How the diamond engagement ring came to be

_Elsa_ · September 2019

The tradition of exchanging wedding rings goes back as far as 4,800 years to ancient Egypt. But back then, the rings were made of stuff like braided papyrus and reeds. The endless circle was a symbol of eternity and the hole was a symbol of a doorway to the future. This simple exchange was a true symbol of love.

They believed that the 4th finger had a vein that led straight to the heart. This ancient belief became the main reason why our 4th fingers are known as the "ring finger."

Later on, the Romans followed this tradition. They were the first to exchange jewelry. But the meaning got skewed along the way - instead of a symbol of love, the ring became more of a claim of ownership.

* The Romans originally started with the exchange of iron rings. This was their sign of devotion to one another.

* Some Romans did provide their loved ones with gold rings. They were only to be worn on special occasions outside the home, though. The iron rings continued to be worn at home.

* The engagement ring was a sign of a contract between two people. It was a promise to wed. It also transferred the ownership of the daughter from the father to the new husband.

Many of our traditions are similar to the Roman way. Many men today first ask for permission from the father of the (soon to be) bride. While not the same as "transferring ownership," the sentiment that the woman moves on to a new family is the same.

You can read the entire article here.

To start from the beginning, click on Lucy’s image.

This mini series on Diamonds has four parts to it. Click on each link separately to learn more about diamonds.

How the diamond engagement ring came to be

How De Beers became the diamond industry leader

The "Diamonds are Forever" slogan

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