Promise rings are a meaningful way to show your love and commitment to your partner. They are a piece of jewellery that has a long history full of meaning. In this blog, we’ll answer all the questions you may have about promise rings, their purpose, meaning and design…
What is a promise ring?
It’s a piece of jewellery that symbolises the commitment between a couple. They’re usually given before an engagement ring which denotes marriage, as a promise ring can represent different intentions within a relationship. With this in mind, you may see them referred to as pre-engagement rings.
Promise rings are most commonly exchanged between romantic partners, representing the promise to remain faithful and are worn as a sign of commitment to their joint future together. They can also symbolise their love and dedication to each other.
As no two relationships are the same, the meaning behind a promise ring can differ from couple to couple. Some may choose to wear one as they do not plan to marry, while others may gift a ring in preparation for a marriage proposal at a later date.
The history of promise rings
Couples have been exchanging promise rings since ancient times. In fact, it was common for Roman brides to wear a ring as a promise of marriage as the law dictated that a couple must wait between proposing and the wedding ceremony itself.
Posy rings were also popular in the 15th to 17th century. Often engraved with romantic words or poems, these rings were given as a token of love. In the Georgian and Victorian eras, acrostic rings were gifted. These rings used the initials of precious gemstones to spell out certain words. For example, ‘adore’ would be spelt out with an amethyst, diamond, opal, ruby and emerald. Popular choices were ‘love’, ‘dearest’ or ‘regards’.
Today, both men and women wear promise rings. Jewellery has long been given as a symbol of love, dedication and fidelity, so it’s no surprise that promise rings remain popular now!
Which finger do you wear a promise ring on?
If it’s not an engagement ring, you might be wondering what finger does a promise ring go on. The most common way to wear a promise ring is on the left hand and the fourth finger, also known as the ring finger.
Usually, once an engagement ring is given in the future, you can swap the promise ring to another finger. Alternatively, your ring can be worn on your right hand if you’d prefer.
What do promise rings look like?
The choice is yours! Some may opt for a simple band for a classic, timeless design, while others might decide on a beautiful solitaire setting with a single diamond. You could also opt for something with a deeper meaning. A trilogy design has three stones to represent your past, present and future together, while gemstone rings with your partner’s birthstone add a personal touch.
Usually, promise rings are at a lower price point than engagement rings. They may feature gemstones or diamonds in a smaller size. Cluster settings are also used to incorporate a large amount of smaller stones to create a glittering effect.
When choosing a ring, it’s important to think about your partner’s precious metal preferences. They may already own jewellery in a certain tone.
For example, they may prefer warmer tones such as yellow gold or rose gold. For those who prefer cool tones, you could opt for sterling silver, white gold or platinum.
What are the rules for promise rings?
Much like any other piece of jewellery, how you choose to wear a promise ring is entirely personal preference! As mentioned, some like to wear the ring on their left ring finger, while others may choose an entirely different finger or hand. The choice is down to the wearer to find what feels best for them with their type of promise ring.
Do you get on one knee for a promise ring?
As giving a promise ring isn’t a proposal, traditionally you wouldn’t need to get down on one knee when presenting it. The decision is yours! However, we’d recommend preparing your speech and practising presenting the ring in advance to help you feel confident when the time comes.
In conclusion…
Promise rings are a wonderful token of your love and a memorable way to show your commitment. This deep symbolism means they’ll be treasured for a very long time.
If you still have questions about promise rings, we’re here to help! Simply book an appointment in-store at your nearest location or start a live chat online now.
Discover our collection of diamond promise rings
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Promise rings are a meaningful way to show your love and commitment to your partner. They are a piece of jewellery that has a long history full of meaning. In this blog, we’ll answer all the questions you may have about promise rings, their purpose, meaning and design…
What is a promise ring?
It’s a piece of jewellery that symbolises the commitment between a couple. They’re usually given before an engagement ring which denotes marriage, as a promise ring can represent different intentions within a relationship. With this in mind, you may see them referred to as pre-engagement rings.
Promise rings are most commonly exchanged between romantic partners, representing the promise to remain faithful and are worn as a sign of commitment to their joint future together. They can also symbolise their love and dedication to each other.
As no two relationships are the same, the meaning behind a promise ring can differ from couple to couple. Some may choose to wear one as they do not plan to marry, while others may gift a ring in preparation for a marriage proposal at a later date.
The history of promise rings
Couples have been exchanging promise rings since ancient times. In fact, it was common for Roman brides to wear a ring as a promise of marriage as the law dictated that a couple must wait between proposing and the wedding ceremony itself.
Posy rings were also popular in the 15th to 17th century. Often engraved with romantic words or poems, these rings were given as a token of love. In the Georgian and Victorian eras, acrostic rings were gifted. These rings used the initials of precious gemstones to spell out certain words. For example, ‘adore’ would be spelt out with an amethyst, diamond, opal, ruby and emerald. Popular choices were ‘love’, ‘dearest’ or ‘regards’.
Today, both men and women wear promise rings. Jewellery has long been given as a symbol of love, dedication and fidelity, so it’s no surprise that promise rings remain popular now!
Which finger do you wear a promise ring on?
If it’s not an engagement ring, you might be wondering what finger does a promise ring go on. The most common way to wear a promise ring is on the left hand and the fourth finger, also known as the ring finger.
Usually, once an engagement ring is given in the future, you can swap the promise ring to another finger. Alternatively, your ring can be worn on your right hand if you’d prefer.
What do promise rings look like?
The choice is yours! Some may opt for a simple band for a classic, timeless design, while others might decide on a beautiful solitaire setting with a single diamond. You could also opt for something with a deeper meaning. A trilogy design has three stones to represent your past, present and future together, while gemstone rings with your partner’s birthstone add a personal touch.
Usually, promise rings are at a lower price point than engagement rings. They may feature gemstones or diamonds in a smaller size. Cluster settings are also used to incorporate a large amount of smaller stones to create a glittering effect.
When choosing a ring, it’s important to think about your partner’s precious metal preferences. They may already own jewellery in a certain tone. For example, they may prefer warmer tones such as yellow gold or rose gold. For those who prefer cool tones, you could opt for sterling silver, white gold or platinum.
What are the rules for promise rings?
Much like any other piece of jewellery, how you choose to wear a promise ring is entirely personal preference! As mentioned, some like to wear the ring on their left ring finger, while others may choose an entirely different finger or hand. The choice is down to the wearer to find what feels best for them with their type of promise ring.
Do you get on one knee for a promise ring?
As giving a promise ring isn’t a proposal, traditionally you wouldn’t need to get down on one knee when presenting it. The decision is yours! However, we’d recommend preparing your speech and practising presenting the ring in advance to help you feel confident when the time comes.
In conclusion…
Promise rings are a wonderful token of your love and a memorable way to show your commitment. This deep symbolism means they’ll be treasured for a very long time.
If you still have questions about promise rings, we’re here to help! Simply book an appointment in-store at your nearest location or start a live chat online now.
Discover our collection of diamond promise rings