Getting married is always a big step in someone’s life, but what can be more difficult is planning the engagement. Many people want the proposal to be perfect, and what better way to make a good proposal than to have the perfect ring? Everyone has different tastes when it comes to rings, but in most shows and online in general, it tends to come down to the traditional style with a gold band and a big diamond in the center. So, how did this end up being the traditional style? The diamond is a unique gem, yes, but others could have been used and still look just as beautiful.
It’s believed that the ancient Egyptians are responsible for starting the tradition. They viewed the ring as meaning being together for eternity. According to a blog by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), rings were modified slightly when Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. Rings were then seen as typically depicting the god of love. There was another change when the Romans seized Greece, where iron and copper became more widely used. Occasionally, the iron rings would have key motifs to symbolize the wife having control over the household goods. Later on, gold became popularized for wedding rings. Ancient Egyptians were also responsible for wearing the ring on the left ring finger, believing that it contained a “vein of love.” The oldest diamond ring we know of was found in Rome and dates back to the late 100s CE. However, the first wedding ring with a diamond was discovered in the late 1300s or early 1400s when a widow left it in her will.
The first proposal with a diamond engagement ring was between Archduke Maximilian of Austria and Mary of Burgundy, according to the GIA’s blog. This engagement was highly significant for engagement rings at the time due to the chain reaction it created. The ring was apparently made of small, flat diamonds that spelled out M for Mary. This was one of the main events that created the popularity of the diamond wedding and engagement ring. Most high-class individuals at this time used lots of expensive gems such as sapphires and, of course, diamonds. However, the lower class tended to craft wooden rings for their spouse. Another reason diamond rings were popularized due to royalty was Queen Victoria’s love for diamonds.
According to a blog by the Cape Town Diamond Museum, Gimmel rings were very popular in the 1600s and 1700s. It was a ring incorporating two interlocking parts that each partner would take one of to wear.
When rings were newly popularized by nobility, they became known as a symbol of ownership in some cases. This is due to the tradition of the man asking the father for the bride’s hand in marriage. The type of ring could have also been a show of wealth. At the time, a ring wasn’t so much a display of love as it was a sign of a transfer of ownership for a woman. However, times have changed, and rings are now symbolic of love, commitment and unity.
The blog also states that people didn’t always use rings to propose to each other; the Hindu bichiya used to exchange toe rings. Although not popular and possibly ostracized from usual wedding rings, it was popular for a time. Meanwhile, people from West Bengal exchanged iron bangles for marriage. Speaking of unique or odd wedding jewelry, it was uncommon for men to wear wedding rings or bands until World War II, when men wore them to remember their lives and loved ones waiting for them back home.
Like the Hindu bichiya, all people have different tastes and styles, like the halo ring, where diamonds or different gemstones loop around the main one. Advances in technology also assist with current fashion. For example, metal crafting allows for more intricate designs on all rings, and lab-grown diamonds make for a cheaper and equally beautiful alternative.
Everyone has their own style of ring, and some may think that others are more beautiful than others. Spanish teacher Angela Francis is an example of this, who prefers a different kind of ring.
“He proposed with an engagement ring, and then we both went to pick our wedding bands together,” Francis said. “So they have the engravement in the middle and the inside of it with his initials for me, and then he has mine and his.”
All rings are different, but the most commonly used is the traditional style of a gold band with a diamond, as seen online. However, everyone has the option to use other materials for a unique and personal gift to share with their partner. The perfect ring is different for everyone; it’s most important that you want to marry the one giving it to you, or that you want to give it to the right person. Getting married is a huge step for everyone, so a ring that they will love is one of the most crucial steps for a good proposal.
