Engagement ring

The engagement ring for many years has been a sign of a man's love towards the woman he wants to marry. If they accept it, they will prepare their wedding and at a certain time they will celebrate it. But, would you like to know who was the first to give the engagement ring ? In this article, we explain the origin of the engagement ring .

The first engagement rings: Egyptian, Roman and Greek.

In ancient Egypt a ring symbolized the endless circle of a couple's love. The first engagement rings used by the Egyptians were made of plant fibers, leather, bone or ivory. For the Romans, the acceptance of the ring by the bride was a compromise. That girl was no longer free because if she accepted the ring she promised to marry her partner and give her eternal love. It is believed that the Greeks were the forerunners of the traditional engagement ring. These rings were given before marriage as a sign of love and affection.

The engagement ring in the Middle Ages: the first ring with diamonds

The first diamond engagement ring dates from the end of the Middle Ages. Archduke Maximilian of Hamburg gave it to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. At that time only the rich had access to diamonds since it was very expensive. This tradition became very popular among the rich and those who could not spend so much money had other options: the Gimmel ring or the Claddagh ring.

On which finger the engagement ring is placed

In ancient Greece it was believed that there was a vein that communicated the ring finger (fourth finger of the hand starting with the thumb) directly with the heart. For this reason, the lovers chose that finger to place the engagement ring as a sign of love to their partner. Depending on the culture, the engagement ring is placed on one or the other finger. In the Hispanic countries it is worn on the ring finger of the left hand, but in Chile and in Spain it is worn on the right. In some areas of Spain, Catalonia and Valencia, it is also carried on the left hand. In Germany, for example, it is worn on the left hand during the engagement and on the right once married.