What does a wedding ring mean? The meaning of wedding rings is that they confirm the marital status of two people - husband and wife. A wedding ring cannot be classified as ordinary jewelry. By putting it on the finger of our chosen one, we confirm our love. By accepting the ring in return, we confirm our willingness to live with him for the rest of our lives. It is this fact that confirms the responsibility and excitement in choosing a wedding ring, because you will have to wear it every day for many years.
Types of wedding rings
Since ancient times and to this day, the shape and appearance of wedding rings has remained unchanged - a smooth circle of gold. However, today in stores the choice of these jewelry is so large that you can get confused. Rings are made of various metals, have different shapes, colors and designs.
Classic pieces remain in fashion and are a circle of yellow metal without decoration. In addition to the classics, models with inlaid precious stones – diamonds – are popular. Rings made of two metals, for example, yellow and white gold, are also widespread. They can be made of two rims connected together.
There are also three-color models made of different shades of gold, harmoniously intertwined in design. It is also customary to decorate rings with an engraving in the form of the wedding date, or a phrase symbolizing a declaration of love.
Of course, yellow gold rings are a classic option. But this is not a taboo, because platinum or silver rings are often chosen. When choosing, base your choice on your own preferences. If you wear jewelry made of silver or white gold, then buy a wedding ring made of this metal. And when choosing gold jewelry, determine which of its shades is most pleasant to you. A silver ring is an economical option, but there is a risk that over time the jewelry will lose its appearance, since this metal is very soft and fragile. Platinum, on the other hand, is strong and durable. However, the price of such a product will be an order of magnitude higher than gold.
Wedding rings are a symbol of love and a happy family life
Wedding rings are a symbol of love and a happy family life
One of the most beautiful traditions, which has a history of thousands of years, is a wedding. Of course, wedding customs have gone through certain transformations due to changing social and economic conditions. But, the basis of the ceremony is and will always be the blessings of the parents of their children to create a family. And of course, the exchange of wedding rings. It is from this moment that the beginning of a joint family life journey is considered.
When it comes to weddings, this holiday is always associated with words such as love, fidelity, wedding rings . These unusual decorations carry a very deep sacred meaning - they connect two lovers for life with a thin invisible thread and become the basis for the stability of family relationships.
Wedding rings in history
The first mentions of a wedding ceremony and engagement rings were found in one of the most ancient civilizations - the Mayans, who were known for their incredibly progressive architecture, writing, knowledge of the processing of precious metals, and art. The civilization existed more than three thousand years ago, and the Mayan pyramids and gold are still a mystery. In the wall paintings were found references to a ceremony preceding the creation of a “family” and the exchange of round gold objects resembling bracelets with a certain pattern and precious stones, as a sign of marriage before the gods. Over thousands of years, bracelets were transformed by social tastes, fashion and changed into rings. It is believed that classic wedding rings are rings made of yellow gold with a smooth surface.
Modern wedding rings
Today, rings made of white gold or in combination with yellow and red are popular. And in the first place among the headbands are gold wedding rings with diamonds . Which makes the ring more unique, elegant, and adds a unique shine. Wedding items can be made from such precious materials as:
- White gold.
- Yellow gold.
- Red gold.
- Combinations of two or three colors.
- Silver.
- Platinum.
Rings are complemented not only with inserts like a diamond, but also with popular jewelry enamel of different colors, a combination of various materials, including even wood. If you want truly exclusive jewelry, custom-made wedding rings will allow you to wear designer wedding items on your finger. The most popular choice for young couples who are preparing for a wedding are wedding rings in white gold with diamonds.
White gold engagement rings with diamonds can already be considered a classic , since it is in white gold that white diamonds reveal their maximum potential and shine even more intensely. A more spectacular version of a ring with black diamonds is a play on the contrast of materials and, of course, the uniqueness of the idea. The most interesting thing is that wedding rings made of white gold with black diamonds are extremely popular among the stronger half. Men's rings with black stones look impressive and declare status.
Which hand to wear and why?
In our country, it is customary to wear a wedding ring on the ring finger of the right hand. Why? There are several versions about this.
According to Chinese mythology, each finger has a certain “family” meaning. So, the thumb symbolizes parents, the index finger speaks about brothers and sisters, the middle finger symbolizes the person himself, but the ring finger symbolizes his spouse, the little finger symbolizes children. According to this version, the meaning of a wedding ring is that it should be worn on the ring finger.
