{"id":3252,"date":"2019-06-07T11:43:28","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T17:43:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shaneco.com\/theloupe\/?p=3252"},"modified":"2024-09-03T11:09:28","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T17:09:28","slug":"the-history-of-engagement-rings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shaneco.com\/theloupe\/jewelry-education\/the-history-of-engagement-rings\/","title":{"rendered":"The History of Engagement Rings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Shop this gorgeous pave setting with an oval diamond here.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The history of engagement rings<\/a> is a fascinating story. Rings have long been used as symbols of commitment. In fact, ancient Romans used \u201cbetrothal\u201d or \u201ctruth rings\u201d to reference a committed bond between two people. These rings were usually made from twisted copper or even braided hair, but were not always associated with marriage. They could also be a sign of affection or friendship. If you\u2019ve ever asked yourself, \u201cWhat hand does an engagement ring go on?\u201d you may be surprised to hear that the left-hand ring finger has been synonymous with commitment for a very long time. The Romans believed the third finger on your left hand was significant because it held a vein called the \u201cvena amorous,\u201d which ran all the way to your heart. Though this idea was later disproven, the tradition stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the second century B.C., a Roman bride-to-be might actually receive two rings<\/a> \u2014 one made of iron and one made of gold. This early incarnation of engagement rings for women was split into two for a reason: the gold ring was worn in public, while the iron one was worn at home while taking care of household duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1215, Pope Innocent III\ndeclared there should be a waiting period between when a couple announces they\nwant to be married and the actual wedding, so the ring was chosen to be used as\na symbol of commitment in the interim. These antique engagement rings probably\nlooked quite different from what we envision today \u2014 more than likely, they\nwere simple metal bands that commemorated the couple\u2019s promise to marry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where do diamonds fit in?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The first documented use of a diamond engagement ring<\/a> occurred in 1477. Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy using a diamond ring adorned with stones in the shape of an \u201cM\u201d (for Mary, of course). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The popularization of diamond engagement rings in the history of engagement rings was mostly due to the need for a new, strong symbol of love and commitment. After World War I, engagement rings became too much of a luxury item for the everyday bride and groom. In 1947, De Beers and a well-known advertising agency called N.W. Ayer teamed up to coin the phrase \u201cA diamond is forever.\u201d The 4 Cs were also popularized, giving the average consumer more education and decision-making power. They now had a set of guidelines that confirmed the value of their investment. With these changes, engagement ring purchases, and specifically those with a center diamond stone, quickly began to increase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, about four out of every five engagement rings sold contains a diamond. With a variety of diamond shapes to choose from, it\u2019s now relatively easy to find loose diamonds to create what we envision as the classic engagement ring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rising trend: men\u2019s engagement rings <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In countries outside of the United States and Canada, it\u2019s quite common for both women and <\/em>men to wear engagement rings. Usually, a \u201cmangagement ring\u201d comes as a plain band of high-quality gold or silver. It may eventually serve as a wedding ring, and be replaced or moved to the right hand upon completion of the nuptials. In Argentina, for example, the groom and bride-to-be wear silver bands on their left hands while engaged, then replace the bands with the wedding rings when the ceremony takes place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a greater push for gender equality in recent years, the tradition of men wearing engagement rings has started to pop up more often. Check out Shane Co.\u2019s collection of men\u2019s rings<\/a> if you\u2019re interested in exploring this new trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Claddagh ring <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Other countries have different engagement ring history, or traditions surrounding engagement and wedding rings. For example the Irish Claddagh ring. The Claddagh features two hands holding a heart with a crown brandished on top. The heart is said to represent love, with the hands representing friendship and the crown representing loyalty. Tracing back to Roman times, this ring belongs to a group of European rings called \u201cfede rings,\u201d derived from a phrase meaning \u201chands joined in faith.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a number of legends surrounding the origin of the Claddagh ring, the most popular of which being that it originated in the small fishing village of Claddagh in Galway, Ireland. One legend is that a silversmith named Richard Joyce was captured and enslaved in 1675 while on a boat headed to the West Indies. He was then sold into slavery to a goldsmith, who soon taught him the craft. When he was finally released 14 years later, he brought along a ring that he had created while in captivity: what we know today as the Claddagh. He presented it to his love, they married, and he ended up becoming a successful goldsmith in Galway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like the engagement ring, the Claddagh ring also tells a story of the wearer\u2019s relationship status. If it\u2019s on the right hand with the heart pointing toward the wrist, the wearer is not looking for a relationship. If it\u2019s on the right hand with the heart pointing toward the fingertips, the wearer is single and open to love. Wearing it on the left hand with the heart pointing toward the fingertips signifies an engagement, while wearing it on the left hand with the heart pointing toward the wrist signifies a marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Did you know? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Among other weird engagement traditions<\/a> stands the leap-year superstitions. For some reason, countries all over the world have strange ideas about getting engaged during a leap year, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n