicating that the practice was well established before De Beers entered the picture. While De Beers helped make the diamond engagement ring more iconic in the modern era, the tradition itself has deep historical roots.