The History of Rings

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During the Medieval period is when rings became popular. All classes of people wore rings from the poorest to the richest. Rings were typically made of iron, copper, silver, and gold. The material of the ring worn usually indicated the class of the wearer. It wasn't until around the 14th century that faceted jewels appeared in rings.

Some cultures have rings typically associated with them. Cultures such as Native Americans use silver and turquoise in their jewelry. Early Christians used the Greek symbol, the Icthus, which resembles a fish. One of the best known is the Irish Claddagh that also has an intriguing story attached to it. Richard Joyce was among the crew of a fishing boat from the village of Claddagh, Ireland that was captured, he was to have been married that very same week. During slavery Richard Joyce was put to the trade of Goldsmith-ing. Through the years of capture neither married. Richard Joyce created a ring for his love with a heart for love, a crown for loyalty, and two hands.

After Joyce escaped capture, he returned to the village of Claddagh and was overjoyed to see his love again and to know she had never married. She always knew he would return to her. He gave her the ring that has become known as the Claddagh ring. If the Claddagh is worn on the right hand with the crown inward (toward the wrist) the heart is not yet committed. If it is worn on the right hand with the crown turned outward the wearer is committed to someone. Finally if it is worn on the left hand with the crown outward it means "Let our love and friendship reign forever, never to be separated."

Rings are worn for a variety of reasons including adornment. There are rings given as a reward for a job well done such as the Super Bowl victory. They are given to represent commitment as in engagements and marriages. Women religious to signify their commitment to God also wear rings.

Rings can be made of almost any material now. They can be made from plastic, silver, gold, or copper, even wood. They can be made of ceramic materials as well. They can be of simple design or something as intricate as filigree.

They can be plain and simple or they can be adorned with jewels or gemstones, as in the case of birthstone rings. There is a birthstone for each month of the year and each has its own meaning. See the listing below.

January - Garnet
The gem of faith and truth; protects from poisons, thought to stop bleeding, cure sickness of the blood and infections.

February - Amethyst
Aids soldiers in battle, control evil thoughts, helps hunters to catch animals, and helps the owner be good in business.

March - Aquamarine
Sailors used aquamarine to gemstones to keep them safe and to prevent seasickness. It gives the wearer courage, foresight and courage

April - Diamond
Symbol of strength, courage, and invincibility. It is the ultimate gift of love. In 1477 Archduke Maxmillian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring, thus starting the tradition of diamonds being given as engagement rings.

May - Emerald
Sharpened the wearer's eyesight and mind. Travelers used them as protection against the hazards of long trips. The green color is said to give the owner power to predict the future.

June - Pearl
Freshwater pearls give the power of love, money, protection, and luck. It is said they give provide wisdom through experience and protect children from harm.

July - Ruby
Its red color is related to sex, passion, strength, health, physical energy, courage, and protection. It is associated with blood, birth, and death

August - Peridot
It is thought to bring the wearer good luck, peace, and success. Its powers include health, protection, and sleep. It attracts love, calms anger, eases anxiety and negative emotions

September - Saphire
Its powers include spiritual enlightenment and inner peace. It is said to aid in the healing of rheumatism, colic and mental illness

October - Opal
It has healing powers that aid inner beauty, faithfulness, and eyesight. It also aids in remembering past lives.

November - Yellow Topaz (Sanskrit for fire)
In the Middle Ages was thought to heal both physical and mental illnesses and prevent death. Citrine - also for November - Aids the kidneys, heart, digestive tract liver, and muscles. It promotes creativity, personal clarity and eliminates self-destructive tendencies.

December - Blue Topaz (Sanskrit for fire)
In the Middle Ages was thought to heal both physical and mental illnesses and prevent death. Turquoise - also for December - It attracts money, success, and love. It gives protection, healing, courage, friendship, and luck. It eases the mind and mental tension.

There are school rings, engagement rings, wedding rings, friendship rings and mothers rings (usually the birthstones of her children set on a band. The price range of rings can be anywhere from fifty cents (usually found in the toy machines you see in stores) to thousands of dollars and more or even higher.

Author Bio
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Wedding Ring and and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

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The history of engagement rings and wedding

Today, many people make alliances and rings of engagement for granted, and that they give to these objects beautiful jewelry with integrity and love, they are often given without actual knowledge of the meaning behind them.

Alliances and engagement rings are very special items of jewelry; in fact, they are more that simple jewelry - they are the symbols of many emotions and promises such as:

LoveCommitmentFidelityEternityHonour

But where - and why - these popular and sentimental jewelry pieces come from?

