Left Ring Finger Diamond Engagement Rings

HISTORY OF ENGAGEMENT RINGS

In our guide, we covered the history of the wedding band, but engagement rings have an interesting history of their own. Engagement rings have been known by many different names, symbolized a variety of different things and have not always been made of precious metals and stunning gems.

GREEKS

The ancient Greeks gave engagement rings as a token of care and affection. The Greeks used the engagement ring as a betrothal ring given before marriage. But the ring did not mean marriage but was given to signify friendship.

ROMANS

Romans used wedding bands to show ownership of their wife. And the engagement ring were believed to have carved keys on them. Some people believe that the keys symbolize the woman’s right to access and own half of everything following marriage. The more “mushy” people believe it meant that she had the key to her man’s heart. Some believe that the key represented a galley of some sorts that women would unlock if she were found to be with another who was not her husband.

ROYALTY AND THE AFFLUENT

Engagement rings began to showcase stunning gems encased in precious metals and became popular in around the fourteenth or fifteenth century, when the affluent and the royals began to exchange and wear these jewels. However, these items were so expensive that nobody other than the royals and the rich could afford to exchange them. And it was always the queens and kings who had the crown jewels of the country. But companies saw the popularity of the jewelled engagement ring and created rings that were exquisite yet affordable for common people. Companies like Zales became successful because they created a payment plan to purchase engagement rings.

WHY AN ENGAGEMENT RING?

An engagement is given, usually by a man to a woman, to indicate the man’s seriousness about being with this woman through eternity. A circular symbol, a ring has no break and no end or beginning, thus eternal.

Since ancient Egyptian times, the fourth finger has a vein leading directly to the heart, which is why both engagement rings and wedding rings are worn on this finger and hand.

THEN AND NOW

Yesteryears, the engagement rings were made of grass, plants, or twine during ancient times. Todya they are made with precious metals and gems such as platinum, titanium, white gold, gold, sapphires, diamonds, rubies and emeralds. The engagement has and will always be a significant symbol in our society for eternal commitment and love.

Wedding bands and engagement rings have become so commonplace and most brides and grooms do not know the history of the engagement ring. Wedding bands and engagement rings are very special jewelry pieces. They also symbolize love, integrity, commitment, compassion, fideltiy, honor, dignity, and respect.

Wow! Wedding rings and engagment rings say a lot! But did they always have these meanings. And why are they an expect symbol for marriage?

The History Of Wedding Bands

The wedding band have a history that spans the globe. Although much of the history was not written, it is safe to say that this symbol of marriage has been around for thousands and thousands of years in original continents like Africa where the first civilizations were located.

EGYPTIANS

In ancient Egypt, wedding bands were very popular. Royalty received gold bands and common people used plant sections to twist into circles signifying never-ending and immortal love. The ancient Egyptians, who used many African tribal principals, often connected spirituality, science and art to express their spiritual selves. It was thought that the fourth finger (which we now know as the ring finger) contained a special vein that was connected directly to the heart, and therefore this became the official finger for the wedding band.

ROMANS

The Romans who learned quite a bit from the Egyptians took this principal from the Egyptians and instead of offering wedding bands as a symbol of love, it was a sign of ownership. Roman men would “claim” their woman by giving a ring.

ASIANS / ARABS

Puzzle rings were able to fall apart and put back together again and were very popular in Asian. Wealthy Middle Eastern men gave these wedding bands to their wives who were forced, or it was accepted by the women, to wear a puzzle ring while the husband was away. The husband would know upon his return whether any of his wives had been disloyal because the ring was designed to collapse upon removal and could only be put together again if you knew how to do it.

EUROPEANS

Europeans called engagement rings a Poesy Ring. This ring was given to a loved one as a form of promise, and signified fidelity and love. The Poesy Ring was offered as a pledge of eternal togetherness, much as today’s engagement rings are offered as a promise of eternal marriage.

AMERICANS

During Colonial times, women received a thimble to signify the engagement. Jewelry was not very pratical. But after marriage, man wives would remove the bottom of the “engagement thimble” to for a ring.