So what kind of engagement ring do you choose for your man?

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, sang Marilyn Monroe, but now the men are joining in the chorus.

Forget "pinkie" rings - a man's engagement ring is a classy piece of jewelry, designed by a craftsman.

Cupid's arrows were said to have been tipped with diamonds, hence the gem's popularity in engagement rings. As with their fiancées' rings, diamonds are first choice for men, although the male conservative can opt for a plain, "wave-style" ring in two kinds of gold.

For the diamond–lover, it doesn't necessarily mean blue–white gems, although a ring with a line of four brilliant–cut white diamonds is a popular style offered by one jeweller. The price? Around US$1,000.

Among the colored diamonds particularly suitable for men are cognac diamonds from Australia which lend themselves to heavier gold settings. The heavier setting is necessary for a man's hand and can be a stronger form of his fiancée's chosen style, in the same way that his 'n' hers wedding bands are made.

Other colored stones used in men's engagement rings include pink and Ceylon blue sapphires, while another option is using the man's birthstone in his engagement ring.

For those born in January, the garnet is their stone; February, amethyst; March, aquamarine or bloodstone; April, diamond; May, emerald; June, pearl; July, ruby; August, peridot; September, sapphire; October, opal; November, topaz or citrine; and December turquoise or blue topaz.

Wearing an engagement ring as a symbol of commitment to marriage is relatively recent, dating to the late 15th century, but the practice of wearing a ring on the third finger of the left hand goes back to ancient Egyptian times, as they believed that the third finger of the left hand followed the vena amoris ("love vein") to the heart.

The Romans picked up on this and the tradition continued, sanctioned in England by the Church when the Book of Common Prayer in 1549 decreed that the wedding ring should be placed on the left hand.

By the 17th century, the trend was to wear the ring on the right hand, sometimes on the thumb.

Until the 19th century only one ring was worn, but the Victorians introduced the practice of adding a plain gold wedding band to the fancier engagement ring and the use of jeweled rings for men remained as the signet ring.

Until now, that is, with the introduction – or, more correctly, perhaps – return of engagement rings for men.