- According to European traditions, the meaning of a wedding ring is associated with the heart, saying that the image of your loved one will always be with you.
- Orthodox Christians wear a wedding ring on the right hand as a sign of the legality of marriage before the Lord.
- On the contrary, among Catholics, it is customary to put a ring on the left hand.
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For us, a wedding ring is just a symbol that we are now in a relationship with another person, a husband or wife. But this tradition is quite ancient and controversial. How did it come about? How a pagan symbol became Christian
Oddly enough, the first to exchange rings during a wedding ceremony were the ancient Egyptians, who, by the way, had neither Christian churches nor registry offices. It was believed that this ritual symbolizes the consecration of marriage by ancient deities. Interestingly, rings were made from a variety of materials. They could be made, for example, from animal skin or bones. They were also made from metals, including precious ones. But, of course, only wealthy people could afford gold and silver items. The Romans, although they inherited this tradition from the pharaohs, initially wore wedding rings exclusively made of iron. It was only in the second century BC that they began to be made of gold. In Rome, it was believed that the stronger the metal of wedding rings, the stronger and more indestructible the marriage bonds would be. With the advent of Christianity, the custom continued to be observed. True, it must be said that the Catholic Church did not immediately legitimize the ancient pagan ritual. Only in 860 did the Pope allow Catholics to exchange wedding rings during weddings. The first Christian wedding rings looked very different from what they look like today. They were massive and decorated with various symbols. Most often, they were engraved with two doves, linked hands, or the names of the spouses. But over time, engravings were abandoned; only sometimes the rings were decorated with precious stones. Meanwhile, the poor could not always afford to buy even the cheapest wedding rings. Therefore, in some countries it has become a custom to exchange thimbles. After the wedding, the tops were cut off to make a classic iron ring... There was also a secret, sacred meaning in wearing wedding rings. In most world teachings, the ring is a sign of infinity. No wonder it is sung: “A wedding ring has neither beginning nor end.” Thus, the wedding ring symbolizes the infinity of love between husband and wife. In Ancient Egypt, where the ritual originated, the ring was a symbol of the unity of the Sun and Moon, which, in turn, denoted the masculine and feminine principles. In ancient Rome, wedding rings served as a mark indicating that the woman wearing it belonged to a certain man. Meanwhile, among some peoples, those getting married put rings not on their fingers, but on their wrists or even their feet, while pre-charming the jewelry. It was believed that this would prevent the newlyweds from running away from the wedding, which sometimes happened... True, in our time such jewelry would no longer be called a ring, but a hand or ankle bracelet. In Rus' in the 15th century, the groom was required to wear an iron ring during the wedding - this symbolized masculine strength. The bride wore a gold ring as a symbol of her purity and purity. Why nameless? Do you know why a wedding ring is usually worn on the ring finger of the right hand? Unfortunately, today it is not possible to give a definite answer to this question. There are several versions on this matter. Thus, in Chinese mythology, all fingers of the hand have a “family” meaning. For example, the thumb means parents, the index finger means brothers and sisters, the middle finger means the person himself, the ring finger means his husband or wife, and finally the little finger means children. Accordingly, the ring is placed on the ring finger. Europeans believed that the ring finger was connected to the heart, so the image of the beloved would be forever imprinted in the ring worn on it. By the way, it is customary for people of the Orthodox faith to wear a “wedding ring” on their right hand: this shows that their marriage is legal before God. But Catholics wear jewelry on their left hand, since it is closer to the heart. A ring on the right hand can also be found among Protestants, who do this in contrast to Catholics. In ancient times, the ring a person wore could tell a lot about him. Thus, a ring worn on the little finger indicated that the person, although free, had no intention of getting married. A ring on the ring finger indicated that the wearer's heart was occupied. If someone wore a ring on his middle finger, this marked him as an adventurer and a ladies' man. Those who wanted to find a soul mate wore a ring on their index finger. Even in the last century, a wedding ring on the right hand clearly indicated that a man was married or a woman was married. Separated rings were worn on the left hand. And immediately two “wedding rings” on one finger indicated widowhood. Today people often reject conventions. Not all married people wear wedding rings, and sometimes they wear them on the hand on which it is convenient, and not on what is customary.
