Ancient Engagement Rings
Engagement and Wedding rings have been a sign of love for couples for generations. Today they are still used as a sentiment of love ,but nobody knows for sure when this tradition began. The oldest recorded exchange of a ring comes from Ancient Egypt. In those days rings were very different to what we have on offer now. Ancient Egyptians would make them in metal, stone and even braid papyrus into rings for women to wear on their fingers. The circle of the ring was to symbolize eternity, no beginning and no end, and the space in the middle was there to represent the gateway to the future.
The First Diamond Engagement Ring?
While engagement rings go as far back as Ancient Egypt, they have also been associated with Ancient Greece. In Greece, married couples would often gift each other gold jewels to wear on their hands as a token of affection. Young lovers would also do this but with the desire to married to each other one day very soon. Sometimes men would give their partners two rings, a gold one to wear out in public and an iron one to wear around the house. Some would even include a small key which some believe was a way of showing the woman held the key to his heart. It wasn’t until 1477 when the first diamond ring was used for a proposal. Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a diamond engagement ring. This started a trend among the very wealthy and high society people, causing plain gold and silver bands to drop in popularity.
Oval Diamond Engagement Ring in Box
When it comes to what hand and finger your engagement ring and wedding ring should be worn on, there are many theories. Ultimately the choice is between you and your spouse. However people do love the old wives tale that has lead people to wear their rings on their left hand. According to ancient Romans, they believed that the vein in the ring finger of the left hand connected straight to one’s heart. This they called the “vena amoris” meaning vein of love. Marriage or proposal rings would be placed on the left ring finger. This is to signify the love the newly married couple shared.
At Adiamor, we carry diamond engagement rings that are sure to get her to say “Yes!” to your proposal. Shop our selection today, or create your own custom ring for a look that is as unique as your beloved.
