Modern symbolism in the form of tattoos or jewellery other than the traditional wedding ring are creeping their way into the wedding ceremony but there is something essentially so simple and pure about a band of precious metal, gold, platinum, silver or any other metal, that still captures the imagination of even the most contemporary of brides, many of whom still opt for the simple wedding band as a symbol of their marriage. The symbolism of the ring is set deep in antiquity, thought to date back to 17th century Europe or even as far back as ancient Egypt. The tradition of placing the ring on the third finger of the left hand is a custom believed to have derived from the Egyptians who believed that the ring finger and the heart were joined directly by a ‘vein of love’: placing a wedding band on the third finger of the left hand was designed to denote the eternal aspect of love. The wedding ceremony, during the 17th century, actually incorporated the ring into the ceremony in a far more integral manner than it is used today. As the priest intoned the blessing ‘In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit’ the groom slid the ring firstly on the bride’s thumb [the Father], then on her index finger [the Son], and then on her middle finger [the Holy Spirit]. It came to rest on her third finger as this was the first finger free following the blessing.Wedding rings have to last as they are intended to remain on your finger for the rest of your life, no matter what tough jobs your hands have to take on. As such, it needs to be sturdy enough to stand up to the rigours of everyday life. Most couples choose their wedding rings together. This is pretty important as both the potential bride and potential groom will have to live with their decisions, so take your time and choose carefully. I have noted over the years the different styles of wedding rings available, from the narrow 22 carat gold utility band worn by my mother who married in 1950, to my own wedding ring when I married in 1972. This was a wide 9 carat gold band. I remarried in 1989 and my new wedding ring was in a wishbone style, carefully chosen to accommodate the chevron shape of my diamond engagement ring. My husband’s ring, meanwhile, was a hand-made twisted ring, one strand being ordinary 9 carat gold and the other strand being 18 carat white gold – a ring which he is still very proud to wear almost 20 years later.
The wedding ring – a romantic expression and symbol of fidelity and love – is an important element to today’s marriage ceremony. Through the centuries, the wedding ring has symbolized many things for couples – and not always the romantic notions we hold today.
The tradition of the wedding ring goes as far back as ancient Egypt, more than 4500 years ago. The Egyptians were the first to link the symbolism of a ring with the supernatural – an unending circle representing eternal love. Egyptians used materials such as hemp or the stems of plants into circles which could be placed on the finger of the bride. Romans, on the other hand, fashioned wedding bands from iron, considered to be a symbol of strength. That was later replaced with silver and gold because of their durability against rust.
Both the Egyptians and Romans supported the belief that the “ring finger” or fourth finger on the left hand, led directly to the heart. And while science has since disproved this theory, couples still hold the belief that the wedding ring is a direct path to the heart. However, for the Romans this practice was not based in romanticism. In Roman society, wives were considered possessions of the husband. A ring simply symbolized ownership. In fact, women had no voice in this decision. Once she was “ringed,” a woman became a possession of the man.
In the Far East, a man presented his wife with a “puzzle ring” that was meant to keep her faithful in his absence. The ring was designed to collapse if taken off and could only be put back together again if one knew the correct arrangement. Puzzle rings were employed especially during times of war or if a husband traveled for business.
The Irish bride has sported a “claddagh” since its creation in the 17th century. Used as both an engagement and wedding ring, the ring features a heart and two hands on the sides and is still in wide use today. Meanwhile, some Jewish brides have a wedding ring placed on their index finger, the same finger used to point to the Torah as it is read.
For the Puritans of early American colonization, the wedding ring, like other forms of jewelry, was considered wasteful and immoral. Men instead presented their wives with thimbles as a symbol of their live and fidelity. Interestingly, this tradition gave way to new brides who would cut off part of the thimble to create a makeshift ring.
Wedding rings worn by men are a fairly new innovation. For centuries, men had no need of a ring indicating their betrothal, as they were considered the dominant partner in the union. However, with the events of World War II separating men for years at a time from their wives, men began wearing a wedding band to indicate their marriage and as a sentimental reminder of the wife waiting at home. The motive was purely romantic which has been carried on in modern times.
In some cultures, the wedding ring is considered the last gift in a series of gifts presented to the bride. This has given way to newer ring traditions, which may begin with a promise ring, presented during serious courtship, followed by an engagement ring and then the wedding ring. Eternity rings are also being given as to symbolize a renewal of marriage or in honor of a special anniversary.
While many countries practice the tradition of wearing the wedding ring on the left hand, some cultures, such as Germany, Norway and Greece wear the ring on a the right hand. In other European countries, the engagement and wedding ring are the same. Their status is indicated through engraving or according to which hand the ring is worn.
Today’s couples give much thought to the choice of wedding rings, choosing most often rings made of precious stones and metal. These rings represent more than simply adornment for the wedding day. Wedding rings will remain an important symbol of a couple’s love throughout their lifetime.
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.