Short History of Wedding Bands

When it comes to wedding bands, there are lots of choices out there. We’re all familiar with the simple and traditional gold band. A history of the wedding band Many believe that the wedding band dates back to Roman times. Wedding bands were the final item in a long series of gifts. Traditionally, the simple band was worn only by women and it was used to signify if they were betrothed. The wedding ring is always worn on the ring finger and whether the band was worn on the left or right hand depended on the region you lived in. Sometime during the 20th century, husbands and wives both started wearing wedding bands. While the original wedding bands were simple gold rings, modern times have allowed for many variations. Platinum, colors of gold, diamond and jeweled rings have become common. Even titanium is a readily available option for your wedding band. You’ve probably seen an eternity band. Eternity bands are named that as they are pave set with jewels all the way around. While they’re normally white diamond encrusted, they are also available in just about any other stone you’d like. Platinum rings have also become more widespread in recent years. Warmer in tone than both sterling silver and white gold, it’s a good choice for those that dislike yellow gold. Since platinum and gold are much closer in price than in years past, platinum isn’t out of reach for as many engaged couples any longer. Colors of gold - rose gold, white gold, green gold, and grey gold – are also making their presence known in the wedding band world. While yellow gold is the conventional choice, this is a great choice for those who want something unique and non-traditional, but don’t want to stray too far from the classics. Titanium is relatively new on the scene. Becoming popular in the 1990’s, titanium has properties that set it apart from other metals. It’s hypoallergenic, meaning that there are no metal allergies to worry about. Titanium is also lightweight, having the highest strength to weight ratio of any metal. While titanium is usually thought of as manly or masculine, many advances in the design have made it possible to create rings that are downright dainty. Anodization allows for brightly colored wedding bands made of titanium. Some couples have even elected to take a ring that means something to them and use it as their wedding ring. Sporting event championship, like Super Bowl or World Series rings, family rings, or rings they received for achievement are all examples that have been used lately. No matter the material your wedding ring is made of, or the style in which it’s designed, what really matters is the sentiment behind it.