Wedding rings are an important symbol – of love, commitment and the intertwining of two lives in matrimony. In the days of dowries, the jewellery supplied by each family was an important indication of the wealth to be bestowed upon the bride, or groom, depending on the customs of the society.
In Renaissance times, in keeping with the general styles in vogue, wedding rings became elaborate with intricate details and shapes. During this period, Jewish wedding rings in particular were famous for their beauty of design, especially the “bezel” ring which was often crafted into the shape of a gabled building, synagogue or Solomon’s Temple.
Renaissance jewelers also created a new kind of wedding ring called the “gimmel”, or twin, ring. It consisted of two interlocking rings symbolizing the union of two lives, and this type of ring was made famous by Martin Luther and Catherine Bora who were wed with an inscribed gimmel ring in 1525.
Around 1600, an Italian version of the gimmel ring was introduced featuring gimmel hoops. The hoops ended in hands, which clasped together when the ring was closed. It became known as a “fede” or “faith” ring. A similar design can be seen in Ireland where the “Claddagh” ring from the West of Ireland was designed, with hands clasping a heart between them.
The heart motif has long been popular; in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, heart shaped rings set with rubies, signifying love, and diamonds, signifying eternity defied an attempt by the Puritans to abolish altogether the tradition of the wedding rings.
Diamond wedding and engagement rings became a possibility for people occupying many more levels of society during the nineteenth century, due to the discovery of large diamond deposits in South Africa, while gold for wedding bands came into vogue during World War II when the lack of platinum forced wedding jewellers to begin to use gold as a substitute.
In Renaissance times, in keeping with the general styles in vogue, wedding rings became elaborate with intricate details and shapes. During this period, Jewish wedding rings in particular were famous for their beauty of design, especially the “bezel” ring which was often crafted into the shape of a gabled building, synagogue or Solomon’s Temple.
Renaissance jewelers also created a new kind of wedding ring called the “gimmel”, or twin, ring. It consisted of two interlocking rings symbolizing the union of two lives, and this type of ring was made famous by Martin Luther and Catherine Bora who were wed with an inscribed gimmel ring in 1525.
Around 1600, an Italian version of the gimmel ring was introduced featuring gimmel hoops. The hoops ended in hands, which clasped together when the ring was closed. It became known as a “fede” or “faith” ring. A similar design can be seen in Ireland where the “Claddagh” ring from the West of Ireland was designed, with hands clasping a heart between them.
The heart motif has long been popular; in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, heart shaped rings set with rubies, signifying love, and diamonds, signifying eternity defied an attempt by the Puritans to abolish altogether the tradition of the wedding rings.
Diamond wedding and engagement rings became a possibility for people occupying many more levels of society during the nineteenth century, due to the discovery of large diamond deposits in South Africa, while gold for wedding bands came into vogue during World War II when the lack of platinum forced wedding jewellers to begin to use gold as a substitute.