The Engagement Ring
When a man wanted to get married, it was tradition for him to give his beloved's family something of great value as a sign of his wish to marry her. If the woman accepted his gift, it signified their pledge to marry and it was considered a legally binding transaction. In ancient times, the betrothal gift was of a more practical nature, usually livestock, fabrics, herbs and spices and even land. The Greeks are credited with beginning the tradition of the betrothal (or engagement) ring. Here, the groom-to-be presented a ring to his intended as a promise of marriage.
Early Roman engagement rings were simple bands with a carved key. There are two theories surrounding this particular style. The romantic version states that the key was to 'unlock' her husband's heart. The more practical version was that the key represented the wife's ownership of her husband's estate. When a Roman woman married, she received half of her husband's wealth.
In 860 A.D., Pope Nicholas I ordained that an engagement ring was a requirement as a statement of nuptial intent. He insisted that they be made of gold to show financial sacrifice on the part of the prospective husband. In Renaissance Italy, silver became a popular metal for engagement and wedding rings. These rings were often very ornate and inlaid with Niello, a method of decorating metal objects with engraving techniques. An alloy of silver, copper, lead and sulfur was rubbed into an engraved pattern on silver or gold and then fired.
Darkened areas remained in the crevices after the object was polished. Elaborate engagement rings of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other precious gems became commonplace among the wealthy. Many rings would feature a group of stones to spell out a sentimental word. For example, if one wanted to spell out LOVE on his ring, he would use Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Verde Antique and Emerald. Some husbands-to-be would have a ring fashioned featuring his and his fianc?e's birthstones.
Since the color blue symbolized purity and fidelity, Sapphire engagement rings were quite popular, especially during the Victorian era.The ancient Greeks believed the fire of the diamond reflected the flame of love, while the Romans thought diamonds to be splinters from falling stars that tipped the arrows of Eros, the god of love. In the Middle Ages, these gems were looked upon as charms that had the power to enhance the love between a husband and a wife. However, diamonds were quite rare and only the wealthy could afford them.The tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring began in 1477 with the Archduke Maximillian of Austria, who presented his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy, with a simple gold band with a diamond. Since diamonds are the hardest, natural substance in nature, it was considered an appropriate symbol of enduring love. From that time forward, the royal tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring began to be embraced by people around the world.
In the 1939, a brilliant advertising campaign by the De Beers Company, the world's largest miner and marketer of diamonds, made the diamond THE engagement ring as the only best option to gift to your fianc?e..
Tom Ttsatsos, write article and provide consultancy to The American weddingMen's Gold Wedding Bands
Gold is still the most popular choice for men's wedding rings. Pure gold is a deep yellow color, soft, very malleable and is of 24 carats. The only things to consider when buying a gold wedding ring are the gold carat and gold color or the combination of gold colors available.
Typical men's wedding bands contain 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold. The higher the proportion of gold used indicates the cost and the value of the metal.
All these mentioned carat wedding rings are hard and durable metals and are suitable for daily usage.
In the present market, gold is available in a wide range of different colors. However, the most popular is still yellow gold, followed by white gold and rose gold. Other gold colors such as bronze, peach, red and lime gold are also sometimes available. Each gold color contains the same proportion of pure gold, so all the gold colors having the same carat will have the same Vickers score.
White gold is usually more expensive...
Men's Gold Wedding Bands
Gold ring > Men's Gold Wedding Bands
Men's Wedding Ring
Wedding ring is meant to be worn for lifetime, so men prefer comfort while
choosing their diamond wedding ring. They give comfort more preference than
style and design; generally, wedding rings for men are simpler than women's
rings, though there are still a wide variety of styles available to match
different individual preferences. Rings may be personalized for additional
symbolism with interior or exterior engravings or elaborate details such as
Celtic knots or geometric patterns. Men's wedding bands also vary by width,
metal, and gemstone use.
