Wedding Bands Throughout Time

Filled with emotion and admiration, wedding bands are a significant symbol of marriage, love and commitment, an exchange which has been much recognised for decades.

Traced back to the ancient Egyptians, wedding bands have been on a tremendous journey, appreciated by a global audience filled with different regions, cultures and traditions. Starting off as a ring crafted from reeds and hemp, modern-day bands are adorned with sparkling diamonds, rare gemstones and a collection of different cuts, styles and precious metals.

The history of wedding bands

Beginning their journey amongst the Egyptians, wedding bands were exchanged between two lovers, placed on the fourth finger of the left hand which was believed to have a vein of love running from the finger to the heart. The Egyptians also considered the circle construction to be a powerful symbol of endless love which will endure the test of time.

The ancient Greeks and Romans also wore wedding bands, crafted from leather, bone or ivory. During this period, the tradition of a metal band also began, with iron being the predominant metal of choice. Only the most wealthy of people were found owning gold or silver bands to mark their commitment of marriage.

During the 15th century, wedding bands became even more popular, with many jewellers and customers investing in personalisation to create a unique piece that amplified their connections. Personalisation such as engraving came to the market with many couples writing a short verse or private message, a tradition which has only developed through the use of science and technology.

Explore our selection of engravable wedding bands

Gimmel Rings: Medieval wedding bands

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the gimmel ring was a popular choice for newlyweds, crafted with interlocking parts that coil together and can also be taken apart when worn separately. The bride and the groom would both wear one part of the ring and during the wedding ceremony, the man would remove his ring and reunite it with the other half.

Diamond wedding bands

Diamond wedding bands are a fairly modern phenomenon with the majority of these being owned historically by royalty. However, during the Victorian era, diamond engagement rings became popular, swiftly followed by the creation of diamond wedding bands. The growth of diamond wedding jewellery is known to be a result of a successful marketing campaign used amongst films and celebrities which eventually became a widely adorned trend amongst women and couples across the world.

To find out more about the history of engagement rings, have a read through our in-depth guide on engagement rings: a tale of commitment.

Symbolisms of a wedding band

With the main symbolism of eternal love and commitment, wedding bands have gathered an array of meanings throughout time, transforming into a piece of jewellery that represents forever. The emblem is a metaphor of love exchanged between two people on their wedding day, accompanied by other traditions and vows. In modern times, couples may choose to engrave and personalise their wedding bands with some people opting for diamonds, gemstones and a collection of white gold, yellow gold, rose gold and platinum metals.

History of the ring finger

Many people believe that the famous ring finger was first introduced by the Romans who began to place the ring on the left hand, on the fourth finger. The tradition of wearing a band on this finger has lasted right up till the modern day although there are a number of countries and religions which have their own traditions in place.

Ready to find your dream wedding band? Have a read through our in-depth wedding band guide or discover our luxurious collection of plain and diamond bands available at David Morris.