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Sep 22,2023
What is an eternity ring? At Darry Ring, it is a testament to love that has withstood the test of time and grown even deeper and more profound. It symbolizes every day and night spent together for partners. Each sparkling gemstone reflects a tribute to the past, appreciation for the present, and a promise of endless companionship for the future. An eternity ring is the most sincere expression of love in the long river of time.
However, limiting it to love doesn't fully answer the meaning of an eternity ring. So what exactly is it? What types are there? And how do you choose one? Darry Ring will help you answer all these questions in this article. Scroll down to learn more!
An eternity ring, also known as an infinity ring, is a band of precious metal, such as gold or platinum, encircled by a continuous row of identically shaped diamonds or gemstones. This luxurious ring symbolizes eternal and unchanging love and commitment, and the sparkling circle represents the deep connection and endless bond between partners.
The eternity ring has endured throughout history. The original concept dates back to ancient Egypt. At that time, eternity rings often featured hieroglyphs engraved on the band or adopted the "Ouroboros" design—based on a snake with its head meeting its tail. Ancient Egyptians believed that the circular shape of the ring represented the eternal soul and could protect the wearer in the afterlife.
Moving into ancient Greece, Rome, and the Middle Ages, eternity rings remained popular. In Greece and Rome, they were given as engagement rings, inspired by the myth of the goddess Aphrodite wearing an eternity ring. During the Middle Ages, eternity rings carried more religious significance and were often engraved with crosses.
The modern concept of what an eternity ring is, known as the "keeper ring," and its association with marriage began to take shape in the 18th century. Around the same time, the "keeper ring" began to be set with diamonds to cater to a wider range of tastes.
By the 20th century, the modern eternity ring truly took shape. This development was thanks to the efforts of diamond group De Beers. To address an oversupply of small diamonds, De Beers introduced jewelry featuring multiple smaller stones and marketed eternity rings to older, married women. They further popularized these rings with the memorable advertising slogan, "She married you for richer or poorer. Let her know how it's going."
What an eternity ring is, in fact, already reveals its profound meaning. It symbolizes eternal love, representing endless devotion and strong bond between partners. An eternity ring is also a symbol of loyalty after so many joys and hardships. Moreover, the meaning of an eternity ring can extend to mutual promises for the future, new beginnings such as weddings or milestone anniversaries, and celebrations like the birth of a child or the creation of a new family, all carrying deep connotations of love.
What an eternity ring is can be defined as a ring with diamonds fully encircling the band. However, this is just one style of eternity ring. There are also half-eternity rings and three-quarter eternity rings. Below is a breakdown of all these types.
The very definition of an eternity ring means it will have a significant number of diamonds, consequently, a higher price tag. Therefore, it's important to carefully consider your budget, the ring type, diamond shape, and quality to ensure the ring is worth the investment and suits your lifestyle. Please refer to the following tips to make an informed decision.
● Set a Budget First: It's essential to set a budget before purchasing an eternity ring. so determining your price range in advance helps balance your daily expenses and reduces financial stress.
● Determine the Ring Type: In addition to the basic three types, eternity rings come with different setting variations. Choose a style based on your partner's preferences and tastes to ensure the ring truly represents your feelings and touches your partner's heart.
● Consider Diamond Quality: The diamond is the heart of an eternity ring, so the 4Cs of diamonds are crucial when making your purchase. Additionally, consider the shape of the ring to fit your partner's hand and style preferences.
● Match Your Lifestyle: For those engaged in hands-on work or sports, a durable and damage-resistant design is advisable. On the other hand, if you spend most of your time in an office, a more delicate and elegant eternity ring may be favorable.
● Coordinate with Existing Rings: Make sure the new eternity ring complements any existing rings in terms of style, avoiding clashing designs or overcrowding.
● Choose a Reliable Brand: Ensure the jeweler provides detailed diamond certificates and quality guarantees. It's best to go with a brand like Darry Ring, which offers 24/7 customer service to solve any questions.
Traditionally, an eternity ring is given to mark significant milestones in a marriage, such as the 25th or 50th anniversary, or other important moments in a couple's life together. It is also given to children to celebrate the arrival of a new family member. However, these are not strict rules. Today, eternity rings can be given at any time as a token of love.
There are no hard and fast rules on how to wear an eternity ring, but traditionally, people prefer to wear the eternity diamond ring in front of the wedding band on the left ring finger. Because in ancient Greece and Rome, it was believed that the left ring finger had a vein directly connected to the heart, called the "Vena Amoris" (love vein), and therefore the wedding band should be closest to your heart in the first place.
Others may argue that the left ring finger already has too many diamonds, so they prefer to show off the beauty of the diamond eternity ring by wearing it alone on the right hand.
There's no definitive "best" setting for an eternity ring. The optimal setting is a subjective choice based on aesthetics, durability, and comfort. With that in mind, you can refer to the common eternity ring settings below to make a decision.
● Prong Set Eternity Ring: A classic setting that uses 4 or 6 prongs to secure the diamond, allowing more light to reflect. However, the prongs may catch on clothing.
● Channel Set Eternity Ring: The gemstones are set between two metal bands. It is a secure setting, but it may reduce the diamond's brilliance.
● Bezel Set Eternity Ring: Each gemstone is surrounded by a metal edge, giving it a modern look and protection, but it may block light from the diamond.
● Pavé Set Eternity Ring: Small diamonds are tightly set together for a continuous sparkle but need careful upkeep to remain undamadged.
● Bar Set Eternity Ring: Diamonds are separated by metal bars. This modern and protective design allows more light to enter, enhancing brightness and fire.