May 2026
The Ring
Today we will be considering the quintessential piece of jewelry that is the ring.
Rings have adorned hands throughout thousands of years, not only for their beauty but for the varied cultural signifiers they communicate to others. The earliest rings date back to human experimentation with metalworking, becoming prominent assertions of authority. Over time they have come to take on new meanings as culture and society evolved.
Seal ring and modern impression: horned animal, 8th-7th Century BCE, Iran
Across ancient societies in Egypt, Rome, and Mesopotamia among other regions, the upper class wore rings as a marker of status and power. Signet rings in particular, which have carved designs that can leave impressions on wax and clay, had the added function of serving as a personal signature to approve documents. By the 16th century their popularity grew among the masses and spread across Europe, morphing into a fashionable display of good taste.
From practical beginnings, the ring as we know it today also came to hold symbolic meaning, representing the bonds of love, friendship, and family. As betrothal in ancient Rome was considered a contractual agreement, marriage came with the exchange of rings as tokens of loyalty. By the 1800s the wedding ring’s importance was solidified, being worn on the ring finger and often featuring the now classic diamond.
Mourning Ring, 1757, American
As the wedding ring symbolizes a relationship in life, so does the memorial ring represent a bond that surpasses death. Victorian mourning jewelry utilized rings as mementos of those who have passed, often including hair and sometimes depicted funerary imagery of urns, ruins, and even skulls. Some rings included painted miniature portraits of the deceased, and in later times could be used to hold a photograph of loved ones.
Today, rings come in all materials, designs, and sizes commemorating different life events and personal styles. There’s birth stone rings, class rings, mood rings, cocktail rings, poison rings and so many more. If you’re in the market for a ring you’ll wear forever, we can assist you with finding a perfect fit.