The history of engagement rings is actually quite surprising. To start, what we consider a symbol of love today may have been nothing more than a mark of ownership to the Romans and Egyptians of the 2nd century BC. Not very romantic, right? Luckily, times have changed, and given the fact that engagement rings are now synonymous with marriage and love, we think it's essential to provide a crash course—and a history lesson—on this famous piece of jewelry. After all, we can't be the only ones Googling "when did engagement rings start?", so read on for everything you need to know.
Like so many customs today, engagement rings can be traced all the way back to Ancient Rome. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Roman women wore rings of ivory, flint, bone, copper, and iron "to signify a business contract or to affirm mutual love and obedience." These newer, more durable materials are what replaced the original reed and hemp bands used by the Ancient Egyptians years prior. Specifically, as noted on the GIA website, "It was the Egyptian pharaohs who first used rings to represent eternity. That’s because a circle has no beginning and no end, and reflects the shape of the sun and the moon, which the Egyptians worshipped." Gold rings and other jewelry were later found in the ruins of Pompeii, proving that the yellow metal became the material of choice in the era, replacing the usage of all other materials.
As further noted by the GIA, it wasn't until 850 CE that the engagement ring was given an official meaning, with Pope Nicholas I declaring that this piece of jewelry represented a man's intent to marry. What's more, according to the Cape Town Diamond Museum, it wasn't until 1477 that the first diamond appeared on an engagement ring by way of Archduke Maximilian of Austria, who proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a stone setting shaped like the letter "M".
The Original Ring Stack
In the 15th century, engagement rings began to embody the symbolism of intertwined unity that we think of today. That's when gimmel rings, or rings comprised of three connected bands, surged in popularity. This piece would begin as individual bands, one worn by each half of the engaged couple, and on the wedding day, the two bands would be connected with a third (the wedding band) and worn by the new bride as her wedding ring set.
An Enlightened Approach
While gimmel rings held steady into the Age of Enlightenment, posy rings also began to circulate amongst the betrothed set. These rings were intricately engraved and hid inscriptions of love poetry on the inside of the band. At times, the silver posy engagement ring would be exchanged for a gold iteration during the wedding ceremony.
The Rise of Diamonds
Even though the Archduke was the first to propose with a diamond ring, he was by no means a trendsetter. In fact, diamond engagement rings didn't become popular until 1947 when De Beers, the British company that mined diamonds in South Africa, launched an advertising campaign. With the help of Hollywood stars and the slogan, "A diamond is forever," diamond engagement rings skyrocketed in popularity for the first time since their appearance stateside in 1840.
The Latest Trends
In recent years, we've started to see a shift in engagement ring preferences. Of course, diamonds are still a popular option, but more and more brides are now opting for colored gemstones and rings made out of unique materials. For instance, just look at Blake Lively's light pink oval diamond in a rose-gold setting from Ryan Reynolds, and Katy Perry's unique ruby sparkler, set in a floral halo design, from Orlando Bloom. Even singer Ariana Grande broke from tradition when she debuted a pearl and diamond bauble from now-husband Dalton Gomez in December 2020. And as of late, there's also been a huge rise in lab-grown diamonds, an alternative and affordable option for those with eco-conscious sensibilities.
While engagement rings signify a bond and promise of eternal love today, back thousands of years ago, they were worn more for contractual purposes. Historians believe that the first engagement rings originated from Ancient Roman around 200 B.C., where they symbolized obedience or a legal contract.
The focal point of Lively's engagement ring is a shimmering 12-carat pink oval-cut diamond. Schwartz also designed Lively's rose gold wedding band, which features a series of delicate diamonds. The engagement ring is estimated to be worth about $2 million.
Rings represent commitment, as in the Prodigal Son parable when the father gave his son a ring representing his full acceptance back into the family. However, nowhere in Scripture are believers commanded to wear wedding rings. The Bible emphasizes inner qualities like love and faithfulness far above outward symbols.
The engagement ring represents the promise to get married, the wedding band represents the actual union and the third ring represents another large milestone for couples. The third ring is given after one of two events: an anniversary or the birth of a couple's first child.
Wedding and engagement rings symbolize love, commitment, prosperity, and success. Having a dream about it is most likely a hopeful sign for your relationship. You can analyze your dreams and relate them to several unique and most promising scenarios.
Historically, engagement rings upheld sexist beliefs that women “belonged” to men once they got engaged. As freer members of society, men didn't need to wear them. In the 1900s, men gave engagement rings as “collateral” in case they ended the engagement and damaged their bride-to-be's reputation.
While wedding rings may have some connections to pagan traditions, their use in modern weddings is primarily a symbol of love and commitment. The circular shape of the ring represents the eternal bond between two people, regardless of their cultural or religious background.
In relation to marriage, a black ring can symbolize the power of love. Wearing black rings can be a way for a couple to show that they are dedicated to their marriage and that they believe in the strength of their union above all else.
The tradition of wearing your diamond engagement ring on the left hand dated back to ancient Rome, when the Romans believed your left-hand ring finger contained a vein that directly connects to the heart. This vein was called the 'vena amoris' which means the 'vein of love' in Latin.
While engagement rings are a pricy investment, the usual cost tends to be below $10,000, with a national average of $6,000, according to The Knot's 2022 Jewelry and Engagement Study.
Under Civil Code § 1590, upon the termination of the relationship after the engagement and at any time prior to marriage, the person who purchased the ring (i.e. the donor) is entitled to the ring or its value in the situation where the donee sold the ring to a third party.
An engagement ring's meaning to a woman is that it is a public symbol of love, commitment, and a promise of marriage. In addition, it represents her partner's love for her, the ring's ability to symbolize their relationship and its future, how it will look on her finger, and sometimes the cost of the ring.
A man presents his prospective bride with an engagement ring upon acceptance of his marriage proposal. Anthropologists believe this tradition originated from a Roman custom in which wives wore rings attached to small keys, indicating their husbands' ownership.
An engagement ring, also known as a betrothal ring, is a ring indicating that the person wearing it is engaged to be married, especially in Western cultures. A ring is presented as an engagement gift by a partner to their prospective spouse when they propose marriage to represent a formal agreement to future marriage.
The practice of presenting brides-to-be with engagement rings was most likely started by Ancient Romans, who gave women a gold ring at the engagement ceremony as an object of value, showing wealth. However, at that time, the ring indicated the husband's ownership of the woman rather than love.
Introduction: My name is Arline Emard IV, I am a cheerful, gorgeous, colorful, joyous, excited, super, inquisitive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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