Valentina and Patricio Photography

The proposal is the kickoff to start the marriage planning. But where does this tradition come from? What is the engagement ring for? We assure you that there are many things you didn't know about this jewel.

A bit of history

Caro Hepp

• 1. The earliest records of wedding rings come from ancient Egypt, but they were not originally made of metal, but of woven hemp or other fibers.
• 2. The meaning of giving a ring as a gift The circle of the ring symbolizes eternity, without beginning or end, and the space inside the ring represents a doorway to immortal love.
• 3. When you can't remember which hand the engagement ring goes on, think of your heart. The custom of wearing the ring on the ring finger of the left hand dates back to the Roman Empire. The Romans believed that on this finger was the vena amoris, With the passage of time it was discovered that it was not, but the tradition of wearing the ring on that finger persists.
• 4. Prior to 1945 in the United States there was a law called "breach of promise", which allowed women to sue their fiancés for damages if they broke their engagement. This was because, in the past, it was thought that women lost their "value" by being engaged and the marriage did not take place. With the abolition of that legal action, the engagement ringgained great popularity as it became a kind of financial insurance in case of a breakup.

Stones and metals

Pepe Garrido

• 5. Diamonds are the most resistant and durable objects created in a natural way, making them a perfect symbol of eternal love Every diamond is unique. No two diamonds in the world are alike, just as every couple has its own unique history.
• 6. The earliest record of the tradition of the engagement ring with a diamond dates back to 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave it to his fiancée Mary of Burgundy.
• 7. After the First World War and during the Great Depression, the sale of engagement rings dropped considerably in the United States and the crisis also affected the price of diamonds. This led the De Beers brand to create a great marketing strategy, creating the slogan "a diamond is forever" and convincing the public about the importance of engagement rings,This campaign caused diamond sales to increase from $23 to $2.1 billion between 1939 and 1979.
• 8. Diamonds are not the only ones stones used in engagement rings There is a wide variety of precious or semi-precious stones that can adorn this jewel. Some examples are Kate Middleton's rings, who has a blue sapphire that formerly belonged to Lady Di; Lady Gaga had a pink sapphire; and Ariana Grande and Meghan Fox accompany their diamonds with a pearl and an emerald, respectively.
• 9. If you are wondering what color engagement rings are White gold engagement rings are one of the most traditional alternatives, but there are other alternatives. Silver engagement rings are usually chosen by couples who want a nice symbol, without overspending. Some benefits of this metal are that it is hypoallergenic, very versatile and has a bright and unique color. Silver engagement rings are also very popular with couples who want a nice symbol, without overspending. gold engagement rings were a little less common, but for the last year they have been one of the main trends in jewellery.

Role reversal

Baptista Photographer

• 10. In Ireland on February 29th is celebrated the day of the bachelor, in which women ask for marriage and give a ring to their partners. The betrayal comes from the story of Saint Bridget of Kildare, who was annoyed because men took too long to ask for marriage, she went to Saint Patrick and asked him for permission for women to propose marriage too. He told her thatThey could only do it every 7 years, to which she protested and they agreed that it would be every four years. This tradition spread throughout the United Kingdom and also reached the United States.
• 11. There are also alternatives of engagement rings for couples There is a tradition where both partners wear a ring on the right hand, either a smaller wedding band or the wedding rings themselves. This custom is commonly called "illusions" and symbolizes a promise that they will soon be married.
• 12. A few years ago the concept of the "Mangagement Ring" became fashionable. , Some less traditional couples prefer this new practice, where the woman also proposes or both give rings to each other.

This is one of the oldest traditions related to marriage, but each couple can make it their own and interpret it in their own way.