Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to celebrating love and affection, and for many people, it’s an occasion to express that love with a gift of jewelry. One type of jewelry that has come to be strongly associated with this holiday is the diamond. Over the years, the tradition of giving diamonds on Valentine’s Day has become increasingly popular, and today, it’s hard to imagine the holiday without them. In this article, we’ll explore the history of diamonds on Valentine’s Day, and take a closer look at some of the most famous and significant diamonds associated with this holiday, including blue diamonds, the Angelica ring, and TrueLove Diamonds.
The Tradition of Diamonds on Valentine’s Day
The earliest known reference to diamonds as a symbol of love and commitment dates back to the 15th century, when the Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented a diamond engagement ring to his future bride, Mary of Burgundy. This marked the beginning of the tradition of using diamond engagement rings to symbolize the promise of love and commitment between two people.
However, it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that the tradition of gifting diamonds on Valentine’s Day truly took hold. This was due in large part to the rise of the diamond industry, which had discovered new sources of diamonds and had begun promoting them as the ultimate symbol of love and romance. In 1947, the De Beers diamond company launched their now-famous “A Diamond is Forever” advertising campaign, which helped to solidify the association between diamonds and love in the public consciousness.
The Popularity of Blue Diamonds
One type of diamond that has gained a special significance in recent years is the blue diamond. These rare and beautiful diamonds have a unique color that sets them apart from other diamonds, and they have come to be associated with the idea of everlasting love.
The most famous blue diamond is the Hope Diamond, which is believed to have originated in India and was later owned by various European monarchs before being acquired by the American collector Evalyn Walsh McLean in the early 20th century. The diamond is famous for its unusual blue color and is said to be cursed, bringing bad luck to anyone who possesses it. The Hope Diamond is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Another famous blue diamond is the Heart of Eternity diamond, which was discovered in the Premier Diamond Mine in South Africa in 2000. This diamond is a vivid blue color and weighs 27.64 carats. It was purchased by the De Beers diamond company and is now on display at the Natural History Museum in London.
The Significance of the Angelica Ring
Another famous diamond with a strong connection to Valentine’s Day is the Angelica ring. This beautiful ring features a heart-shaped diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds, and has come to be known as a symbol of eternal love.
The Angelica ring was inspired by a real-life love story. In the 19th century, a young man named John Winston went on a journey to seek his fortune, leaving behind his true love, Angelica. He promised her that he would return one day with a diamond as a symbol of his love. After many years, he returned and presented her with a ring featuring a heart-shaped diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds. This became known as the Angelica ring, and it has been a symbol of eternal love ever since.