Getting Engaged

12 March 2018

Engagement rings

In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love, says Tennyson and with the crocuses and daffodils coming up in Hyde Park it won’t be long before the marriage proposals start. Of course an engagement ring will be needed to mark the solemnity of the occasion, a tradition since ancient times.

The engagement ring has its origins in Roman times, with an iron band gifted to symbolise the enduring and lasting dedication between a man and a woman and to signify the joining of two families.

With time and improved metal working techniques this iron band was replaced by more intricately embellished silver or gold bands, now representing the sharing of trust and wealth.

Later, more symbolic imagery was introduced, such as the clasping of hands. This was called a fede or faith ring and was now worn on the third finger of the left hand. This finger was believed to connect to the heart. So now the engagement ring comes to represent the gift of love.

Still later, gemstones are introduced, the favourite of all being the diamond, it’s durability and brilliance representing eternal love.

Diamonds truly are forever and they still remain the favourite choice of stone for an engagement ring and are guaranteed to please and warm any woman’s heart.