An Introduction to Eternity Rings
A symbol of eternal love, a complete circle representative of the never ending constant of enduring love. No beginning and no end, the eternity ring can symbolise any form of infinite love.
Since ancient times the circle has represented the eternal binding of souls and the perfection of love. Ancient Egyptians gifted one another eternity rings as a symbol of love but not necessarily in conjunction with a marked occasion or special event such as a wedding. The earliest examples of eternity rings were simple bands of metal, braided reeds or carved bone, sometimes with stones set within them. (A lot less glamorous than the sparkling diamond eternity rings of modern day). Sometimes Ancient Egyptian eternity rings would feature an ‘Ouroboros’ an image of a snake engulfing its own tale, symbolising the natural eternity of life.
The Romans were also thought to have gifted each other eternity rings. In Roman times these were always to be worn on the third finger of the left hand. The Romans believed that this finger was deeply meaningful as it contained the ‘Vena Arnoris’, the vein of love which is said to lead directly to the heart.
The 18th century saw eternity rings adorned with sparkling gemstones and by the 19th century the fashion for diamond set eternity rings was firmly established. Today diamonds are the most popular choice of stone to be set in to eternity rings. Rare, strong and beautiful it is not surprising that diamonds are the most commonly used gemstone to represent love. Whilst diamonds are indeed the most commonly used stone in eternity rings there are no rules to this and many feature an array of coloured gemstones ranging from sapphires to rubies to emeralds and more.
Eternity rings are traditionally worn on the ring finger of the left hand alongside the engagement and wedding ring. Even more recently the eternity ring has grown to mean more than eternal love between two people but also to symbolise the circle of life. It is increasingly common to gift eternity rings to celebrate the birth of a new born child.
Eternity rings are also now commonly crafted as full eternity rings or half eternity rings. But what’s the difference? The only difference is the way the stones are set. A full eternity ring is set with stones, usually diamonds, across the whole of the band so that the circle of diamonds is continuous. A half eternity ring however features stones across half or part of the circumference of the ring. This can often be more cost effective whilst also maintaining the meaning and symbolism of an eternity ring.