The oldest recorded exchange of engagement rings dates back nearly 5000 years ago to ancient Egypt when a never ending band was linked with eternal love. Later for the Romans, a young ladies acceptance of a ring was a legal agreement and meant that the girl was no longer available. These ancient engagement and wedding rings were not gold engagement rings but were often made from simple and crude bands of iron.
Even in these modern times, the gold engagement ring is still regarded as a potent symbol of unity and marriage, which sends out a message about a persons marital status. Traditions have changed over the centuries and not only have the materials which the rings are made out of changed, but men too are now choosing to wear a ring as a symbol of lasting love, fidelity and commitment.
These early tokens which indicated the sealing of a marriage contract, were certainly very different from what we now accept today as an engagement ring and probably wouldn’t have turned too many heads or invoked the green eyed monster because of their beauty and brilliance. In early Roman times rings were simple hoops made out of iron and it wasn’t until much later times that this metal was replaced with precious metals such as gold and silver which do not rust and are more attractive.
Although diamonds were discovered in India at the beginning of the ninth century, it wasn’t until 1500 onwards that brides to be would be wearing something a little bit more special and even then, diamonds would be very much for the wealthy and for royalty.
Since their discovery, diamonds have always been prized for their beauty and brilliance as well as their extreme hardness and the word diamond originated from the Greek word adamas, which means unconquerable. Some even believed diamonds to possess magical powers and along with their other properties, this has made diamonds perfect as a representation of the marriage bond.
When further sources of diamonds were discovered in the nineteenth century, it increased the availability and they became more fashionable, particularly set in engagement rings.
Styles of engagement rings have varied greatly over the years but still some designs have remained popular throughout. The single diamond solitaire is a strong favourite and nobody can resist that big sparkler. The three stone styles have also remained popular and many still believe that this signifies ‘I Love You’.
Although some ladies have chosen other precious gemstones for their engagement rings such as rubies, emeralds, opals and many more, the diamond still is the favourite and as the song says ‘Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend’.
Platinum has also become a popular although a very expensive alternative to gold and silver. Recently there has been a surge in interest in engagement rings made from titanium and zirconium because not only are these metals attractive, lightweight and very hard wearing but they are also hypoallergenic. These metals lend themselves well to more modern styles and the metals can be heat treated to produce wonderful colour effects which make many rings totally unique pieces as no two will ever look the same.
Because of their hardness, Titanium and Zirconium are also used to produce stunning tension set diamond engagement rings, an effect which would be much more difficult to achieve with precious metals which are much softer and more prone to wear over the years increasing the likelihood of the precious stone working loose from the .
Most people wear their engagement ring on the third finger of the left hand although there are a few European countries where the engagement ring is worn on the right hand. The reason for wearing on the third finger of the left hand is thought to date back to ancient Rome and Egypt when it was believed that a vein that ran through that finger ran straight to the heart. Many women also wear their gold wedding ring with a diamond engagement ring and an eternity ring.
A beautiful engagement ring from someone she loves is something a lot of women have dreamed about since they were girls. Although the ring shows a commitment to the person, the actual historical reasons for an engagement ring are a little less obvious. Some would say the never-ending, continuous circle represents the everlasting love and commitment of the couple to each other. Another view is that it was originally tangible proof of the financial commitment on the groom's part to show the bride's family that he could provide for his bride-to-be.
The Egyptians wore rings on what is considered your ring finger today: the finger next to your pinkie. They believed there was a "Vein of Love" running to this finger that ran from the finger to the heart. Therefore, placing a ring on this finger connected it directly to your heart. The Romans wore "engagement" rings made of iron, which to them meant strength and permanence since iron represented both of these things. These rings were called "annulus pronubus" and were used in much the same way that engagement rings are used today. Eventually, these rings evolved into rings made of gold and decorated with engravings or other decorations. Some even had keys carved on them, representing the woman's ability to unlock her betrothed's heart. Others had lover's knots decorating them or two hands holding each other, yet another symbol of the commitment between two people.
In 860 Pope Nicolas I made it a requirement to give a ring after a proposal to signify the engagement. He also stated that it should be a gold ring. This perhaps is where showing you can provide for your future spouse came into existence. By the end of the Middle Ages, weddings and the actual official betrothal were combined into one ceremony. As a result, the significance of the ring changed from proof of financial commitment to a symbol of the commitment between two people.
Probably one of the most spectacular engagement rings ever was given to Mary of Burgundy when Archduke Maximillian of Austria proposed in 1477. The ring had diamonds, which at the time carried an aura of magic and were thought to be created by the fire of love. This fashion for using diamonds in engagement rings spread to other parts of Europe. In Venice, they associated a diamond's hardness with the idea of everlasting love. It was not until the late 1800s when large quantities of diamonds were discovered in South Africa that it became realistic for people to use diamonds for their engagement rings. At this point they became a bit more affordable and much more available to the world as they were exported from South Africa.
Today, most people opt for a diamond engagement ring. However, your options are endless when it comes to designing a custom ring that is appropriate to you and your future spouse. Your choices of metals, precious and semi-precious stones and millions of combinations are limited only by your desires and imagination.
Both John Lewis & Michael Russell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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