Wedding, Engagement, Anniversary & Love Rings
History And Style Of Engagement Rings The word “betrothed” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “troweth,” which means truth. In medieval England, a betrothed couple shared a “truth” or “pledge” to marry, and a ring served as the outward sign that a woman was promised to another. The idea of a “period of engagement” arose in […]
The History And Style Of Wedding Rings Rings have long been a symbol of friendship, love, and marriage. Over the ages, wedding rings have evolved from talismanic rings, to tokens of love and affection, to symbols of long-term commitment. We can trace their history in the following sections: Antiquity: Talismans and Love Tokens The Middle […]
History And Style Of Eternity And Anniversary Rings In the 18th century, new wedding ring fashions emerged. King George III introduced the tradition of the “keeper,” or guard, ring in 1761, when he presented a band encircled with diamonds to his bride, Queen Charlotte. The tradition of the “keeper” ring caught on with the general […]
Giving A Promise Or Friendship Ring Promise and friendship rings have been used as tokens of affection for centuries. Their popularity tends to wax and wane over time, often regaining their status in popularity due to trends and celebrity culture. Promise rings can be used to signify friendship, indicate pre-engagement, or another commitment of great […]
A Guide To Wedding Party Traditions Weddings provide ample opportunity to present gifts of jewelry. There is a longstanding tradition of gifts of jewelry for the bride (not including the engagement and wedding ring). Often the parents of the bride or her friends will give her a pair of earrings or a necklace to wear […]
A Guide To Special Wedding Traditions Throughout the world, weddings are sacred ceremonies with tremendous impact on the future lives of the couple. For this reason, they are associated with many customs and superstitions. Western Wedding Superstitions The Victorians believed it was lucky to marry on the day of the week the groom was […]
Past Traditions Of Wearing Love Rings Just as the history of rings began in ancient Egypt, so does our traditional means for wearing them. The Egyptians, as well as the Greeks and Romans, typically wore their love or betrothal rings on the third finger of the left hand. They believed this finger held a special […]
Love Rings From History Ancient magicians and physicians believed in the power of plants, animals, and minerals to accomplish extraordinary things. They also attached mystic importance to rings. While many people are familiar with ancient magical and healing properties of gemstones, few are familiar with the historical uses of wedding or love rings for magic […]
Famous Love Rings From History As much as love stories throughout history have captivated the mind and the heart, the love rings attached to these stories from the past encapsulate all of the emotions of the love pairing, be it beautiful or tragic. Below is a selection that continues to enthrall: Clovis I and Clothilde’s […]
History & Love Rings In Literature Love and marriage have inspired storytellers, poets, playwrights, and novelists for centuries. Below are a few literary references involving wedding and betrothal rings that stand out as exemplary: The Bible Love Books of Ovid Shakespeare Robert Herrick Robert Dodsley’s The Toy Shop Charles Churchill Lord Byron Gerald Massey The […]