You won’t believe what wedding rings used to look like!
The glamourous, flashy, crazy expensive engagement rings we know today have come a very long way! Take a look at the history of these traditional symbols of love:
4800 BC – Ancient Egypt-
The very first rings were made from plants twisted into small circles. These didn’t stand the test of time, but may have looked something like this:
These were eventually replaced by rings made of leather, bone, or ivory:
1500 BC – 200 AD – Ancient Rome-
Iron rings called “Annulus Pronobus” were used to claim one’s woman and to symbolize the permanence of their relationship:
These were eventually replaced by plain gold and silver bands.
866 AD – 1300 AD – Middle Ages-
Rings embellished with doves and lyres became popular in Christian ceremonies.
These were discouraged by the church and replaced by plain bands.
Eventually, it became popular for the band to be garnished with a gemstone.
1470-1600 – England & Germany-
Posy rings with poems on the inside became commonplace:
1477
King Maximillian I of Germany proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring
Late 1600s
Puritan men in New England gave thimbles as a token of their love. The tops would eventually be cut off so they could be worn as rings
1800s
Victorian style wedding rings featured multiple stones
1886
Tiffany & Co. Introduces its signature Tiffany setting featuring a 6 prong mounting to elevate the stone from the band
1920’s
Art Deco style rings were the trend and often featured accent stones:
1930’s
Diamond rings soar in popularity after DeBeer’s launches a marketing campaign promoting diamonds
1980’s
Pear shaped and marquise cut diamonds were the trend along with gold settings:
