RINGS OF LOVE

HISTORY OF THE RING

Rings are said to have originated in the Middle-East and travelled around the world from there. It is said that they were used for three purposes in ancient times:

• To indicate status
• To seal business or transactions
• As a mark of commitment in love
• For ornamentation
• As an instrument of black magic

The circle was symbolic of eternity in most cultures and the space in the centre was considered a ‘gateway’ to the unknown. Initially made with grass or paper, rings were crafted with ivory, leather, bone and gradually gold and platinum. Infact the material used in the ring became a representation of the wearer’s or the givers financial status. Roman men would gift iron rings to women as a symbol of ‘ownership’.

Rings were also said to possess supernatural powers and be the carriers of dark magic. Charm rings engraved with symbols, words and figures were worn during the Middle Ages to stay protected from evils.

In India, rings form a part of the ‘solahsingaar’ or sixteen essential ornaments of women. It is said that Sita flung her ring to the ground when Raavan abducted her, in the hope that Lord Rama would find it and come looking for her.

THE WEDDING RING

Engagement/wedding rings, that mark the coming together of two souls, have always been worn on the third finger of the left hand. There are several reasons and assumptions behind this tradition:

• As most movies would also tell you, it is said that the fourth finger has a love vein- vena amoris–that runs directly to the heart. This however is pure fiction, as all other veins too follow the same path.
• Early Christian priests would recite the Trinitarian formula- “”In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”- and touch the thumb, the index finger, and the middle finger respectively and finally rest of the ring finger and utter ‘Amen’ to seal the marriage. This could be a reason for wearing a ring on this finger.
• A more practical assumption suggests that since most people are right handed, wearing a ring on the left hand served practical purposes.

Wedding rings used to be just simple bands of metals but gradually gold, diamonds and now platinum became the metals of choice. The size of the diamond on the ring became an obsession as well as a means to show status. Rings with solitaire diamonds were the norm but now people seek out coloured diamonds as well as diamonds in unusual shapes. Platinum is another budding choice for wedding rings due to its rarity and durability. Personalized etched platinum rings that spell out people’s love are increasingly being ordered.