Your Complete Guide to Wedding Rings Purchasing
A wedding ring is one of the most precious pieces a person can own, but have you ever wondered how they became so popular and significant to modern culture? Welcome to our guide to wedding rings! The evolution of wedding rings shows where they began, how ancient influences are still present in today’s trends, and how modern aesthetics have added endless ways to make a ring your own.
The Diamond Room has a team of expert staff that knows all about wedding rings–including modern and vintage trends and how to wear them. Take a crash course on wedding rings to learn about their evolution and how to find a ring that feels timeless to you.
Guide to Wedding Rings: The History of Wedding Rings
The tradition of wedding rings dates back 3,000 years to the Egyptians. Pharaohs originally used the rings to represent eternity since a circle has no end. But the Greeks originated the concept of giving rings to one’s lover to represent devotion; these rings were often made of gold.
By Medieval times, wedding rings were set with gems, including diamonds, which symbolized strength. Later on in the 1940s, diamond giant Da Beers coined the term “a diamond is forever”, cementing the gem as an extremely popular choice for wedding rings.
Though early wedding ceremonies included a man offering a ring to a woman, men did not wear wedding rings until the 20th century. When American and European WWII soldiers left for duty, they often wore rings to remember their wives and sweethearts back home. This tradition carried on through other wars and eventually became popular with civilians.
Guide to Wedding Rings: The Modern Day Wedding Ring
Today, wedding rings are traditionally worn by both partners in a marriage to symbolize their partnership. However, wedding rings can also express each partner’s unique personality. The sky’s the limit with design choices for modern rings; any variety of gemstone, metal type, or color and design elements can be combined to create a one-of-a-kind ring for each partner.
Some of the most popular metals for modern wedding rings include:
- Gold: Gold is one of the most versatile metals and comes in several shades.
- Platinum: A beautiful white metal, platinum is highly durable and does not corrode or require polishing.
- Silver: A classic white metal, silver is very popular and can be molded into many band designs.
- Titanium: A popular choice for men’s rings, titanium is resistant to tarnishing, so it can be worn without risk of damage.
Here are a few of the most popular gem options, which include:
- Diamond: By far the most popular choice, diamonds offer timeless beauty and high durability.
- Sapphire: Popularized by royals like Kate Middleton and Princess Diana, sapphires add an air of regality to any ring.
- Emerald: The green tones of emeralds are excellent for those seeking a vintage-inspired ring.
- Pearl: Pearls have emerged as a trendy option for bridal jewelry especially adding a touch of sophistication.
Guide to Wedding Rings: How do Couple Wear Wedding Rings
Most couples wear their wedding rings on their left ring finger; this custom began with the Romans, who believed a vein ran from this finger to the heart. However, there is no hard rule that a wedding ring must be worn on this finger. In fact, many cultures in Europe and Asia wear their rings on the right hand instead.
Additionally, there are many different ways to combine a wedding band and engagement ring set. Here are just a few of the options available to help women make a winning pair of rings:
- Matched sets: A bride may opt to match their engagement ring with a wedding band that has a similar design, embellishments, or colors.
- Complementary ring: A wedding band may complement the engagement ring with unique curves or interlocking bands.
- Separate rings: While some brides may have their rings fused together, some may choose to keep the band and engagement ring separate, which can be convenient to wear one on its own when traveling or doing activities that could damage the engagement ring.
- Stackable rings: Layering the engagement ring amidst other bands can be a fun way to symbolize anniversaries or other occasions.
Guide to Wedding Rings: How to Buy a Wedding Ring
The final step in our guide to wedding rings purchasing, is of course, when you’re ready to tie the knot (preferably do this after wearing your engagement ring for a couple months, and give the jeweler at least a few weeks…not that we can’t pull off miracles at time…).
Looking at or buying your wedding rings should be a memorable experience for both partners. That’s why we offer a Diamond Date Night event at the Diamond Room. When you book a private showing to look at rings together, we’ll treat you with champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and a curated playlist to set the mood. Afterward, you’ll be whisked off to romantic dinner reservations to make a beautiful memory out of your first steps toward forever.
There’s a lot to know about wedding rings, but the Diamond Room’s staff can answer any questions you have about finding your perfect ring. Contact us today to set up an appointment and see the beauty of these special rings for yourself!
History lovers, Wiki has some good info on wedding ring history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_ring
Time to buy your wedding rings? Reach out and no matter where you are, we can help create these timeless pieces for your new life together https://diamondrooms.com/contact-us/
