The History behind an engagement ring – why do we wear an engagement ring, what does it mean?

The History behind an engagement ring – why do we wear an engagement ring, what does it mean?

We often focus on the type of engagement ring we like, but have you ever thought of why you wear an engagement ring, what does it mean and the history behind an engagement ring? At Lolo & Galago we took a look at the history behind engagement rings, which we found was a treasure of a story in itself.

Engagement bands date back to Ancient Egypt and were designed in the shape of a circle, made in brass, iron or bonze.  it was worn to symbolize a never ending cycle of life and love.

 

Another popular style especially with Romans, was an engagement ring that included a small key. The idea was the ring, like a key, unlocked a new life for the married woman. These keys sometimes even unlocked jewellery boxes with special treasures hidden deep inside and other rings would be given with another key, a key to their new home which it would be delicately hung around the brides waist. Even the wedding service incorporated  the engagement ring at the ceremony: “I give thee my daughter to be thy honor and thy wife, to keep thy keys, and to share with thee in thy bed and goods.”

However, in the 15th century, the type of engagement ring began to change when royal families, joining together through marriage, began to use gemstones. Each stone enveloped a special meaning for example, the ruby stood for love; the emerald for home and diamonds sparkled for fidelity and durability. Around this same time, well-to-do brides often received special rings with hidden messages.

 

 

Most popular was the gimmel engagement ring a rectangular ring which comprised of  two rectangular gems, traditionally a diamond and ruby for commitment and passion, and below these stones you would find satyrs and nymphs were displayed in coloured enamel and symbolised “ a playful courtship.” When a couple became engaged, the ring was evenly split into two parts. The secret? The ring contained a special opening on the band. She wore one half, he wore the other. Inside the rings, traditional sayings or verses were often inscribed. One of the more popular sayings resulted from the wedding ceremony: “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”

In 18^th  century Europe,  the fashion changed again and the diamond engagement ring took center stage. This was due to a steady supply of diamonds being discovered in Brazil which in turn made diamond engagement rings more accessible. These rings were often found in silver and gold, beautifully displaying a center diamond stone and two side diamonds. It also was at this time that a second ring—known today as the wedding band— came into use. It was joined with the engagement ring at the time of the ceremony. Queen Charlotte, wife of George III of England, opted to nestle a diamond band with her engagement ring.

In 1886, the Tiffany setting took the engagement ring market by storm. The setting allowed the stone to suspend high above the band, allowing greater amounts of light to pass through the stone. This, in turn, created an illumination atop the hands of married (and soon-to-be married) women across much of the world. The design’s creator, Charles Lewis Tiffany, knew the importance of a diamond engagement ring and wished for a stage to display its prominence and symbolism of love. Today, this style continues to be the most popular design of engagement ring.

 Which type of engagement ring would you choose?

Written by Rosie May Reddington