The Art of Engagement

Since time immemorial, people have given and received richly-colored jewels as tokens of their love. Engagement rings, in particular, have long symbolized commitment and enduring romance. Today’s modern couples are increasingly searching for meaningful, one-of-a-kind tokens of engagement—whether it be unique color, shape, origin, or meaning—with the intent of capturing a distinctive reflection of their beloved’s personality.


Sharing the passion for color at the Chihuly Nights installation at the New York Botanical Gardens. 


The Origin of the Ring and Romance

The heritage of engagement rings dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who believed in the spiritual power of an unending circle, symbolizing eternity. In Ancient Rome, the bride-to-be wore an iron ring on the fourth finger of her left hand, as Romans believed that this finger was directly connected to the heart. 

Throughout history, colored gemstones in particular have been praised for possessing special powers and meaning, leading to their prominence in marking commitment and passion between two people. Blue sapphires represented loyalty, honesty, a promise. Rubies, considered the king of gems, bestowed good fortune on the wearer; Alexandrite was said to strengthen intuition and creativity. By the 16th century, rings had become a formal part of marriage ceremonies in cultures worldwide, a gem often in the center.


A Kashmir sapphire engagement ring highlighting the blue of a Van Gogh Iris - from every angle! 


Modern Love and Engagement

While it is still traditional to mark a wedding engagement with a ring, today’s couples are challenging what it means to be traditional. We recognize diamonds as a prevailing symbol of love, especially in the 20th century; but as the new millennium has moved us forward, societal changes have left us with marriages occurring later in life and weddings that are more exotic. Even who we wed has broadened since the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Modern couples may have different backgrounds, values, and priorities than our predecessors, but marking a marriage engagement with a ring has survived as a traditional societal expectation. What makes an engagement ring so special is that it’s posing a question. And with it comes excitement in the anticipation, which has been built into an act that begs an answer. There is drama and emotion wrapped into every proposal, and that is why the ring is so connected with allure and mystery—even in our ever-changing society where the definition of love is constantly evolving.

Just like no two modern love stories are the same, neither should two engagement rings be.

The Allure of Colored Gemstones

What color makes your heart beat faster? These are gems signed and cut by the Reginald C. Miller lapidary available exclusively at Cushion Gem. 

Gemstones have played various roles in the myths and legends of human cultures throughout history. While some tell a story and others are believed to have special powers, all of them share a common beauty and brilliance. Gemstones are unique in color and origin just like the people who wear them.

From royal blue sapphire stones to rich rubies, gemstones come in every color of the rainbow and are gathered from all corners of the world. Each gemstone possesses the power to create a ring that’s truly distinct. It is for these reasons people mark the milestones of their lives with them. With colored gemstones, one can reflect their personal love story in a stone whose aura does not fade.

Discover the spellbinding qualities of sapphire, ruby, spinel, tsavorite, alexandrite and choice exotic natural gems by exploring our rare collection of colored gemstones.

Richard OrbachComment