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Traditions of different countries
The tradition of giving a ring at a wedding ceremony has been around for centuries. The first mention of this was recorded in Ancient Egypt. Historians believe that the question “what did the wedding ring mean?” the answer can be given that this is a symbol of the sacredness of marriage before the deities. Since only wealthy nobles could afford rings made of precious metals, the common people used animal bones or their skin.
During the time of the risky empire, wedding rings were cast from iron. And only in the 2nd century BC. switched to precious metals. Then in Rome it was believed that the thicker the ring, the more indestructible the marriage would be, and since gold is a soft and pliable metal, they preferred not to use it.
After the adoption of Christianity, the Catholic Church was in no hurry to legitimize customs. It was not until 870 that permission was signed for the exchange of rings during marriage.
The first wedding rings were very different from their modern counterparts. They were decorated with various symbols and were quite large in size. They were often engraved with the names of the bride and groom, two doves, or two linked hands. Later, rings began to be supplemented with stones.
Poor people who could not afford rings made of precious metals exchanged thimbles, the tops of which were then cut off to obtain a very ordinary iron ring.
This wedding decoration has a special meaning. The meaning of wedding rings is infinity, since the ring represents the infinity of the spouses’ love for each other.
History of the wedding ring
The exchange of wedding rings is a sacred ritual that has come to us from time immemorial. In ancient times, a ring on the hand was a talisman, and it was made from hemp and reed fibers. But amulets made from this material were short-lived.
Later they began to be made of metal. The meaning of this item has also changed. It began to be a guarantee of chastity, the inviolability of family values, and eternal fidelity.
They were called engagement rings because, having put on the rings, a man and a woman will go through life hand in hand, without parting, and the ritual before the wedding was called “betrothal.” They began to be used in wedding ceremonies from the 4th century.
Why should you wear a wedding ring? The ring shows that this person's heart is occupied. The symbol of fidelity cannot be removed. If a person does not wear this symbol, then he breaks the oath of allegiance. Previously, this was considered treason, because the essence of this subject is the infinity of love, mutual support in difficult situations, honesty, cohesion, and reliability.
And the circle is an ancient symbol that has neither beginning nor end, which means it cannot be opened, and two rings mean the infinity of family life.
Why is it worn on the right hand, choosing the ring finger? The right hand is considered more important than the left. Christians cross themselves with their right hand. In Orthodoxy there is a teaching: behind the right shoulder there is a Guardian Angel, accompanying a person from birth. It protects not only the person himself, but also his marriage.
Why on the nameless one? It is believed that from this finger a blood vessel goes straight to the heart, and love always originates in the heart. Therefore, the wedding ring is just where the thread to the heart comes from.
By the way, the word “marriage” comes from the word “to take.” A man took his wife as the most precious thing in the world.
Rings with meaning from leading jewelry brands
Hello. This publication is about the types of wedding rings and the world's jewelry houses that present these rings.
Backstory, literally tonight my man was drawn to unraveling the secrets of pre-wedding and wedding traditions, and at the same time to looking at expensive rings. Inspired by what he saw, he shared his impressions and thoughts with me. So, out of admiration and some joy, this text appeared. Read and watch (I personally learned a lot of new things for myself):
The beautiful custom of giving the bride a ring at a wedding is actually not limited to one gift and one tradition. A potential bride can receive her first ring long before the wedding. This ring is called a promise ring. Giving such a “promise” is not an ancient ritual, but a completely modern custom. As a rule, it is given to a girl by her boyfriend. This means that he intends to continue the relationship and wants it to develop into something more than just a romance. This is such a nice tradition. This ring has one interesting feature: it should not be too expensive. Otherwise, the girl’s family has the right to decide that this is not a “promise ring”, but a real engagement ring. And this is a completely different story... “Will you become my wife?” (Or presenting a wedding ring) These are the words (with a slight change in wording, in different languages, with different intonations) that are spoken every day by hundreds and thousands of potential grooms around the world. Along with the marriage proposal, the chosen one receives a so-called engagement ring (wedding ring). In Russia, this tradition is not yet very widespread, and in the Russian language there is no exact definition for the ring that the future bride receives. From the moment of engagement until the wedding day, the bride must wear the engagement ring without taking it off. It is usually worn on the ring finger of the left hand (in some countries - on the right). This custom has existed since the times of the ancient Romans. They believed that inside the ring finger there was a “vena amoris” (“vein of love”) that went straight to the