Maintaining a reputation for romance, the notoriety of the diamond can be traced back to the Romans, who thought diamonds were splinters that fell from the stars. The Ancient Greeks regarded them as the tears of the gods and cupid’s arrows were said to be tipped with diamonds, for the ultimate expression of love and adoration.

The word ‘diamond’ is derived from the Greek word “Adamas” meaning ‘unconquerable’.

The first recorded account of a diamond engagement ring was in 1477, when Archduke Maximillian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy.

When it comes to the critical stage of choosing your own engagement ring, you may already know exactly what you want, or you may be looking for some guidance and suggestions. Rest assured that you won’t need to spend a fortune to find the right ring for you.

It is worth remembering that whilst costly receptions and honeymoons quickly become a memory, and a wedding dress will be worn only once, a diamond engagement ring will be yours forever. At Birkbeck’s Jewellers our years of experience and comprehensive knowledge of the latest designs and styles from around the world enable us to assist and advise you in making the perfect choice.

You can select precious metals from yellow and white gold or platinum. You can choose a solitaire or multi-stone ring, or a combination of diamonds with other precious gems. It may feature the more traditional round brilliant cut diamond, or you might prefer an emerald, pear, princess or heart shape stone.

Whatever you decide, you are free to discuss your dream ring with our staff, so that we can find the right ring for you from our extensive range. Alternatively, our designer can work with you to design a hand crafted ring that is as unique and special as your love for one another.

Choosing Your Diamond…

When choosing a diamond, there are four factors that help determine the value of the stone. They are known as the ‘four C’s’ – Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat weight.

Our friendly and experienced team at Birkbecks will be delighted to talk you through the qualities and characteristics that apply to each, in their efforts to provide you with your ultimate diamond ring.