Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Promise Rings: A Sign Of Commitment

By Eric Stafford


Promise rings have been steadily growing in popularity. From young couples who have found true love to high profile celebrities, promise rings are becoming widely used as a sign of commitment. As with all rings, promise rings are available in a variety of designs and stones. There are many reasons one would give or wear a promise ring, but the most common reason is a promise to marry.

Promise rings are usually given as a symbol of love and commitment. They are often given with the intent of becoming engaged at some point in the future. When the intent is commitment and ultimately, marriage, the ring is worn on the left hand. After the engagement, the ring is often switched to the right hand.

Instead of rushing into an early marriage, couples who take advantage of a promise ring period allow themselves time to build the relationship. So many marriages end in divorce these days and it is usually a result of the couple rushing and not giving themselves time to enjoy each other and to build a meaningful relationship together.

Settings and stones range from simple to extravagant. In general, these are smaller and less expensive than engagement rings. The most common stone used is a diamond in a silver or gold setting, but just about any gemstone can be used. Some use another stone in the center with small diamonds as accents. Some couples use the birthstones of the couple for a more personal statement.

While they are most often given to the woman in the relationship, they are available in your local jewelry store for men as well. This is not a common tradition, but some modern, younger couples are doing this. These rings often carry the birthstones of the couple and are often engraved with initials or a line from a favorite song.

The Scribbler ring was seen several hundred years ago in Europe. The diamonds in the ring were used to etch messages of love on windows. The diamonds were generally small in terms of carat, but were set in a way that made them sharp and easy to use to scribble on the glass.

In Shakespearean times, Poesy rings from England and France were popular. These Poesy rings would be inscribed with messages of love from poetry or music. The Poesy ring tradition continues today in promise rings. Messages of love or the couples initials are oft used.

By far, these rings are most often given as a promise of love and commitment between a man and a woman. However, promise rings can be given for other reasons. One less common reason is in exchange for a promise to remain drug and alcohol free during the teenage years. These pledges are often sought during the spring Prom season.

In some Christian families, parents often present their child with a promise ring in return for a vow of chastity. The child, in return, promises not to have sexual relations until they are married.




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