> Also, deBeers invented the diamond wedding ring fairly recently.

The DeBeers campaign that boosted the already significant popularity of diamond engagement rings was in 1947. I don't think diamonds or other gemstones on wedding (as opposed to engagement) rings have ever been a major thing (though I'm sure some people do that.)

Tiffany, I think, did a big push a few decades before that did a lot for the popularity of diamond engagement rings among the middle class, and diamond engagement rings had been popular among the upper class since something like the Victorian era.

Thanks for the clarification.

As far as I know, diamonds have been a big deal as engagement stones for a long time, but their role as exclusive stones, is pretty recent.