The history of wedding bands

These pieces of jewelry have a history that spans centuries and that passes through many countries from all corners of the planet. Below, you will find a brief history of marriage and ring engagement, as reported from one country to another.

EGYPTIANS

The now famous band of marriage is thought originally in the ancient Egypt, where it is said that the plant articles were manufactured in circles to signify love eternal and immortal. Thought that the fourth finger (which we know now as the ring finger) contained a special vein that was directly related to the heart, and therefore it became the official finger for the Group marriage.

ROMANS

The Romans also agreed with the Egyptians to this is the finger of the ring of marriage and its meaning, but rather than providing bands of marriage as a symbol of love, they their granted as a symbol of property. Roman men would "claim" their women with the gift of a ring.

ASIANS / ARABS

Puzzle Rings was a complex type of jewelry that were once popular in Asia, and a charming to be able to unravel the knack jewellery and put back together again - if you know how to do that, of course. Rich men in the Middle East has then began to use these rings as bands of marriage for their wives, who were often forced to wear a ring of puzzle when their husband was absent. The husband knew upon his return, one of his wives had been unfair by removing the ring while he was there, because the ring is designed to collapse after removal and could only be put together again if you have the necessary knowledge and skills.

EUROPEAN

Many centuries ago the Europeans became rather taken with which we could class as an engagement ring, but was then called a ring of Scrums. This ring was given to a loved one as a form of promise and meant loyalty and love. Mixed ring was offered as a guarantee of eternal solidarity, as the engagement of today rings are available as a promise of eternal marriage.

AMERICANS

During the colonial period, all articles of jewellery in America have been banned because of their apparent moral irrelevance. Instead, a thimble more practice was given in pledge of love and as a pledge of everlasting solidarity. However, after they are married, women tend to remove the bottom of their "thimble commitment" to form a type of ring.

History of engagement rings

The engagement of today ring also has its own history interesting and varied, of which some is examined below. Engagement rings have been known by many different names, have symbolized a variety of different things and have not always been made of precious metals and the beautiful gems!

GREEKS

It is believed that the ancient Greeks were the precursors in the rise of the traditional engagement ring. As a token of affection and care, the rings used by the Greeks were known as the engagement rings and were given before the marriage. However, the significance of these rings is not always a prerequisite to marriage and was often given in the same way that a ring of friendship could be given today.

ROMANS

Seen by their use of the wedding ring, the Romans were not the most sentimental people, and it was believed that the first version of their "engagement ring" have sculpted keys. It was argued that this would be to the right of women to access and possess half of all the following marriage. However, the more sentimental likes to think that the key may have been a key to the heart of her husband.

ROYALTIES AND WEALTHIER

Engagement rings as we know them today - superb gems encased in precious metals - became popular around the 14th or 15th century, when the most affluent and the royals began to Exchange and wear jewellery. However, these elements were so expensive that persons other than the royals and the rich can afford to share their. He well be centuries before these engagement rings would become more popular or traditional.

Why a ring?

Engagement rings and wedding aims to convey the deep emotions of eternal solidarity, eternal commitment, eternal love and eternal happiness. In fact, these rings means eternity - between the donor and the recipient. A ring, is obviously a complete circle with seamless and without end or beginning, which means that it will just on and - it is eternal.

And, since folklore has it that the fourth finger of the left hand has a vein that leads directly to the heart, it is natural that the engagement and wedding rings may be worn on this particular finger, which was once known to be a direct route to the heart.

Summary

In short, it is clear that the meaning of a ring in honour of a union, betrothal and marriage is ongoing since ancient times, and even though it may still not as glamorous and romantic as it is today, it still is a means for the exchange of a contract of marriage or betrothal.

Fortunately, today, the alliances and engagement rings are not made of hair, grass, plants or Twine as they may have been in ancient times, but beautiful metal set with beautiful jewels, such as Platinum, titanium, gold white, gold, sapphires, diamonds, Ruby and emerald. These incredible pieces of jewellery are likely to remain as popular as that never, as the centuries pass, and while the rest of the world is moving in a futuristic and technological age, it is difficult to imagine that one day where a beautiful diamond engagement ring to melt the heart of the recipient.

Reno Charlton is a freelance writer and award-winning author of England, West Midlands. She has written numerous articles providing information to consumers on topics such as promise rings and jewellery boxes.

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