• Login/ out
  • My Account
  • Register

Top Menu
Shop Menu

  • HOME
  • SHOP
    • Deal of the Day
    • Blowout Specials
    • Unique Deals
    • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
    • Royal Canadian Mint
    • Just Released Products
    • Auction
    • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
    • Canada Decimal Coins
    • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
    • Canada Paper Money
    • Maritime Coins & Bank Tokens
    • Perth & New Zealand Mints
    • United States Decimal & Sets
    • World Coins and Paper Money
    • Coin Supplies
    • Mega Specials
    • Gift Ideas
    • Our Ebay
  • SELL TO US
  • AUCTION
    • Consign with us
  • CONTACT US
    • Shipping Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQ
  • MEET OUR TEAM
    • History
  • COLLECTORS CORNER
  • BULLION CORNER
  • Deal of the Day
  • Blowout Specials
  • Unique Deals
  • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
  • Royal Canadian Mint
  • Just Released Products
  • Auction
  • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
  • Canada Decimal Coins
  • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
  • Canada Paper Money
  • Maritime Coins & Bank Tokens
  • Perth & New Zealand Mints
  • United States Decimal & Sets
  • World Coins and Paper Money
  • Coin Supplies
  • Mega Specials
  • Gift Ideas
  • Our Ebay
  • Bullion Corner

  • HOME
  • SHOP
    • Deal of the Day
    • Blowout Specials
    • Unique Deals
    • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
    • Royal Canadian Mint
    • Just Released Products
    • Auction
    • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
    • Canada Decimal Coins
    • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
    • Canada Paper Money
    • Maritime Coins & Bank Tokens
    • Perth & New Zealand Mints
    • United States Decimal & Sets
    • World Coins and Paper Money
    • Coin Supplies
    • Mega Specials
    • Gift Ideas
    • Our Ebay
  • SELL TO US
  • AUCTION
    • Consign with us
    • Current Auction
    • Featured Items
  • INFO
    • Canada’s 150th
    • Contact Us
    • Shipping Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQ
    • Days Closed
  • About Us
    • History
    • MEET OUR TEAM
  • COLLECTORS CORNER
  • BULLION CORNER
Contact Us| Login/Out | My Account | New User
 
View Cart
Click for the BBB Business Review of this TBD in Kitchener ON
Shopper Approved | Colonial Acres Coins PayPal | Colonial Acres Coins MasterCard | Colonial Acres Coins Visa | Colonial Acres Coins
When Did Women Start Wearing Wedding RingsWhen Did Women Start Wearing Wedding RingsWhen Did Women Start Wearing Wedding Rings

When Did Women Start Wearing Wedding Rings?

December 17, 2021 by Juphet

Beyoncé’s 2008 supposition that if you liked it, then you shoulda put a ring on it is nothing new. People have been wearing wedding rings for over 3,000 years. The diamonds, jewels, rocks, and ice gems, respectively, that come with engagement rings are an entirely separate history that runs a little shorter; the church-sanctioned ideology behind the practice of wearing engagement rings as a precursor to wedding rings dates back to only the 12th century. Estate jewellery provides much history about rings of the past. Learn more about when women started wearing wedding rings and just how far the humble wedding ring has come from 3,000 years ago to today.

The Beginning Rings

In ancient Egypt, the wedding ring began as a symbol of eternity. The Egyptians believed that it represented the sun and the moon, which they worshipped as their deities. The circles also symbolized the ouroboros, which is a snake eating its tail. This symbol of eternity was very prevalent in ancient Egyptian society. Weddings were a great spectacle, and both women and men wore gold jewellery and rings to celebrate the days and nights of festivities. 

The Conquest Rings

As ancient Egypt was conquered, Romans took on many of their traditions. The making and wearing of wedding rings were among many things that the Romans would take from the Egyptians. Further, the Egyptians wore their wedding rings on their left ring finger. They believed that there was a vein there that connected directly to the heart. While this anatomical rendering is less than accurate, the idea was romantic and fanciful enough that the Romans adopted it, and, as you can see, it is still in common practice in modern society. 

The Luxury Rings

As rings began to shift toward a more modern society in the Medieval and Renaissance eras, royalty adopted bejewelled wedding ring desires. Rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds started to grow in popularity as a standard embellishment on wedding rings. Bejewelled bands showed wealth and symbolized providing a lifetime of good fortune from one royal family to another. Many lower-class families would craft wedding rings out of leftover steel from the local blacksmith or tie strings around their ring finger to symbolize fidelity and commitment. 

The Combination Rings

Just at the time that luxury rings came into being, so did engagement rings. Around the 12th century, engagement rings became an entirely separate ring that men would give to women to show their intent to marry them. Once they exchanged rings at the ceremony, the wedding ring would fit together with the engagement ring in the style of a Claddagh or a gimmel ring.  

The Poesy Rings

As the Renaissance era began to wind down, the Elizabethan era brought in Poesy rings and a new idea that grew in popularity. The concept of poetry rings or engraving is still popular today. Silver jewellery and wedding rings were inscribed with poetry on the outside or inside. Some of the wedding rings were fitted with a chamber that held a lock of the other person’s hair to show an undying commitment to their being. Another ring would be crafted when a spouse died, called a memento mori ring. 

The Thimble Rings

Colonial America had less romantic ideas about marriage and courtship than much of Europe. While Europeans were inscribing rings with poetry and cutting off locks of hair to show undying devotion, Puritans were giving their wives thimbles as wedding presents. Only after they sewed all of the clothes, bedding, textiles, and necessary items for the new wedding home were they able to saw off the top of the thimble and wear it as a wedding ring.

Now that you are more informed about the historical journey that the wedding ring took, why not check out some rings available to buy at Colonial. We carry a variety of styles from yellow and white gold and sterling silver rings to custom silver coin rings. To learn more about these pieces and other vintage jewellery options, visit Colonial Acres Coins today.

Filed Under: Jewelry

SHOP NOW!

Categories

  • Bullion
  • Canadian Coins
  • Coin Supplies
  • Jewelry
  • News
  • Paper Money
  • Royal Canadian Mint
  • Superman Coins
  • Uncategorized
  • World Coins

Blog Archive

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017

Recent Posts

  • Why Invest in Gold Bullion
  • The Significance Behind the 2022 Peace Dollar Rose Gold Plated Coin
  • Polar Bear $2 Canadian Coin Is the Latest in the “Bigger Picture” Series
  • Learn more About the Royal Canadian Air Force Red Knight Coin
  • Colonial Acres Is Always Buying! Here Are Some Tips When Selling Jewellery
    footer-logo

    991 Victoria Street North
    Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
    N2B 3C7

    Toll Free: 1-888-255-4565

    Tel: 519-579-9302

    Fax: 519-340-1381

    info@colonialacres.com

    MENU

    • Home
    • Sell To Us
    • Auction
    • Collectors Corner
    • Bullion Corner

    ABOUT US

    • History
    • Meet Our Team

    SHOP

    • Royal Canadian Mint
    • Canada Decimal Coins
    • Canada Paper Money
    • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
    • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
    • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
    • Jewellery

    Read Our Blogs

    STORE HOURS

    Mon - Fri: 9:30am - 4:30pm
    Sat: Click here to see Saturday hours
    Sun: Closed

    MORE INFO

    Contact Us
    Shipping Information
    Terms of Sale
    Privacy Policy

    Facebook Icon | Colonial Acres Coins Click for the BBB Business Review of this TBD in Kitchener ON
    Copyright © 2013 Colonial Acres Coins. All Rights Reserved. Built with Volusion.