How Do the Engagement & Wedding Bands Work?
Rings play an important role all over the world when two people get married. First, when the couple gets engaged, then a second time when another set of rings is exchanged with the promise of eternal love.
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History of the Engagement Ring
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An engagement ring was first presented to Mary of Burgundy by the Archduke Maximilian of Austria as a sign of betrothal promising marriage in 1477. This tradition was largely reserved to the upper classes and royalty until 1870, when diamond mines were discovered in South Africa. From then on diamonds became more accessible to the public and engagement rings became increasingly popular in many different styles. In older times, colored stones were favored, while the popular Tiffany's cut solitaire diamond ring only gained popularity in the late 19th century.
History of the Wedding Band
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The traditional wedding band originates in Ancient Egypt, where circular symbols represented the sun, which Egyptians worshiped as a deity. It symbolized eternity and thus lent itself perfectly to conveying eternal love. It was also believed that a vein ran from the fourth finger on the left hand to the heart. Despite this being a myth and factually incorrect, this finger is still used as the "ring finger" today. As of World War II, men began to also wear wedding bands. Previously only women had worn a ring as a token of their marriage. During the war, men wanted to remember their wives and also wear a symbol of their marriage.
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Modern Rings
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Platinum has made a come-back as a popular metal for wedding jewelery. During World War II the metal was used primarily for the manufacturing of machinery. White and yellow gold was used instead. In recent years, platinum has become increasingly popular once again. Celebrities have also shown a recent liking for yellow diamonds and multiple diamonds. Less pricey alternatives are available in many different cuts and sizes.
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References
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- Photo Credit Bride and groom hodling two wedding rings image by Anna Mironova from Fotolia.com
