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Weddings & Engagements

The wedding ring is the oldest of all marriage traditions. Nearly every civilization since the Egyptians has used the wedding ring as a symbol of the marriage agreement. In Egyptian hieroglyphics, as in many other traditions, the circle represents eternity, having no beginning and no end, and the earliest rings were made of braided grass, hay, leather, bone and ivory.

When metals were eventually discovered and began to be worked, the first metal rings were lumpy and awkward. Today, wedding rings can be anything from an inexpensive, plain band to an intricate setting studded with gems.

Despite the longstanding traditions, begun with the Egyptians, of wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand, because this is where the vein connects directly with the heart, in some cultures the wedding ring was worn on completely different fingers. Elizabethans wore huge, elaborate wedding rings on their thumbs and in the eighteenth century, Roman Catholics wore them on the right hand.

The earliest legends about the use of wedding rings are thought to originate near the Loch of Stennis, in the Orkney Islands in Scotland. There there are two large stone circles, sacred to the sun and the moon. It is reported that marriages consisted of the bride and groom joining hands through the matrimonial hole in one of the stones. A divorce was even more simple, as the pair only had to go to church and go out at different doors.

Monkish legends relate that the parents of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, used a wedding ring made of onyx or amethyst . This is said to have been discovered in the year 996 by a jeweller from Jerusalem and to have worked many curative wonders.

Numerous superstitions surround wedding rings. It is unlucky, for example, for the bride-to-be to go shopping for a ring on a Friday due to the bad luck associated with that day and vital that neither the bride nor groom wear the wedding rings before the ceremony

Engagement Ring Settings

In a wedding ring, the gemstone, be it diamond or any other stone, usually accounts for around 75 – 90% of the cost of the ring. The setting holds the centre stone. It is important to strike a balance between securing the stone and creating an attractive piece of fine jewellery. The band of the wedding ring is usually made of gold or platinum as these are the most hardwearing metals which will withstand everyday use. Most men shop for between one to three months before buying an engagement ring, and wedding rings are usually purchased three months before the wedding date. Many couples like their engagement and wedding rings to be in the same metal and style, especially as the woman usually wears them one on top of the other on the same finger.

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Ring Settings

There are numerous different settings which are popular for engagement rings.

Prong
This holds the stone in a number of prongs, allowing the stone to be visible from all sides for maximum visibility and sparkle.

Cathedral/Contour
This is similar to the prong setting, but has rising slopes to protect the stone on two sides. It is a little more secure than the prong setting, but just as elegant.

Channel
In this setting, the stone, or stones, sit between two parallels of metal.

Bar
This has a thin metal bar separating each stone but leaves the sides open to bring in light. It was a particularly popular setting in the fifties and looks very glamorous.

Bezel
This is a simple and timeless setting, framing the stone in precious metal.

Pavé
This has tiny metal beads holding each stone in its own discreet setting. It is a subtle and beautiful setting which emphasises the beauty of the stone.

Tension
This grips the stone with 65-95 pounds of pressure, creating the illusion that the stone is hovering in space.

Flush
This is probably the most secure, setting small stones inside tiny holes in the metal.

Square or Round Stones
Although round diamonds are the most common choice for solitaire rings, square and oblong stones can be an unusual and attractive choice
.