The diamond engagement ring is said to be "A symbol of everlasting purity, love, devotion and commitment between two people". But when did the tradition of giving your intended bride to be a diamond engagement ring start? It is said that the Archduke Maximilian of Hamburg was the man who started the trend by presenting a betrothal ring, (a diamond engagement ring) to his intended to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. It is believed that the ancient Romans then started the tradition of placing the engagement ring on the third finger of the left hand since it was believed that the vein in this finger ran directly to the heart. During the middle ages diamonds became the gem of choice for engagements rings because since diamonds are the strongest mineral on earth it was believed to symbolize the unbending union of a man and woman's marriage. In the 18th century diamond cluster engagement rings became a symbol of wealth, so if you received a huge cluster diamond engagement ring everyone knew you came from money. In the 1940's DeBeers came up with the slogan "a diamond is forever to market diamond engagement rings and to ensure the continued tradition of giving a diamond to the one you love.