Times have changed. And so has the notion of romance. Though the practice of exchanging wedding rings dates back a long way, there was an earlier tradition that was popular with at least one half of a prospective couple.

History

The amorous lover would capture a woman and then encircle her wrists and ankles with rope to prevent her from escaping. Ahhhh, sweet. Yet another ancient practice involved circling her body with a rope which would serve the dual purpose of keeping her from the influence of evil spirits and binding her to him. Even in 1,700BC Egypt, wedding rings had a supernatural significance as the never-ending band was linked to the idea of eternal love.

Ironically, the early Christian church initially rejected wedding rings as relics of a Pagan time – but they eventually came around to the idea.

But it may have been those Egyptians again who really popularised the custom. They would place a piece of ring-money (in use before coins were introduced) on the bride’s finger to indicate that she was endowed with her husband’s wealth.

In England, early records note that wedding rings have been fashioned out of many different materials including iron, copper, brass, silver, steel, leather and even rush. But that home-made symbol of eternal love never really took off as too many lusty young men were found to be plaiting a length of rush, placing it on a trusting young virgin’s finger and then trying to pass it off as an official endorsement of marriage so that they could have their wicked way with her.

The belief that a wedding ring has always been worn on the fourth finger of the left hand is mistaken. It has been placed on different fingers on each hand at different times throughout history.

Why the third finger of the left hand should have received the particular honour of being ultimately selected, both in Pagan and Christian times, has been variously interpreted. One rather quaint theory, that possibly goes back to our friends, the Egyptians again, is the belief that a delicate vein, (the aptly-named ‘vena amoris’ runs from that finger to the heart.

Choosing Your Ring

But what can you expect when it’s your turn to be wooed and wed? Well, there are several important factors to consider when it comes to choosing an engagement ring.

If you are planning to have an engagement ring then diamonds are hard-wearing and also the classic standard but there’s huge choice of other durable stones that you might want to consider.

Emerald, ruby, sapphire, garnet, amethyst, pearl, aquamarine, peridot, opal, topaz and turquoise look fantastic set within an engagement ring.

The Ring Band

Gold and platinum should be used for the setting of the ring as they are hard and lasting. With gold, a higher carat means purer but softer, and 24 carat is pure gold.

Modern alloy techniques mean every 22 carat is sufficiently durable, although 18 carat is most commonly used for engagement rings.

Platinum is extremely hard-wearing, but shouldn’t be worn next to gold as it will wear it away.

Diamonds

If you do decide diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then be sure to keep an eye open for the four C’s: cut, clarity, and colour and carat weight.

Cut can mean the shape of the diamond, such as oval, emerald, princess or brilliant, and the quality of the cut will determine the luminosity of the diamond.

Clarity is the lack of imperfections. Most diamonds contain some inner flaws and the number, visibility and size determines the clarity. Those that are clearer create more brilliance, and thus are priced higher.

Colour. As a colourless diamond allows more light to pass through it, these sparkle with more brilliance.

The formation process of a diamond ensures that only a few, rare diamonds are truly colourless.

As a result, the less yellow diamond contains, the brighter and whiter the diamond is, and the greater it’s value.

There are several shades of white diamond, which should help you choose. Coloured diamonds do not follow this rule, however. This can range from blue to green to bright yellow, and are very rare.

Carat is the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured. Larger diamonds are rarer, and so the price of the diamond rises as the size increases.

An insurance certificate should accompany the ring, but if the engagement ring is very expensive then it would be wise to get an independent valuation too.

Custom Made Rings

If you really wanted to go all out and own an engagement ring that is truly original, then there is always the option of having a ring specifically made for you.

Once you have found a jeweller, you can select a design you like together or they will help you decide upon one.

By having a bespoke ring, you can design it specifically to your liking and even copy an expensive ring design but use cheaper metal or stones to fit your budget.

You might even have a stone or piece of jewellery that you would like incorporated into the ring, maybe a family heirloom for instance.

You will be able to discuss all your requirements with your jeweller, including your budget.

If you let your jeweller know exactly how much you have to spend, they may be able to recommend different materials to achieve the look you really want, which means you will be happy with the result without breaking the bank.

Buying Rings Together

If you’re buying an engagement ring together, then it might make sense to think about both of your wedding rings together too.

Obviously, it needs to be durable enough to last. The material of the wedding ring is normally decided by the bride’s engagement ring, with the groom’s ring following suit. However, there is nothing stopping the groom from choosing something completely different if he so wishes.

One of the most popular options is the tradition yellow gold, in 9k, 14k, 18k or even 22k.

A white gold wedding ring will complement any silver or platinum jewellery you may already have. Platinum is another popular choice and is not easily damaged.

Nevertheless, it is rarer than gold and as a result will cost you more.

If you decide you fancy something a little more modern then there is titanium. This has only recently started to be used for wedding rings; it is extremely durable and easily carved without losing its strength.

You may also want to consider combining two or more metals into your ring, such as titanium or gold, which can create a lovely distinctive piece.

The shape of the wedding ring also needs to be considered. A rounded edge in a gently curved style is the tradition choice, but bear in mind that the wedding ring may need to be shaped to fit around an unusually shaped engagement ring or stone. If this is the case it can easily be dealt with by your jeweller who will be happy to help the two of you find exactly what you are looking for.