• Rings and weddings go together.
• No wedding is complete without the wedding rings.
• But where did this association start?
• How did this culture of rings come to weddings? How did this all originate?
• Also why only the left ring finger is reserved for the wedding ring?

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History of wedding rings

Wedding rings date back to ancient Egypt 6000 years back. In those days, couples used to exchange rings made of braided reed or hemp. Archaeologists have found the relics and papyrus scrolls that depict this practice.

It was circular always and was to represent the eternal love and commitment of the couple. Just like the circle which has no beginning and no end.

The wearing of a wedding ring on the 4th finger of the left hand also started at around the same time. The ancient people of Egypt strongly believed that this finger had a special vein which is directly connected to the heart.

Hence this symbol of love is put on the same finger. In Latin, this special vein is called Vena amoris, or vein of love.

Also read 5 Aesthetic Rings For Ladies

Changes in rings over time

As time went by, couples and societies realized that reed and hemp rings did not last. They started looking for more durable materials to make rings.

Therefore, they switched to leather rings and later bone and ivory materials were used to make the rings. Later they settled for metals. And then they began to get more costly and metals with a high price were used.

This practice then spread to ancient Rome and Greece. With the spread of Christianity, Europe also adopted this practice. Romans made their wedding rings with iron to imply strength and permanence.

They also had personalized rings with images of the couple carved in the metal. There was in some rings Jesus or a cross in between the couple images. Each generation saw some popular rings such as interlocking bands of the 16th and 17th centuries.

First diamond ring

The first diamond ring started in Rome in the late 100s AD. The uncut diamond ring was used at that time. Due to their strength, diamonds were considered valuable gems.

However since there were no proper tools to cut and shape it, the rings did not look very impressive even though expensive. In 1475, Costanzo Sforza and Camilla D’Aragona from Italy wore the first diamond rings at their wedding.

The wedding inscription said:

“Two wills, two hearts, two passions are bonded in one marriage by a diamond.”

Diamonds were used more but it was De Beers’ campaign of 1948 which said ‘Diamond is forever’ that diamonds became an integral part of wedding rings.

First, only the wife used to wear the wedding rings. But during World War II, more and more men started wearing it to the battlefields.

This was to display their commitment and remember their wives when far away from them. Korean War also had this same practice and after that, both parties wore wedding rings.

Silicon rings are also available for wearing during sports, exercising, and during travel.

Also read Are both engagement ring and wedding ring necessary?