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History Of Wedding Rings
Rings have been a favored piece of jewelry since the beginning of time. Rings can be found on mummies and in ancient burial plots. Before gold was available to common people, they made rings from other natural materials like animal bones, twigs, and strands of hair. Gold rings have been a symbol of wealth and power for thousands of years. It was common to sell a gold ring as currency before coins were introduced by governments. The most popular use for the ring through the ages has been to symbolize a commitment to marriage. The ancients believed that the left finger contained a vein that led straight to the heart, so they placed this important symbolic ring there.
The first culture to use a ring in marriage was Egyptian. They took strands of plant material, such as hemp, and weaved it into a continuous circle. Using hemp to make a ring with no end was the gateway to immortality for the relationship, they believed. More than six thousand years ago, an Egyptian man would place a ring on a woman’s finger to symbolize that she was his property. More recently, the Romans also used a ring to signify that the ownership a man had over a woman was legal and binding. Around the same time, a Middle Eastern custom for a sheik was to give his wives a puzzle ring. If one of the women took the ring off so she could be unfaithful, it would be evident because the ring would fall apart and only the sheik knew how to put the ring back together.
Since marriages were almost always arranged, a dowry was given to a family in exchange for the girl. Men would give land, livestock, and a portion of whatever else they had in exchange for a girl who could provide heirs. This type of arrangement was commonplace until just a few hundred years ago, when the dowry began to evolve into a jeweled gold ring. The ring might not be equal to the value of land or livestock, but she could sell the gold ring or sell the set of gold rings if it became necessary.
About four hundred years ago, in the era of knights and chivalry, people began to have more romantic notions about marriage. While royalty still followed the old ways of the dowry, the common folk were free to choose their own partners. The gentleman would ask for a girl’s hand in marriage to represent the old ways of the dowry, and the girl was given a ring for each of her three center fingers to represent the Holy Trinity.
Austrian royalty first demonstrated the use of an engagement ring. Archduke Maximilian gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring and wed her the next morning. Thus began the tradition of the wedding and engagement ring as a symbol of love as well as commitment. Since romance was now part of the package, smiths set up businesses catering to those wanting to buy or sell gold diamond rings or to sell a gold wedding ring, if things didn’t work out.
In American tradition, the bride is given an engagement ring and she wears it on the left hand. At the wedding, she is given a second ring and the two are usually worn together on the ring finger of the left hand. Since the World War II era, it became common for men to also be given a ring. Many men began wearing these rings because it gave them something to cherish while on the battlefield.
More customs that are new to the wedding scene also involve men. Men have begun to give a ring known as the ‘promise ring.’ The ‘promise’ is that a man is devoted enough to a girl that he wants to commit to their relationship, but is not ready for marriage. He may still be in school or perhaps he is not yet financially able to provide for a family. Men have also begun to wear the engagement ring. They do not have the high setting with a single diamond; rather they may have several smaller diamonds flush with the band. This style helps the ring remain damage free while the man is at work or play.
Traditions are different all over the world. Some couples do not exchange rings while some wear the engagement ring on the left hand and switch to the right at the ceremony. Jewish women wear their ring on the left hand even though it is placed on the right during the ceremony. Some Hindu Indian women wear a ring on the toe instead of on the finger, and other Indian women wear a bracelet instead of any ring at all.
Some superstitions to be aware of include that the ring shopping should not happen on a Friday. Also, when sizing the ring, be sure it is a proper fit. If the ring is too tight, the marriage will end due to jealousy, but if it is too loose, the marriage will end because of carelessness.
How To Sell Gold Rings
One might ask, “Is selling my gold rings a good idea?” or “I don’t even know how to sell a gold ring and should I even be selling my old gold rings?” Cash4Gold is committed to customer service. We can help you decide how to best sell your gold ring. If the ring is worth more than scrap value, we will even help show you where to sell your gold rings because educating the customer is of the utmost importance to us.
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