Engagement Rings
To many people, rings signify love, commitment and devotion. Nowadays, aside from wedding rings itself, engagement rings tend to be also common in a lover’s love affair.
Most likely, engagement rings are worn by women in their left-hand ring finger to symbolize that they are already engaged and soon to be married. Hence, the fourth finger in our left hand is said to have the “vein of love” or vena amoris.
Giving a ring as a symbol of love and unity is already a part of history and tradition to most countries. It has evolved as an important event in a couple’s love story. In European countries like Norway, Sweden, Germany and Finland, both man and woman wear engagement rings.
Women are mostly given diamond engagement rings. While that of men’s engagement rings were mostly considered as the wedding ring. But it is just normal that most countries differ from one another in terms of their culture, tradition and history.
Just like in US and Canada, engagement rings are becoming more popular, but their partners’ also having an engagement ring is still very rare. In most Asian countries, a man giving an engagement ring to a woman is also evident. But not everyone can afford, most especially in those poor Asian countries.
The History of Engagement Rings
Many people are interested in the history of engagement rings. Many researchers and publicists have different versions of its history. But where do they actually come from?
The most common history of engagement rings says that its occurrence all started when Pope Innocent III presided in 1215. Rings of plain gold, iron and silver were used before, but not until Pope Innocent declared a longer waiting period for marriage and betrothal. Subsequently, laws were passed regarding the usage of gems.
They want to preserve the division of classes and declared that only those with social ranks could use or wear jewels and gems. But as time passed by, laws were more relaxed and so gems and diamonds became available to middle class men and women. And so rings for weddings and engagements became more popular.
Even before the early times, engagement rings were used to symbolize love and unity. At first, engagement rings were made of birthstones, the birthstones of the bride’s parents and the bride (on the left), and the birth stones of the groom and his parents (on the right). But because of the beliefs of many people, that diamond mystifies poison, keeps off insanity and disperses vain fears, the use of it in engagement rings became more apparent.
Kinds of Engagement Rings
At present, we already have a wide variety of wedding rings. Famous rings at present are those made of gold, platinum, titanium or silver band with a diamond on top. But there are still other people who prefer rings that have plain gold band without any gem just like those in other European countries.
Engagement rings has evolved through the years and its modern styles and materials are based on the likes of contemporary women. Diamond rings are what women like most. However, some want different gems or semi-precious stones such as sapphires, star sapphires, emeralds, and rubies pearls and opals.
Gold and platinum are preferred by most jewelers and couples because they have higher value and more durable. While titanium and stainless steel are lesser in price but higher in strength.
Are Engagement Rings Still Significant?
In our modern times, to receive an engagement ring is still important to many women. For them it is a once in a lifetime experience that they should never miss. It is a forever symbol of love and acceptance.
For some, it is a symbol of wealth and prestige. But not everyone in this world can afford buying expensive gifts like these rings. Does it mean they already don’t have the right to love or to marry? There are things in life that you can never have, even no matter how you try or ask for it.
What is important is that you are happy and contented. So even without these engagement rings and other expensive gifts, if you want to marry a person go for it! You must never miss that chance, or else you have to search the whole world again looking for your Mr. Right!