Engagement Rings
Introduction
In the Western Countries of the globe, there is a custom that when any young couple – a boy and a girl is getting socially engaged or betrothed for prospective marriage usually offer the ring towards the token of their association. Such rings have been poppularly known as the Engagement Rings. In the modern era, the Engagement Rings are exchanged between the couple for declaring their formal betrothal, in the society.
The Typical Finger is set for the Engagement Rings
The girls getting engaged are usually recommended to wear the Engagement Rings exclusively on the fourth finger of their left hand as it is believed that the very finger contains the “vein of love”. But so far the boys are concerned, the fourth finger of their right hand is used for putting on the Engagement Rings. This practice is very common in some Eurpoean Countries such as: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Germany. In France, the young couple getting engaged usually prefer wearing or exchanging the Engagement Rings duly mounted or studded with different coloured gems rather than the Diamonds. However, in the United States Of America also the people have now gradually adopted such practice and both the girl as well as the boy has started wearing the Engagement Rings. However, in the case of a boy wearing such ring is usually known as the Promise Ring.
Types of Engagement Rings
In most of the countries of the world, the Engagement Rings have attained much significance so far its design, material of construction and combination of different gems and precious stones are concerned. It often symbolizes the social as well as financial status of the boy or the girl. The richer sections of the society go for some exclusively designed rings made from precious metals like white or yellow gold or say platinum. The rings are studded with precious stones and gems including, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies and so on.
However, in many countries like Germany, the Engagement Rings for both the persons are usually plain bands made of yellow gold or white gold or platinum only. The Engagement Rings are mostly worn by them in the fourth fingers of their left hand only and then the same ring is transferred to their right hand at the time of getting married. Nevertheless, irrespective of the social or financial status of the engaged boy, the engaged girl would always desire of having her Engagement Ring made of Gold studded with Solitaire or diamonds with other colorful matching precious stones and gems.
So far the diamond studded Engagement Rings are concerned, the trend of standardizing it is said to have been in existence of the western culture following one of the most succesful advertisement campaignes successfully launched by world’s leading diamond producing company well known as de Beers, way back during 1940s. the diamonds are considered as the most ellegant, beautiful and the most expensive gem. However, there are people who prefer semi-precious stones such as Sapphires, Star Sapphires, Emeralds or Rubies instead of expensive Diamonds or Solitaires. Even the soft objects like Pearl and Opals are scarcely used as they are rear too.