In modern times, there is a general global consensus that engagement rings represent commitment, love and marriage. But don’t think that this is a modern day symbolism, in fact, the symbolism of the engagement ring has been around for thousands of years. The engagement ring has a colourful history and has been influenced by different cultures and customs since its origins, eventually becoming a symbol of the promise of love. Let’s take a look at how this tradition developed.
The Origin of Engagement Rings
According to ancient books unearthed by archaeologists, engagement rings have been seen in Egypt and Rome as early as the 2nd century BC. Initially it was used as proof of ownership. Engagement rings in Ancient Egypt were first made from reeds or hemp. The Egyptians made engagement rings round because the round shape matched better with the appearance of the sun and the moon, and because there was no beginning or end to the circle, which correlates with the quest for eternity in ancient Egyptian culture. Ancient Romans, on the other hand, wore engagement rings made of flint, ivory, bone, or copper and iron, and they wore them to signify their obedience and love for their partners.
At the ruins of Pompeii, archaeologists have found rings made of gold, proving that over time, the first materials used to make rings were replaced by gold.
Roman times
The tradition of the engagement ring as a symbol of love began in ancient Rome. Initially, the ancient Romans made only two rings of iron and gold respectively. Iron rings were worn indoors, while gold rings were worn when outdoors.
The most famous Roman motif is the crossed hands of two people wearing engagement rings, which is both a symbol of the bride and groom holding hands at the wedding, and a symbol of the promise made by the bride and groom to each other.
Medieval Europe
During the Middle Ages, it became popular for people in European countries to set gemstones on engagement rings and give them to the person they loved. Different gemstones represented different meanings: ruby for passion, diamond for determination, sapphire for peace ……
Couples are also exchanging ‘bouquet rings’ engraved with romantic poems or religious verses that represent love, and these rings are engraved with a variety of engraving tool, which can be purchased and tried out if you are interested in the process, which should be a novel experience for you. If the couple were religious, it’s possible that some religious motifs would have been engraved on the engagement ring.
Renaissance
The Renaissance had a huge impact on all types of things, and engagement rings were no exception. During this time, diamond engagement rings became mainstream. The Gemmological Institute of America recorded the news that in 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria racked his brains to surprise his beloved fiancée, Mary of Burgundy, with a custom-made engagement ring set with diamonds, the first diamond engagement ring ever recorded. Mary of Burgundy was delighted to receive such a ring and said yes. The diamond engagement ring led to a wonderful marriage that became a popular legend. Since then, diamond engagement rings have become trendy. Jewellery designers who offer bespoke ring making services are in demand, and to make the ring setting process smoother, they use specialised stereo microscope to magnify the setting so that the details of the stone can be seen more clearly and the accuracy of the setting can be improved.
The Modern World
In modern times, while diamond rings are still the most popular engagement rings, just walk into a jewellery shop and you will find a wide range of traditional or non-traditional rings made of various metals with different coloured gemstones set in a variety of quirky settings, which are scattered around the centre of the ring and on the band. In order to better reflect their unique personalities and preferences, many people are not satisfied with the finished engagement rings sold in jewellery shops and prefer to have a one-of-a-kind ring custom-made.
Ethical Issues
As the demand for various gemstones, including diamonds, has increased, many people have resorted to over-mining gemstones in order to make huge profits. This behaviour is not only extremely harmful to the natural environment, but the lives of the miners cannot be guaranteed under the harsh mining conditions. Therefore, environmentally conscious and ethical people have begun to choose synthetic gemstones as an alternative to natural gemstones. Synthetic gemstones have the same physical, optical and chemical characteristics as natural gemstones, and are cheaper and have less impact on the earth’s environment. The only difference between them may be the environment in which they are produced.
In summary
A magnificent evolution has taken place in the engagement ring from its birth to its passing into the modern world, from the ancient twisted rope and iron ring to the ring that now exudes an eye-catching lustre. Not only has it incorporated religious symbols and motifs, but it has also incorporated multiple gemstones into its design in a variety of novel settings.
The evolution of the engagement ring is not going to stop there, and perhaps in the future you will see engagement rings with newly discovered gemstones that have never been seen before, or novelty engagement rings with fingerprints of both partners engraved on them, just like wedding bands. But no matter how much an engagement ring’s appearance evolves, its inner meaning remains the same – it will always be the best way to express a couple’s individuality and love.
