A diamond is the ultimate symbol of commitment and love. Much like the marriage itself, if well cared for, it will last a life time.

The ring is a circle and this was the symbol of eternity. It had no beginning and no end, like time. It returned to itself, like life; and the shape was worshipped
in the form of the Sun and the Moon.

The hole in the center of the ring is not just space either; it is important in its own right as the symbol of the gateway, or door; leading to things and events both known and unknown.

It is not difficult therefore, to see how the ring and the gift of a wedding ring
began to be associated with love, in the hope that this most worthy of emotions could take on the characteristics of the circle and capture eternity.

It takes one million years to make a diamond. They are formed under immense heat and pressure hundreds of miles below sea level and forced to the earth’s surface through volcanic explosions.

Most diamonds found in nature are one to three billion years old and 80% of them are found in seven countries: Botswana, Russia, South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Australia and Zaire. The major diamond cutting centers are in New York, Antwerp, Tel Aviv and Bombay.

The wedding ring, that most famous and instantly recognizable symbol of the
joining of a man and a woman as husband and wife in the institution of marriage, has a long, wide spread and mysterious history. Its beginnings lie in the deserts of North Africa, where the ancient Egyptian civilization sprang up along the fertile flood plains of the river Nile. This river was bringer of all fortune and life to the Pharaoh’s people and from plants growing on its’ banks were the first wedding rings fashioned.

In ancient times, the Egyptians and the Romans shared the belief that a vein from the fourth finger lead directly to the heart. As such, it seemed a logical place for the placement of the wedding band. The practice was passed down and the fourth finger is now universally known as the ring finger. Science has since disproved that theory, but it is still romantic to think that our wedding rings are on a direct path to our hearts.

Caring For Diamond Wedding Rings

When you are not wearing your diamond wedding rings, keep them in a fabric lined case or a jewelry box with dividers. This will prevent them from being scratched.

Precious metals can get smudged or coated with things like oils, lotions, perfumes or hairspray. You should put diamonds on only after you have finished getting ready to go out.

It is a good idea not to wear jewelry when doing heavy work. You will also want to remove your jewelry when swimming. Chlorinated water can effect the color of your setting.

You should regularly soak your jewelry for 30 minutes in a commercial jewelry cleaner. You can make your own with equal parts of water and household ammonia. Use a soft brush to gently clean the front and back of the mounting. Then rinse and drain on tissue paper.

It is recommended that you bring your settings to a jeweler every year or so to make sure the settings are secure.

Wedding bands for men are a fairly recent innovation. Throughout history, men have been dominant and owned wives. There was no need for men to be burdened by symbols of marriage and commitment. Even after modern thinking outlawed all forms of slavery and polygamy, the fingers of men were still unadorned.

All of that changed during World War II. During the war it became fashionable for men to wear bands to remind them of the loving wives waiting back home. Use of wedding rings by men increased again during the Korean War. Today, most men wear wedding bands, regardless of military status.

The history of wedding rings date back many years. I found the thought of diamonds being forced to the earth’s surface through volcanic explosions would have been a sight to see even though most people had no idea they were even in the debris until later discovery.