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..
John Lewis runs Love2Have an on line jewellery website that only sells UK hand made jewellery including engagement rings and wedding rings.Utah Jewelry Maker Offers Unique Christmas Gift Ideas - Personalized Rings in Gold and Silver
Cedar Hills, UT (ContentDesk) December 10, 2005 -- Utah Gold & Silvers high quality gold and silver rings make unique Christmas gifts. Customers who visit one of Utah Gold & Silvers web-sites at custompromiserings.com or customcelticrings.com can choose the ring metal, color, width, size, engraving, font and pattern to create exactly the ring theyre looking for.The rings sold on custompromiserings.com arent the typical promise rings that can be found at any jewelry store department. These rings are each made to order based on the specifications chosen by the customer. "Every promise ring is hand finished on a jeweler's bench, the same way these beautiful results have been achieved for centuries," says Mike Simon, owner of Utah Gold & Silver, "Our promise rings and Celtic jewelry are not your usual suspects found in every jewelry store. "Every ring is custom-made to order which means you are always getting an original and always a work of art."Mr.
Simon began this business...
Utah Jewelry Maker Offers Unique Christmas Gift Ideas - Personalized Rings in Gold and Silver
Becoming a Gold-Dust-Person
What are your top 3 goals for this week? What is your vision foryour life? Not five years for now, but NEXT Monday at this time,how would you feel most fulfilled? How can the next seven days most powerfully impact the rest of your future?"There is Gold Dust in the Air-for me!"Catherine Ponder's classic work, " The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity" includes this affirmation. Imagine, for a moment gold dust sparkling inthe air. What would gold dust look like, floating in space?How about looking from this perspective: how could your goalsbecome that gold dust? How could you use your vision, not only for your future but for each and every day be valuable to your growth and prosperity?Jim Rohn is known as one of the top Business Philosophers in theworld. He has mentored top personalities in the Personal Developmentindustry. A promotional piece for an upcoming Jim Rohn seminar in Dallas includes 10 Lifetime Rewards for seminar participants.
Each reward begins with "You will" followed by a...
Becoming a Gold-Dust-Person
Mens Diamond Rings ? The Ultimate Wedding Ring For The Modern Man.
Mens diamond rings are becoming more and more popular with the modern man. As more men celebrate their marriage by the wearing of a wedding ring, mens diamond rings are fast becoming the new mens fashion.
The wearing of a wedding ring by a man is a reasonably new phenomenon. It is only really since the second world war that the wearing of a wedding ring by a man became common. However it is taking off now, as are diamond mens rings .
And there are different considerations for a man's wedding jewelry than for a woman.
A man doesn't usually wear an engagement ring. A woman does.
For a woman it is her engagement ring which is the feature on her finger. It is usually the engagement ring that is admired, not her wedding ring. And for this reason the woman will usually love a stunning diamond solitaire ring for her engagement ring, because a diamond solitaire is a ring to be admired!
And the setting of the diamond solitaire...
Titanium Wedding Rings
A diamond or another precious stone is usually part of an engagement ring. Titanium engagement rings are an unusual alternative to conventional engagement rings, as they fuse the classic look of engagement rings with the uniqueness of titanium rings. Titanium rings are available in several shapes and colors. Jewelry makers also customize them to fit your requirements. The price range is from around $400 to over $3000.
Titanium is also an excellent choice for wedding rings as it lasts much longer than other metals.
These rings are stronger than steel, extremely durable and can be worn daily without you worrying about wear and tear of gold or silver. Most manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on the product thanks to its durable characteristics.
Also, titanium is very light, being only a little heavier than aluminum, and is therefore a comfortable choice for male wedding ring buyers.
Tension settings are used to set the diamond or gemstone...
Titanium Engagement Rings
Wedding rings are usually designed to merge with the engagement ring after the wedding.
Engagement rings are similar to wedding rings except that they customarily have a diamond setting.
Sometimes another precious stone is used, but diamonds are used most often.
Titanium engagement rings are a unique alternative to traditional engagement rings.
They combine the classic beauty of the traditional engagement ring with the benefits of the titanium ring.
Titanium engagement rings come in many different colors and shapes and can usually be customized to fit the buyer's needs.
Titanium engagement rings range in price from around $400 to over $3000.
The diamond or other gemstone is most often set in the ring using tension settings.
Tension settings are the best way to have the precious stone displayed prominently yet still be fastened securely to the ring.
Tension setting is a relatively new process, it has...
Buying The Perfect Diamond Ring While Saving $1000's
Buying a diamond engagement ring can be a risky business! For most of us an engagement ring is the third most expensive purchase we are likely to make, after our home and car. However I can guarantee you know much more about buying a home, or a car than you do about buying a diamond ring! This lack of knowledge opens up the opportunity for dishonest people to take advantage of you.This generally takes the form of selling you a poor quality diamond ring for a higly inflated price.How can you avoid the pitfalls?There are some basic precautions you can take, which will significantly reduce the risk. Some of these include:Get Educated - Research the subject of buying diamonds, in exactly the same way you would if you were buying a car. There is no substituted for this, and if you are willing to make the effort you can have more knowledge of the subject in 2 hours, than 95% of your fellow consumers.Buy from a reputable source - Whether you decide to make your purchase online or at a Jewelry...
Buying The Perfect Diamond Ring While Saving $1000's
Gay Wedding Ring: Symbol of Love and Equality
A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for many people, although for an increasing number of persons, it has become a several-in-a-lifetime event. In any case, it is still a very special ceremony that binds not only a man and a woman together; today, gay male couples and gay women couples also observe the ceremony to affirm their lifelong commitment to each other. In such ceremonies, the gay wedding ring takes center stage.Same-sex marriage is still illegal in the majority of U.S. states and in countries all over the world, so what gay couples opt for is to participate in a "commitment ceremony," where the exchange of gay wedding rings also takes place. A gay wedding ring most often resembles the traditional gold or platinum wedding band.
Of course, the couples are free to have the designs or the metal they wish for their gay wedding ring. Gay-related symbols are often engraved on the rings, and various textures and effects are available as well. Irish and Scottish rings,...
Gay Wedding Ring: Symbol of Love and Equality