The origin of wearing rings is lost in antiquity.  We know that the ancient Babylonians and Egyptians wore circular pieces of stone, bone, grasses and whatever else would encircle one’s fingers. The Egyptians used rings as currency and gave them as gifts.  The Egyptian pharaohs wore rings as symbols of their eternal, unending power.  The Bible tells several stories in which rings are mentioned. They are spoken about in reference to the dress of the high priest Aaron, and Joseph received a ring from Pharaoh when he was made superintendent of his kingdom.

We know that the Romans wore rings.  They brought them back to Rome from the various peoples they conquered, including the Gauls, the Britons and the Spaniards.  The first recorded use of gold rings was in 432 AD.  Gold rings were first exclusively worn by Roman senators, and eventually all soldiers had the right to wear them.  Finally the right to wear gold rings was extended to all Roman citizens.

It was in Rome that the practice of wearing rings as a sign of betrothal was begun, but the practice fell into disuse until the 13^th century in the Western world.  During the Medieval Ages the wearing of rings became popular.  All classes of people wore rings, and depending on whether they were made of iron, copper, silver or gold, they would indicate the class of the wearer.  It wasn’t until the 14^th century that jewels began to be incorporated into rings.

The wearing of rings has become symbolic of such things as wealth, power and love. We wear rings for many reasons, namely for adornment (bling), for a reward for a job well done (Super Bowl ring), for signifying one’s marital or premarital status (engagement ring). Not only do rings themselves have symbolic meaning, the placement of rings on particular fingers also has symbolic meaning.  “The ring finger,” third finger of the right hand, derives from the Greeks who believed, mistakenly, that the vein of love ran from that finger directly to the heart.  Engagements rings in the Western tradition are worn on the ring finger of the left hand.

Is there any significance to wearing fine rings as opposed to wearing rings made of materials such as plastic or aluminum?  In the case of engagement rings, symbolic of a man’s desire to make a woman his wife, the purchase of a fine ring is a sign of the love he has for his fiancé. Though one’s love is not measured by the size of the diamond, a man does wish to please his fiancé with his choice of an engagement ring.

Rings also represent special bonds and occasions, which should be and are commemorated with something fine rather than plain, often rings.  Rings also reflect the personality of the wearer, how one presents to the world.  Would you rather make a presentation that is plain or one that is brilliant?  How do you want to be seen?