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| | | | | | | | | | CHOOSE ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING BANDS WITH CARE
"With this ring, I thee wed." These are familiar words. But why, you
may ask, does a small band of expensive metal have such meaning
for a marriage? The answers lie in ancient history and mythology.
Pharaohs in ancient Egypt believe bands of precious metals represented eternity.
"The Egyptians regarded the circle, a shape that has no beginning and no end, as a heavenly reminder that life, happiness and love have no beginning and no end," writes gem and jewelry expert Antoinette Matlins in her book "Engagement & Wedding Rings: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love" (Gemstone Press).
She explains that by medieval times, colored gems were added to the circular bands to enhance their meaning–rubies representing life, sapphires symbolizing heaven. But it is the Romans who get the credit for setting diamonds forever in the tradition of engagement rings. Romans believed diamonds were glowing shards from falling stars, dropped to Earth to seal everlasting diamonds were the tears of the gods, and as natures' hardest substance, represented the unbreakable bond of love.
The magic of these myths is traditionally continued today throughout the world. And although in size rings may seem a small token of love, in quality and design such a small object offers vast variety of ways to say "I love you."
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