The engagement ring is an important item of any pre-wedding tradition. It is a symbolic gesture. It is a pledging of ones “troth” to another. Once, only men gave by rings. Today, a woman can also give an engagement ring. However, with so much at stake and cost (with other wedding expenses looming high), both men and women can voluntarily offer their commitment to the other party with affordable discount engagement rings.
A Brief History of Engagement Rings
Engagement rings have a long history. They do not extend, however, to the beginning of time. While bands are common among Roman and Greek participants, women, they usually are worn after the nuptials. During the middle ages, commitment rings became more common. Carefully crafted by expert gem and metal smiths, these exquisite pieces of jewelry were only available or, rather affordable, for the upper and wealthy classes.
The early efforts were often plain bands indicating that the woman who wore it was the property of the man who had given it to her and her family. Common gems used to glamorize early engagement rings go unmentioned in history. The focus is always on the actual wedding bands and rings. It is not until the 15th century that increased mention is made of engagement rings. At this time, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, the Holy Roman Emperor (1457-1482) gave a diamond engagement ring in a 1477 ceremony to Mary of Burgundy (1457-1482).
Yet, the practice of giving elaborate, designer or even diamond engagement rings to the female betrothed was not popular until the late 19th century. By the early 20th century, women were often on the receiving end of engagement rings. Yet, diamonds as a component did not become part of the average person’s lexicon of engagement rings really until the 1940s. By this time, advertising and the increasing availability of discount engagement rings pushed the commercial diamond engagement ring into common practice in the United States and around the globe.
Expressing Love: Expensive and Discount Engagement Rings
Engagement rings have become a common and traditional component of the entire wedding affair. Today, in fact, not only men give their partner an engagement ring. Women do so as well. In many relationships, wearing an engagement ring is an expression of their commitment to their partner. Giving loved ones, the ones you plan to spend your life with, expensive or discount engagement rings is a highly visible action – one both parties can use to demonstrate clearly their devotion to the relationship.
