Queen Victoria was not the only monarch to be presented with an historic diamond. In 1905 the Cullinan was discovered. Twice the size of any diamond yet found, this remarkable stone was handled, in its rough form, to King Edward VII, who took a great personal interest in the cutting of the Cullinan. This heart-stopping feat was performed by Joseph Asscher in Amsterdam on February 10th, 1908 at 2:45 p.m.. The poor man fainted at 2:46 - as the cleaving blade broke. The 9 major stones cut from the Cullinan are part of the Royal Collection today. The third and fourth largest stones are often worn by the Queen as a brooch and are called, affectionately, "Granny's chips."

The present Queen has the loveliest of diamond betrothal rings. This ring was personally designed for her by Prince Philip. The Heirloom stones came from a tiara belonging to his mother, Princess Andrew of Greece. The platinum ring is set with eleven diamonds, a central solitaire of three carats, and five smaller stones on each shoulder.

The fashionable solitaire has now become the most popular pledge of marriage. Diamonds are no longer only for royalty or the very rich. They have now become more accessible as an everlasting promise of love.

Nancy Mitford once observed that, "the diamond is a stone possessed for the female mind, however unsophisticated, of curious psychological attributes", and she compared its magic with a love potion. Even in the modern world, the love potion of diamonds continues to work its magic for all.

Whatever the flux and flow of jewelry fashion, the diamond engagement ring is still, unassailably, the most desired sign of love for the 20th century bride...

Despite today's modern skepticism over the magical powers of precious stones, the diamond - intrinsically the greatest and most beautiful of all gems - will always be, in its shining indestructibility, the supreme symbol of the union of two people in love.

Grace Kelly

Only five days after meeting Prince Rainier for the second time Grace Kelly confessed to her mother that she was 'very much in love'. He presented her with a 12 carat emerald - cut diamond solitaire and a few months later their fairytale romance was sealed by a civil marriage. The following day there was a full nuptial mass held in the Cathedral in Monaco.

Elizabeth Taylor

The Name of Elizabeth Taylor has become synonymous with diamonds. Many of them were bought for her by Richard Burton during their long and eventful romance.

Queen Elizabeth II

Princess Elizabeth arrived at Westminster Abbey looking like a 'Fairy Queen'. The glamour and romance of her wedding was like a ray of sunshine after the war.
She was given many beautiful diamonds when she married but most precious must have been her engagement ring.
A large solitaire diamond supported by diamond shoulders was made with heirloom stones from a tiara of Prince Philip's mother. The remaining stones were transformed into a bracelet.

For 20th century engagement rings the symbolism in the design of the mount has largely disappeared. All the romantic associations are now represented in the stone; the diamond itself has now become the ultimate symbol of love.