If there is an unmistakable symbol of the bond between two people , it is wedding rings. I love wedding rings and everything related to it: the history, the symbolism and the process of choosing them. It's a long topic . It's a long topic and that's why I've decided to divide it into two parts. This is the first part, I tell you where it comes from and what this tradition means. and that's why I've decided to divide it into two parts. This is the first part, I tell you where it comes from and what this tradition means. 

The history of wedding rings is not fully defined and does not follow a clear line. Their use and meaning changes greatly with each culture and time. Historians fail to unravel all the symbolism and associated traditions that this object has had. This, in my opinion, makes the subject even more interesting. My intention is to share a summary of what I have found out to date because I find it fascinating.

1/ Origin

It is considered that the first culture where rings were exchanged as a symbol of love was more than 5,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt. They were made of wood or leather. For the Egyptians the ring, a perfect circle with no beginning and no end, was a powerful symbol of eternal life and love.

Later in Greece lovers gave each other rings featuring Eros, the god of love, or his cherubs..

In ancient times it was common to wear signet rings, used as a personal signature. In the Roman Empire the groom gave her a ring that was also a signet ring with his name on it. This meant that she could use his name. For this reason, the Romans are considered to have been the first to associate this exchange of rings with marriage.

2/ The lovers

As time went by, the Romans began to personalise their rings. They adorned them with a representation of the couple themselves.

This went as far as the Byzantine Empire, who engraved the rings with the faces of the bride and groom. Once Christianity became the official religion of the empire, couples were depicted next to Jesus or a cross, as a symbol of blessing.

3/ Fede Rings

Used since Ancient Rome and in use for several centuries in Europe. They are rings in which two hands are intertwined. 

They re-emerged in the 12th century and remained in use for many centuries. Over the years the designs became more original and intricate, the most famous being the Claddagh Ring, in which two hands hold a crowned heart.

The Claddagh Ring, a symbol of Celtic culture, was designed in the 16th century thirteen centuries after the fede rings, originally from Rome. Different versions of the Claddagh Ring:

4/ Other rings

Posy Ring

From the 15th century onwards, possiesproliferated, which are short poems or verses engraved on the inside of the rings. Each lover wore a part of the poem. Jewellers developed the techniques necessary to do the painstaking and intricate engraving involved in writing a poem inside a ring.

Triquettes

These are rings with 2 or 3 rings that fit together like a small puzzle. The rings are inserted into each other and can be seen separately, but at the same time they are part of a whole. The symbolism is powerful. As you can see, the designs are often very intricate and full of signs and symbols such as fedehands, forget-me-not flowers, hearts...

Diamond ring

The earliest known diamond ring dates from the 1st century AD found in Rome, believed to have belonged to a young woman. Several centuries later, the technology was developed to cut them and bring out their characteristic sparkle and brilliance.

In the 15th century the father of the bride gave a jewel to the father of the groom as a marriage proposal. It was common for this jewel to be a diamond ring, hence the origin of the engagement ring.

The first documented diamond wedding ring was in 1475 at the wedding of Costanzo Sforza to Camilla of Aragon in Italy. Their wedding poem read:

"Two wills, two hearts, two passions are joined in marriage by a diamond."

In the 17th century diamond rings were already common as wedding rings or engagement rings. At this time the rings were given by the man to the woman or vice versa as a token of love.

In the 18th century posy rings were used as wedding rings and it was popular for women to wear two diamond rings on either side of the wedding ring to accentuate and protect it, these were keepers rings..

Diamond engagement rings grew in popularity in the 19th century. They became the norm in the USA when De Beers launched their 'Diamond is Forever' campaign in the mid 1940's. Today this is the most common choice as an engagement ring.

5/ The ring finger

Throughout history the concept of marriage changed as did the style of wedding rings and the finger on which they were placed. Wedding rings have been known to be worn on all fingers of the hand, including the thumb. Today it is worn on the ring finger, some cultures on the left hand and others on the right.

The ring finger was designated as the wedding ring finger by the ancient Egyptians because they believed that a vein or nerve passed through this finger that connected directly to the heart. Today it is known that this is not the case but the sentiment and symbolism is still precious.