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The gold band that is almost an international symbol of marriage has a long, storied history. Although wedding jewelry continues to grow more elaborate, few of the traditions associated with wedding jewelry change.

The tradition of the wedding band can be traced back to the Egyptians, as with much of the history of wearing jewelry. The plain, unadorned circle of the wedding band was thought to represent eternity. As with now, the ring was worn on the third finger of the left hand; the reason this finger was chosen was the popular thought that the vena amoris, or vein of love, the vein that runs from the heart, was contained within this finger. Before the art of metallurgy was perfected, these Egyptian wedding rings were crafted from hemp, ivory, bone, or leather. Once metal jewelry became popular, the rough metal rings crafted for wedding jewelry were adorned with gemstones.

The Romans, who learned much from the Egyptians, perpetuated the tradition of wedding jewelry. Throughout Europe, the wedding ring became an important part of the wedding ceremony and the marriage itself. Gold quickly became the most popular metal to use for wedding jewelry, due to its perception of being the most precious and valuable metal known to man. Adornment of the ring with engraving and gemstones also became popular; while the engraving was of a personal nature, the gemstone used most in wedding jewelry early on became the diamond.

During Renaissance Italy and Seventeenth Century Europe, engraved silver rings took precedence over gold wedding rings, but this did not last long. In fact, gold became so closely associated with wedding jewelry that the Irish folklore contends that it is courting bad luck to be married with a band of anything but gold!

While the wedding band is the most recognizable symbol of marriage and therefore the most enduring piece of wedding jewelry, the engagement ring has become, throughout the years, just as important.

Engagement rings can be traced back to Pope Innocent III’s declaration in 1215 that a longer period was required between betrothal and marriage. For years afterward, the engagement ring was often a gemstone piece made up of both the birthstones of the betrothed, along with the birthstones of the parents, and often a channel was embedded in the ring which held hair from the betrothed. The metal, however, was most often gold, a tradition that continues even now.

The use of diamonds and gold in engagement jewelry was first noted in the Middle Ages, and with the Medieval Italians; however, the use of diamonds in engagement jewelry became more common in Europe after it was noted that Maximilian I gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond engagement ring in 1477.

In fact, gold and gemstone jewelry was the standard for engagement rings continuing through the Victorian era, when elaborate “Regards,” “Love,” and “Dearest” rings became vogue for engagement rings. These rings, which spelled out the words in acrostic ? I.e. Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond, Sapphire for “Regards” - declined in popularity after the turn of the century, but use of gemstones in engagement rings did not.

Both ruby and sapphire were popular gemstone choices for engagement rings through the first half of the 20th Century, set often in yellow gold for ruby and white gold for sapphire.

The supplanting of gemstones by diamonds in engagement jewelry can be tied almost directly to the De Beers company, which, in the mid-20th Century, coined one of the most memorable advertising slogans of all time to sell diamonds as engagement jewelry - “a diamond is forever.” The overwhelming popularity of this ad campaign meant that gemstones were rarely used as engagement rings henceforth, being almost completely replaced by the diamond.

The 20th Century also saw the advent of the wedding set rather than individual wedding and engagement rings. The engagement and wedding rings were produced as a pair, with the potential groom giving the would-be bride the engagement ring upon her acceptance of his wedding proposal, and the wedding ring upon their marriage. Sometimes interlocking, sometimes matching the wedding band worn by the groom, these matched wedding sets have become the most popular choices for most wedding jewelry.

Although platinum became popular during the latter part of the 20th Century and the 21st Century, it has yet to supplant gold as the most enduring metal used in wedding jewelry. Whether made of traditional yellow gold, or the white gold that began to gain popularity in the 20th Century, the gold band is and continues to be the most widely recognizable symbol both of marriage and love. Check out other fun gold stories

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