The groom wears a diamond band to glorify their true commitment to their
bride, men prefers to wear a ring that is unique and stands out from the
rest, makes the right statement of who they are, which speaks a lot about
his personality. Fashion conscious bold men tend to wear zodiac wedding
bands, which is strange and unique enough to make heads turn...
Gold ring > Men's Wedding Ring
Gay Wedding Ring: Symbol of Love and Equality
A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for many people, although for an increasing number of persons, it has become a several-in-a-lifetime event. In any case, it is still a very special ceremony that binds not only a man and a woman together; today, gay male couples and gay women couples also observe the ceremony to affirm their lifelong commitment to each other. In such ceremonies, the gay wedding ring takes center stage.Same-sex marriage is still illegal in the majority of U.S. states and in countries all over the world, so what gay couples opt for is to participate in a "commitment ceremony," where the exchange of gay wedding rings also takes place. A gay wedding ring most often resembles the traditional gold or platinum wedding band.
Of course, the couples are free to have the designs or the metal they wish for their gay wedding ring. Gay-related symbols are often engraved on the rings, and various textures and effects are available as well. Irish and Scottish rings,...
Gay Wedding Ring: Symbol of Love and Equality
Gold ring > Gay Wedding Ring: Symbol of Love and Equality
A Promise Ring- More than Just a Pre-Engagement Ring
When one thinks of a promise ring it is common to think of a small, inexpensive ring given to a woman as a promise of marriage in the future; however, this is not always the case. A promise ring has several other purposes besides being a pre-engagement ring. A promise ring can be given or used for any sign of commitment. The following are some other common uses for a promise ring.A Non-Romantic Promise Between FriendsA promise ring can be given as a sign of a promise between two friends. Such a ring can be given to a special friend, to a friend who is moving far away, or even to a friend who you will not see for awhile.
A friendship promise ring is very common with young girls who get matching rings that say "best friends forever." A promise ring between two friends is a way of showing that a certain friendship is something
very special to you.A Promise of...
Gold ring > A Promise Ring- More than Just a Pre-Engagement Ring
Wedding Rings - How to Choose a Perfect Ring
Selecting a wedding ring isn't as easy as it looks. You are going to wear your ring for the rest of your life, so it should be something you won't get tired of in a couple years. You will have to look at and try on many different rings before you come to a final decision and, being an intelligent consumer, you should know what your options are.First, you will have to decide how much you can afford to spend. Then, with your budget in mind, choose the material you want your ring made of.Wedding ring materials can be:
- 14K or 18K yellow gold, classic and still very popular for wedding and engagement rings
- white gold, which is gaining popularity because it looks stylish and very modern. Also white gold can be worn with silver or platinum jewelry and it goes with most fabrics
- platinum is one of the hardest metals, which in itself makes platinum a suitable symbol for enduring love.
It is also very pure: while 18 K gold contains only 75% gold, most platinum...
Gold ring > Wedding Rings - How to Choose a Perfect Ring
Gay Wedding Ring: Symbol of Love and Equality
A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for many people, although for an increasing number of persons, it has become a several-in-a-lifetime event. In any case, it is still a very special ceremony that binds not only a man and a woman together; today, gay male couples and gay women couples also observe the ceremony to affirm their lifelong commitment to each other. In such ceremonies, the gay wedding ring takes center stage.Same-sex marriage is still illegal in the majority of U.S. states and in countries all over the world, so what gay couples opt for is to participate in a "commitment ceremony," where the exchange of gay wedding rings also takes place. A gay wedding ring most often resembles the traditional gold or platinum wedding band.
Of course, the couples are free to have the designs or the metal they wish for their gay wedding ring. Gay-related symbols are often engraved on the rings, and various textures and effects are available as well. Irish and Scottish rings,...
Gay Wedding Ring: Symbol of Love and Equality
Gold ring > Gay Wedding Ring: Symbol of Love and Equality
Simon G 2006 Wedding Ring Collection Now Available at Firenze Jewels
New York, NY (ContentDesk) July 27, 2006 -- Simon Gs newest wedding ring, engagement ring, and fashion jewelry designs are now available online through Firenze Jewels.