The Laings Journal
Amidst the buzz of wedding planning the rings can get overlooked but they’re a very important part of the day and aren’t just pretty tokens of affection. The tradition of swapping rings dates back to Ancient Egypt so we’ve explored the history behind the wedding band and picked out some of our favourite pieces available to buy in store now.
4800 years ago, before platinum was popular, the Ancient Egyptians fashioned woven rings for one another from reeds taken from the banks of the River Nile. The Nile was a symbol of good fortune and the rings were thought to bring luck to newlyweds as they began their life together. The ring’s unbroken circle signified eternity whilst the space in the middle represented the gateway to a happy future. The fragility of these rings meant they were soon replaced with bands made of leather, bone or ivory.
The tradition of swapping rings has evolved over time with the Romans referring to wedding bands as ‘vena amoris’ meaning ‘the vein of love’. It’s said this concept lead to rings being worn on the fourth finger of the left hand as it was believed a vein travelled directly from the finger to the heart. Roman men used rings to deter rivals by declaring ownership of their new bride with metal bands that symbolised strength. We’re not sure Roman women had much choice about their forced nuptials!
In a similar move to deter unwanted attention, men in the Middle East are said to have created ‘puzzle rings’ to ensure their brides remained faithful during wartime. These ‘puzzle rings’ were collapsible and would break if the woman attempted to remove it from her finger. The ring could be put back together using a specific method that only the husband knew.
Wedding bands were solely reserved for women in the past but modern men are much more likely to wear a ring today. The increase in popularity of men’s jewellery has allowed gents to wear a wedding ring without the worry of feeling too feminine. Platinum has become very popular in recent years (like this Mens D-shaped 5mm ring) because it looks attractive and is extremely hard-wearing. Laings also stock 18ct yellow gold, 18ct white gold for men and women and palladium wedding rings for men.
Couples often have their rings engraved with personal messages and choose matching or complimentary rings for each other to represent their bond. Laings 18ct Yellow Gold Standard Court 4mm and 3mm rings are perfect for a ‘his and hers’ look. What’s more, couples who purchase their engagement ring at Laings Glasgow will receive a further 15% off the price of their wedding rings including diamond set bands. Not even the Romans could resist this bargain!