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The Origin of the Promise Ring

Rings have been around since the beginnings of time, and a symbol of eternity and devotion.

We all know that wedding rings are a symbol of everlasting love and devotion to one person.

And engagement rings signify one’s commitment to another and intention to marry. But what about the “promise ring”?

In general, the gifting of promise rings for women has been a longstanding tradition, for couples who are in a steady relationship, and symbolizing their newfound love and commitment to each other.

First of all, I’ll be completely honest with you, before researching this I really didn’t have a clue what a promise ring was, so upon further investigation… I found a few definitions on the web:

What Is A Promise Ring?

• 1. A purity ring is worn to signify a pledge to sexual abstinence.
• 2. A pre-engagement ring is worn to signify a commitment to a monogamous relationship.
• 3. Promise Rings are sometimes worn as a symbol of a vow to practice celibacy until marriage.

Also, a promise ring can signify a promise one has made, pure and simple. It could be a promise to one’s self, or a promise to another person. And doesn’t necessarily have to signify commitment to one person or a monagamous relationship.

Rings Throughout History

Rings have been around in European history and culture since the Middle Ages, and have meant different things to different cultures and peoples.

Throughout history rings have been used for countless purposes and held a massive variety of cultural meanings. From the Super bowl, 1930’s Lone Ranger rings distributed in Cereal boxes to the beautiful Ancient Egyptian and Greek rings which were believed to hold mystical powers, rings are have been and continue to be used by just about every culture on Earth. The very first rings were simple metal bands constructed from metals, bone or twine. Sometime during the 14th Century precious gemstones were added to create beautiful rings which held the power associated with the gemstone.

LuShae Jewelry and Types of Promise Rings

If you’ve thought about giving a promise ring to someone LuShae Jewelry is a great place to start, offering sterling silver and cubic zirconia promise rings ranging from $25 to $75.

Origins of the Traditional Ring Finger

Counting from the thumb the ring finger is traditionally the forth finger on the left hand. The tradition of wearing rings on this finger stems from the Ancient Roman belief that this finger contains the ‘Vena Amoris’ the vein which connects directly to the heart. Today the ring finger can be on either the left or right hand depending upon both religious belief and the cultural norm of the country.

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Tags: commitment, gifts, going steady, in a relationship, jewelry, love, promise ring, promise rings for women, rings, romance, the origin of rings