Wedding rings are synonymous with symbols of love, and exchanging them is an act founded on thousands of years of history. The tradition of wearing wedding rings on the fourth finger of the left-hand stems from the ancient Egyptian belief of the vena amoris — the vein of love — that was said to run from the finger directly to the heart. While the belief in the vena amoris may have been disproven by science, the tradition itself has continued to persist throughout the centuries. Still today the wedding band and its placement remains upon the left hand, with the ring itself prevailing as a symbol of the bond between partners.
Why the Wedding Ring Endures
The tradition of using wedding rings has endured throughout thousands of years, and it’s important to understand why this piece of jewelry has remained such a crucial part of marriage. Aside from being a tradition founded upon years of history, it is a visible symbol of the promise made between partners. Most everyone knows the significance when they see it, and it wordlessly expresses your commitment to another. This symbol can also act as a reminder of your love, even when the two of you are apart. A little piece of your beloved to ensure that even across vast distances you remain close in spirit.
For this reason alone, couples across the centuries have chosen to keep this tradition alive, making the wedding ring one of the most iconic and significant parts of wedding culture.
Design and Material
Silver has been used in jewelry making for well over 6000 years, and today it still stands alongside gold as one of the most popular materials used for wedding rings. However, despite their popularity, they are by no means the only choice. Both platinum and rose gold have grown in recent years to be favored materials. Similarly, while diamond rings are what most people think of when they think of wedding rings, other precious stones are widely used as well. Aside from diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies are commonly used for custom rings and can help further individualize your design.
When selecting the perfect ring, the most important thing is capturing the personality of your partner and choosing a piece that they will both love and feel comfortable wearing daily. For instance, if your partner isn’t into flashy or large jewelry pieces, you should consider a special ring that is both elegant, yet functional. While it’s often up to one partner to select the ring for the other, today more couples are opting to shop together in order to find the best options for them.
Shopping together can also be a perfect way to further bond with your future spouse, and you may even wish to work with a jeweler to create matching or similar rings to further emphasize the connection.
Regardless of if you choose to shop alone or together, keep in mind the significance and rich tradition as you search. While wedding rings may seem trivial to some, their meaning and symbol of unending love between partners is something that all couples should take comfort and pride in as they wear them.