With This Ring I Thee Wed

Whether nestled in a glass of champagne or ensconced in black velvet, diamond rings have been part of women's dreams for centuries. The Roman poet Plautus first noted exchanging rings as a symbol of love in the 2nd century B.C. In the early 600s, Bishop Isidore of Seville chronicled that the ring was given as a sign of mutual fidelity, but more important, it was a symbol of two hearts that were joined in love. The ring is worn on the third finger on the left hand, a tradition that dates back to the early Egyptian belief that the Vena Amores, vein of love, runs directly from the heart to the top of the third finger. It was Archduke Maximilian of Austria who gave the world's first diamond betrothal ring to Mary of Burgundy in Vienna in 1477.

Brides crossing the plains and those in the grand salons of Europe had betrothal rings, but it wasn't until after World War II and into the fabulous 50s that it became popular to get diamond rings when engaged. From the brilliance of De Beers and J. Walter Thompson, rings worth two months' salary represent a lifetime investment in love.

Diamond Lore

Diamonds are steeped in mystique and lore. And many diamonds are famous in their own right.

Weighing in at 530 carats, the Star of Africa is the largest cut diamond in the world. It’s part of the Royal Scepter and kept in the Tower of London with the Crown Jewels.

Darya-I-Nur is one of the spoils of Persia’s attack on New Delhi in 1739, a flawless, transparent pink stone estimated at 175 carats. It’s the largest gem in the Crown Jewels of Iran and was worn by the former Shah of Iran during his coronation in 1967.

The Hope Diamond (shown at right) once belonged to France’s King Louis XIV, and has a history of bringing bad luck to many of its owners. The gem is now on display at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C.

Koh-I-Nur, the diamond known as the “Mountain of Light,” dates back to India in 1304. Mogul emperors captured it in the 16th century, but it found its way back home after the breakup of the Persian Empire. Today it’s part of England’s Crown Jewels.

You can spend days shopping in St. Maarten/St. Martin and not visit the same store twice! So much to buy - so little time... visit our Shopping Guide and get full details about each merchant before you go. Print our shopping maps and take them with you.