Holiday Gifts

Are you planning your marriage? What about a beach themed wedding?
No doubt there are plenty of reasons for getting married somewhere “over the rainbow”, especially as the weather is still cold now and nobody knows how long it will last.

Yes, I’ve learned that the real act of marriage takes place in the heart and cold weather with its exercises can be safe, effective and, yes, fun, but… As to me I just hate this cold, awful time of year dreaming about places where “good” weather is meaning not only “no rain and snow” but the warm wind against my cheeks and the tender sea that caresses my feet. What is better than a summer wedding by the sea?

So if you’d prefer the beach themed way just go for it, especially as you can find right now, online every conceivable and unconceivable beach wedding favors though it were palm trees, sea biscuit, sailboats, dolphins, lighthouse or seashell candles, sea urchins, starfish and silk wedding favors and more, shortly you can pick up easily all what you need to make you big day romantic, magical, exciting and really unforgettably special.

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved. Love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives but you know, I guess, that the sound of palm fronds clacking in the breeze and turquoise warm sea lapping the pale sandy shore would do no harm at all.

Actually how many torments lie in the small circle of a wedding ring! As the saying is marriage requires a person to prepare 4 types of “Rings”: Engagement Ring Wedding Ring, Suffering, Enduring”.

From a jack to a king from loneliness to a wedding ring
I’ve played a ace and I won the queen
I walked away with your heart

From a jack to a king
With no regrets I stacked, I stacked the cards, I stacked the cards last night
And lady luck played her hand just right
You made me king of your heart

Oh for just a little while I thought that I might lose the game
Oh but just in time I saw that twinkle in your eyes
From a jack to a king of loneliness to a wedding, wedding, wedding ring
I played an ace and I won the queen
You made me king of your heart

For just a little while I thought that I might lose the game
Oh but just in time I saw, I saw that twinkle in your eyes
From a jack to a king from loneliness to a wedding, wedding, wedding ring
I played an ace and I won the queen
You made me king of your heart

But you know at the beginning no matter what you personally decide, no doubt she is expecting a diamond only!

Well, what do we know about the history of the engagement ring, why diamond rings and where is the tradition from? There are many myth and fantasy about but all we know exactly is
the wedding ring is a symbol of ever lasting purity, love, devotion and commitment between two people.

The ancient Roman’s called their engagement ring the betrothal (Truth) ring. The Romans were the first to wear the ring on the third finger of the left hand. The Middle Ages and the Gimmal or “bond” ring was invented, but it’s doubtful that this was an engagement ring design. However, sapphires, emeralds and rubies would have been the norm for those who could afford them. Because diamond is the hardest and strongest mineral on earth it was seen to resist fire and steel and thus symbolize the unbending union of a man and woman in wedlock. So it became more commonplace for the European super wealthy and royalty to give a diamond engagement ring at this time. Less wealthy citizens would have given a Fede (faith) ring in the form of two clasped hands more akin to the more modern claddagh (clasped hands) engagement rings. Diamonds became more readily available In the 18th Century, when diamonds were discovered in Brazil. Diamond cluster engagement rings were fashionable among the wealthy.

From 1880 De Beers were able to control the supply (and price) of diamonds but how were they going to control demand during a period when sales began dropping dramatically (up to 50%) in the 20s and 30s onwards through the great depression?

Just as platinum started to become popular in diamond engagement rings, diamonds were becoming less valued. Platinum was banned for all but war use during WWII and so the platinum diamond engagement rings as we know them today almost died out.

The answer to the problem was a new marketing campaign commissioned by De Beers that began in 1947. Perhaps you’ve heard the slogan “A Diamond is forever”? This was to mark the beginning of a change in the history of the engagement ring.

Subsequent campaigns would convince families to hold on to their diamonds as family heirlooms… and it worked! Used diamonds were not being released back into the industry which in turn created the demand that De Beers were seeking.

Jewelers were unofficially educated by De Beers to instruct men that two to three months personal wages were an ideal price to pay for the diamond engagement ring that their prospective fiancée’s would gladly accept.

In 1953 the world’s two most glamorous women of the time Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell were the stars of the hit film musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

The plot involves Monroe and Russell chasing potential husbands on a cruise to France. The movie also features a very famous song sung by the blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe, Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend.

This film would have undoubtedly influenced public opinion at the time and will have advanced the popularity of diamonds for years afterwards through Hollywood glamour.

The film is now 50 years old but it’s still a firm favorite of all who love Hollywood and the legend of Monroe. (Of course there are others: High Society, Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Diamonds Are Forever among them)

This is where the tradition of the diamond engagement ring really started, all from an advertising campaign that literally “rocked” the world! (Get it? “rocked”…. okay I’ll shut up!) So you see buying a diamond engagement ring isn’t really a popular ancient tradition.

It’s more a combination of “dreaming of being a princess”, a clever marketing campaign and compelling Hollywood glamour that ultimately promotes diamonds as the only jewels with which to furnish your loved one as a sign of engagement.

The 21st Century
The history of the engagement ring has moved on and demand for diamonds and platinum diamond engagement rings is still rising. The tradition is here to stay. Estimated 78% of all engagement rings sold every year are diamond.