The Origins and History of Engagement Rings

Encountered in many cultures and societies of the world, engagement rings are the symbol of a strong promise that the groom and bride to be make to each other. While in some countries both partners wear engagement rings, in others only the woman receives one when she is asked to marry or shortly after being asked. They have been used for a long time in human history as the symbol of union due to its round shape: a perfect circle, continuous, without beginning and without end. Engagement rings are thus the expression of eternal love, of pure love that never ends. It is not known who started the tradition, but it is thought that Greeks, Romans and Egyptians started it.

The first ones were made of leather and vegetal elements, reflecting not only the union of the couple, but their connection with nature as well. Then, as now, they were worn on the left hand ring finger, as it was believed that a vein leading directly to the heart, called the "vena amoris", was related to this finger. At first, the engagement ceremony was more elaborate and more important than marriage, which was a mere fulfillment of the commitment of engagement. Much later, in Christianity, the ring began to take a significant part in the wedding ceremony.

In time, people have turned to more resistant materials when making them. Being a delicate symbol of eternity, it was strange for these rings to degrade in only a few years. Romans used iron, which they then considered to be the most durable material. For them they were not necessarily tokens of love, but more than that, they symbolized the fact that a woman belongs to a man. More than that, during the engagement ceremony, the men gave a plain iron ring to the bride’s family as a symbol of his commitment and his financial capacity.

Arabs were also very practical: for them, the woman’s engagement ring was not the symbol of eternal love, but a guarantee that she was faithful to her future husband. Arabs used puzzle rings, made of several circles, which were disassembled when removed from the finger and only few skilled men knew how to assemble them back.

Gold engagement rings – a symbol for the status

The preference for precious metals appeared many centuries later, as the couple wanted the ring to be a symbol of their social and economical status and prove that they have the material resources that are necessary to support a family. Probably the same reason led to the appearance of engagement rings with precious stones. For a long time, diamonds were too rare and too expensive, so the couples got other types of stones. A tradition which is still preserved in some countries says that each month is associated with a particular stone – amethyst for February, emerald for May, ruby for July, topaz for November – and the grooms chose the stone depending on the month of the wedding or that of the engagement.

The first engagement rings with diamonds

It seems that the first diamond engagement ring was given in 1477 by an Austrian duke. There is little known information about this jewelry, but it is known that diamonds were then thought to have magical powers. Since the nineteenth century, when large deposits of diamonds were discovered, engagement rings accessorized with this stone have become more accessible and an increasing number of couples began wearing them. The American colonists who were against the opulence and did not like jewelry, used to give their future wives thimbles.

In the United States of America and Great Britain, tradition says that buying one is the man’s responsibility, but modern couples prefer to choose and pay for it together, as it is an important investment and an accessory that will stay on the woman's finger for her entire life.

In general, they are worn on the left hand ring finger. In some European countries it is worn on one hand before the wedding, after which it is moved on the other one. In some cultures, if the man also wears an one similar to the one worn by the woman, then the couple don't also buy a wedding band.

Engagement rings are the first symbol of love. They open the windows of the heart and the way to a happy life. Both the circular form and the stone are the symbols of true love and lasting connection. The perfect ones are those offered with love at the right moment.

What To Look For When Shopping

Because this has a special meaning it important that you take your time to shop around. Many stores will have a collection made from gold or silver and it really depends what you are looking for. You'll find the details and settings will be a completely different many of these you must take this into account when you go looking.

You will be looking for something with a nice design and possibly something that is in at the moment. Many bridal couple this to have an appreciation for antique engagement rings and there are many stores that can supply this type of product.

Depending on what you want diamonds or have it be him choosing a gemstone you really need to make sure that you have a pretty good understanding of what you're looking for. You need to understand what you want to choose white gold or yeallow gold and what type of cut the diamond will have. It's important to research and take time to understand prices because the price may be important to you.

Have a good understanding of carat and what this means is you'll come across terms like 14k white gold and duty to understand what this means. The color off the ring is important and it doesn't necessarily have to be in fashion because this could change at any time. Make sure it fits your finger when you are trying it on and you have the right size. Sometimes your fingers swell during the daytime especially if it is warm, and may also slow if you have been showing on a number of different types of ring in various stores.