Wedding rings centuries ago and today?s most outstanding trends

Added: 11/28/2005

Historically, a circular wedding ring symbolizes eternity. Ancient rings were made of iron, thus, that they would last forever like a marriage. We still wear a ring on the third finger of the left hand. People considered that a vein ran directly from the heart to this ring finger. Already many years ago a wedding ring, as a symbol of the eternal life, obtained an additional meaning of preciousness, since designers began to create a wedding ring, made of precious metals.

Although wedding rings universally symbolize love eternity, they have their own stories and traditions in each country. In the 3rd century Greece, the ring finger was an index finger. In India, it was a thumb. Today's western tradition of wearing a wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand began later with the Greeks, who believed that the third finger was connected directly to the heart by a route they called a "vein of love."

In early Rome, a prized gold band came to symbolize everlasting love and commitment in the marriage. Roman jewelers carved wedding rings with two clasped hands. Sometimes there was a carved key on the ring, through which a woman was thought to be able to open her husband's heart.

In 860 AD, Pope Nicolas I decreed that an engagement ring became a required statement of a nuptial intent. Due to Pope Nicolas, today we have gold wedding rings, as he insisted that engagement rings had to be made of gold, which signified a financial sacrifice by a prospective husband.

However, it was not until the 16th century that men consistently began to wear wedding rings. In the USA, a ceremony, during which a young couple exchanged wedding rings, gained importance only after World War II, which started symbolizing love and partnership in the marriage.

However, the history is always more exciting than the present days. Let us come back to reality and describe traditional and modern trends in wedding ring designs. When its time to select wedding rings both for you and your groom, you become more than only interested in what the most modern trends are. Generally, the tradition of designing wedding rings from precious metals is expected to last forever, but there are some changes, interesting to mention.

Traditionally, matching wedding rings of yellow gold is a standard. Nevertheless, a more recent trend is matching wedding rings in white metals, namely, platinum and white gold. For some of us platinum is a hardly affordable option, hence, white gold is a more popular choice. If you cannot make a choice between yellow and white, consider dual-metal alternatives that incorporate both colors.

The second step is to select diamonds. Do not forget the four "C's" that affect the price of a diamond. A diamond's worth is based on four decisive factors: color, cut, clarity, and carat. Classic diamond wedding rings are the rings, composed of round-cut diamonds in a channel or pave setting. For couples, who are more creative, there are wedding rings of an antique design, covered with over hundred little diamonds. The latest rage is an insertion of colored stones into your wedding ring, while the most outstanding design is a combination of your favorite gem with diamonds.

Until recently, mostly men owned the fashion of purchasing engraved wedding rings, though today women also tend to select engraved wedding rings to create a good match.

Finally, it is great if your family has a tradition of passing down wedding rings from generation to generation. Do not think that these rings are too old or out of fashion today. In fact, any jeweler can renew your family wedding rings or redesign them according to your taste.

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