Introduction

Rings symbolize love. This is why a man offers a ring to woman he loves and wants to marry. So once you are ready to propose your love to the woman you want to spend your life with, you must select the right ring to represent this. Women wore engagement ring when she accepts the proposal of marriage from their men. Basically, it indicates agreement by both parties to a marriage which can be set at any time. Although engagement rings are usually given by men to ladies, the practice of giving the same to a man by the lady herself is becoming common these days. Origin of Engagement Ring Other betrothal gifts were common before 20th century. Before the end of the 19th century, the bride-to-be frequently received a sewing thimble rather than an engagement ring. This practice was particularly general among religious groups that shunned jewelry. During Roman time betrothal rings were used. Archduke Maximilian of Austria was the first one who used diamond ring to signify engagement at imperial court of Vienna in 1477. Description of Engagement Rings Different kinds of engagement rings have different kinds of characteristics which make them different from each other. The most common are diamond, gold, platinum and silver rings. The basic parts of engagement rings are: The band is the part of the ring that goes around the finger. Basically bands are made up of silver, gold or platinum. The setting aims to hold stone strongly with ring. On some rings, the setting is pronged, while other settings are more 'hidden.'