The Wedding Ring, History, Settings, and How to Care For It.

We are all probably familiar with the fact that the wedding ring, or "circle", symbolized perfection, perfect unity with no beginning and no end. For some it represents holiness, perfection and peace, as well as the sun, earth and universe. You may even be aware that it was once believed that the third finger of the left hand had a special vein, "vena amoris" or "the vein of love", running directly to the wearers heart. And it is from this romantic custom that we today have the custom of placing the wedding ring on this finger.

It is believed the Pharaohs of Egypt first used the circle, a shape with no beginning or end, as a symbol of eternity, but wearing a ring as a public pledge to honor the marriage contract did not become customary until Roman times. The earliest rings were made of simple iron, but gold rings set with gems were fashionable by medieval days. The most popular gems were symbolic -- red ruby was the color of the heart, blue sapphire reflected the heavens -- but the most coveted and powerful gem was the indestructible diamond.

You might not know though, that it was King Edward VI of England that designated the third finger, of the left hand, as the ring finger. Then in 1549 the Book of Common Prayer designated the left hand as the "marriage" hand, a tradition that is recognized earth wide still today.

Another piece of trivia you may be unaware of, is that until the thirteenth century, there was no engagement ring. Pope Innocent III declared that a waiting period should be observed between the betrothal agreement and the wedding ceremony. This is why today we have one ring for the engagement and one ring for the wedding. The first recorded diamond engagement ring, was given by the King of Germany, Maximilian I, to Mary of Burgundy in 1477.


Settings  

Setting trends have dramatically changed over the years, but have typically remained either white gold, platinum or yellow gold.

Most chosen diamonds are white, so a setting that will enhance and bring out the stones brilliance would be either white gold or platinum. You will find that even in a yellow gold setting, jewelers will set a diamond with white gold prongs to compliment the set and diamond.


Platinum

Platinum can be difficult to work with when combining this metal with gold due to it’s need of a higher melting temperature and the fact that it hardens quickly and is more difficult to work with. It tends to also be more expensive then white or yellow gold as it is a denser and heavier metal. If the two-tone look is what you desire in your wedding set, consider using both white and yellow gold instead of platinum and yellow gold. Both platinum and white gold are coated in rhodium (a chrome like metal), so the color between platinum and white gold are similar. After wearing your ring for approximately two to three years, the plating will have worn off and you will need to have your jeweler re-plate it.


Prong Settings

Probably the most popular of settings is the prong setting. The beauty of the prong setting is that it adds brilliance to the stone by allowing light to shine through. Typically they have between 3 to 8 prongs. Four prongs can tend to make your diamond look more square. More then eight prongs are not recommended as the diamond will look too confined. The amount of prongs used in your setting is a matter of personal choice. Be sure to pick a ring with prongs that hold the stone securely in place, without covering too much of the ring. As prongs are prone to catch on clothing, it's a good idea to have the prongs made of platinum, due to it's strength.


Bezel Settings

If you will be purchasing a smaller stone, then consider the bezel setting, as it tends to make a smaller stone appear larger, always a bonus. If it's likely to be knocked due to your lifestyle, the bezel setting is also a good choice due to the fact it protects the edge of the stone preventing any unwanted nicks and scratches. Unfortunately this setting, if in yellow gold, can tint white diamonds due to reflection of the gold in the stone.


Tension Setting

Want something a bit different? Then maybe a tension setting is what you're after. It creates a beautiful effect of holding the diamond, seemingly in mid air. This of course, allows the light to reach the stone, with beautiful results. And don't worry about your precious stone falling out from between the ring. This method uses inward pressure of up to 12,000 pounds per square inch! One drawback to keep in mind is that the ring must be customized to the stone and then sized to your finger. This can make resizing difficult in the future.


Tulipset ®

Do you have in mind a deep stone? If so, this fairly new setting may be the answer. It has many good qualities, for starters, that of great looks! Like the prong setting it lets the light shine through giving lovely results, and on top of that, it's fairly easy to repair and resize. It's only point of concern maybe, is that it is not one of the strongest settings.


Why Get An Appraisal?

Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies should cover jewelry, be sure that you have enough coverage to cover your ring. It is advisable to be informed of the value of your ring by obtaining an appraisal. An appraisal will come in handy should your ring be stolen, lost or damaged. It will be used to replace your ring to the same value that you had originally purchased.


Caring For Your Ring

Follow these tips to keep your ring as brilliant as the day you received it:

Clean your diamond regularly with dishwashing soap or jewelry cleaner.

Do not let your ring come in contact with chlorine bleach.

Have your jeweler once a year check and repair loose settings.

If you have a princess type setting, be careful not to get the setting stuck in items like drawers, etc.

Remove it during rough activity or events such as swimming.

Ultrasonic cleaners that vibrate, and or heat a solution work well, but will not necessarily do a better job than a professional clean form a jeweler.

©	Copyright 2005
	Authors Website