heart. In ancient times, rings were created from various materials and had different shapes. There was even a tradition of tying a flower on your finger. In some countries, when engraving rings, an ancient Celtic design was used - Claddagh: two hands holding a heart - a symbol of love and fidelity. The tradition of the modern engagement ring dates back to 1477, when Emperor Maximilian I presented Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring as an engagement gift. Since then, a ring made of precious metal (gold and later platinum) with a large precious stone has been considered a classic engagement ring. So it is to Maximilian I that all male lovers should say thank you for the fact that their chosen ones are waiting for a diamond ring, and not an aluminum nut, as an engagement gift. Today, white gold rings with a large central diamond can be found from many companies, but the best, of course, are from Harry Winston:
A worthy alternative to Harry Winston rings are white gold rings with diamonds of different cuts from Bvlgari. The secret to the sparkle of the diamonds in these rings lies in the original setting, invented by Bvlgari craftsmen to give the gem an additional glow:
The English jewelry house Graff also offers magnificent rings. Here you will be surprised by the huge selection of rings with a central diamond and surrounding diamonds of different cuts (pave, baguette or heart-shaped). Graff also offers rings with diamonds of different colors - for example, a ring with pink and blue diamonds:
Buccellati has created wedding rings reminiscent of vintage jewelry. These are wide rings in yellow gold and diamonds, set with a large emerald, sapphire, ruby or pearl (a great alternative to a central diamond). It seems that these rings were passed down from generation to generation. Tempting story:
I would like to add about bucellati, but there is a lot of interesting information. I will write you later.
In general, thousands of years ago (long before the appearance of rings), a symbol of engagement was a ribbon made of strong material or leather. The groom simply tied the bride's hands and feet so that she could not escape. We have come a long way from barbaric times, so now men in love can “tie” their women only with a beautiful ring and sincere feelings, of course. Wedding ring The long-awaited wedding day has arrived - it’s time to put another jewelry ring on the chosen one’s finger. It's called wedding. In modern Russia, the differences between engagement and wedding rings, as I wrote, have not yet been completely decided. A wedding, or, as we usually say, engagement ring is just a circle made of precious metal. In most countries, this ring is worn on the ring finger of the left hand, in Russia, as in some other countries, on the ring finger of the right hand. One of the most important questions is: what to do with your engagement ring after the wedding? There are several options. You can take it off and wear only the wedding ring, you can “move” the ring with a large stone to any other finger or wear it on a chain, or you can leave it on the ring finger along with the wedding ring. Fortunately, many jewelers have made sure that engagement rings match the shape and style of wedding rings and make an excellent jewelry duo. One of the first companies to solve the problem of compatibility is Bvlgari, which creates jewelry ensembles of two rings that match in shape, color and material. For example:
Or:
Another problem - the problem of compatibility between a man's and a woman's ring - was excellently solved by Cartier. This jewelry house creates excellent “pairs” of platinum, gold and gold rings in three colors (white, pink and yellow). Platinum and gold rings come in several varieties: simple and elegant, or set with diamonds or engraved. Rings are available both streamlined and with clear edges. In general, a difficult choice:
Perhaps only Tiffany & Co can compete with Cartier in the variety of rings. The categories are similar - platinum or gold, simplicity or generous inlay with diamonds. There are very original shapes and combinations of white and yellow gold:
If any prudent potential groom thinks that all his expenses will come down to buying two rings, he should be immediately disappointed. A necklace for a birthday, earrings for the New Year and a pendant for Valentine's Day are, of course, also not bad (much better than a carnation for the Eighth of March), but there are other gifts for your wife that should not be forgotten. In many countries, after the birth of the first child, it is customary to give an eternity ring to the wife. This ring symbolizes a new stage in the relationship, and its design, in principle, can be anything. Cartier offers several options for such rings, and Tiffany & Co has created an entire line under the motto “for all important occasions - from the birth of a child to a wedding anniversary.” You can choose a traditional design - a heart. The jewelry world decided very specifically on the design of another ring – the trilogy ring. This should be a gold or platinum ring with three precious stones. Today, many companies create such rings; some of the most beautiful rings can be found in David Morris boutiques. The three gemstones symbolize the past, present and future of a relationship - the perfect wedding anniversary gift:
And forget, dear men, about all sorts of paper, wooden and crystal anniversaries. Every year spent together should be precious. So go ahead and turn your convertible paper into precious rings! Any woman will appreciate this. And most importantly, give all rings with love and sincerity. Precious stones do not tolerate deception; they fade if they are given without feeling.
