In early 2006, Nerve began publishing A History of Single Life, Ken Mondschein’s hip examination of courtship across cultures—more often than not, our own—and the topic’s historical, psycho-social, and political implications. This month’s column features a season-appropriate exploration of our preoccupation with diamond engagement rings:
Engagement rings have been around since antiquity, and various theories suggest they originated as a miniaturized form of slave bands, a ritualized exchange of wealth, or as symbols of eternity. But while the rich often decorated such rings with jewels, the idea that “only a diamond will do” is a relatively recent innovation.
See Mondschein’s webzine Corporate Mofo for essays on myriad topics, including the economy, politics, religion, and how to stay afloat in a city like New York.