ETERNITY RING — A SYMBOL OF EVERLASTING LOVE
Recently Megan Markle made her second appearance following the birth of her son, and the first thing fans noted was her brand new golden “pave-set-ring”, complimenting her wedding ring and engagement ring. The new ring is thought to be an “eternity ring” offered to Meghan by Prince Harry either on occasion of their son’s birth or for their first wedding anniversary.
What is an eternity ring?
“Eternity rings”, also called “infinity rings” date back to Ancient Egypt (4000 years ago). The concept of a continuous circle symbolizing eternity was used in the oldest civilizations. An “eternity ring” represents the strong bond of marriage between man and woman, everlasting love that can never end. That’s why the oldest rings were shaped in the form of a serpent eating its own tail, a symbol of eternity called “Ouroboros”
Modern eternity rings are mostly made from precious metals (gold, platinum, etc.) and decorated with precious stones, mostly diamonds, also a symbol of eternity and everlasting love.
Types of eternity rings
Modern eternity rings come in two types:
- full eternity rings — the gemstones are set all around the ring. Full eternity rings look stunning, luxurious, opulent
- half eternity rings — the gemstones are set only on the top half of the ring. Half eternity rings are mostly more affordable than full eternity rings (though it also depends on gems quality, of course), but it doesn’t mean that they are less gorgeous. Besides, many couples consider them more practical, because they can be resized easily in the future.
Who wears an eternity ring and how?
Eternity rings are mostly offered by husbands to spouses to commemorate an important event: wedding anniversary, child’s birth, etc. It is considered to be one of the most romantic gifts, immortalizing the love of a couple. An eternity ring is passed from generation to generation which makes it even more special.
Yes, eternity rings are mostly worn by women, instead of or in addition to a wedding or an engagement ring. But today men also tend to wear an eternity ring instead of a wedding band or engagement band. Numerous male celebrities are known to wear eternity rings.
Traditionally, an eternity ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, close to the heart. The ancient Egyptians believed “the vain of love” ran from the fourth finger on the left hand directly to the heart: placing a ring on this finger, they believed to bound their love forever.
However, some couples wear an eternity ring separately: on the right hand, to show its beauty.
How to choose an eternity ring?
Of course, you can buy a machine set eternity ring. But it will not be as stunning as a ring handmade by an experienced and skillful jeweler to your exacting requirements.
Such rings are quite difficult to craft. First of all, before cutting the precious metal into strips, the jeweler must assure that it matches perfectly your finger size. The most difficult part is gems setting: the gems must match in cut, size, color, clarity. Most of such rings are difficult to resize later. But luckily, the most reliable eternity ring retailers offer sample services
In the quest for your unique and luxurious eternity ring, you can choose between various metal settings and diamond cuts
Here are the main types of eternity rings settings:
- Prong or claw: this is the most traditional setting. The stones are held firmly by prongs (mostly 4), at the same time, they are beautifully exposed and sparkling.
- Channel: the stones are set within a channel, with no metal in between. The stones are not as exposed as in the case of the claw ring, but this setting is also very attractive and safe
- Bezel/rub over: each stone is encircled in a separate metal setting. In this case, the sides of the gems are not exposed to the light and are not sparkling at their maximum, on the other hand, this option is very modern, safe and easy to maintain.
- Bar: this setting looks a lot like channel setting, but in this case, each stone is separated from another by a metal bar. Such rings are very sparkly, quite safe and easy to maintain
- Pavé: pave-set-rings look like claw set rings, but instead of the prongs the gems are separated by tiny metal beads. This ring style is also very shining and delicate: small gems exposed to the light are set very close to each other and form a paved appearance, making the ring really stunning.
- Flush: the stones are embedded in the metal. Very interesting solution: modern and traditional at the same time. Even if the gems are highlighted less than the metal, they look really impressing. At the same type, such rings are easy to wear and maintain.
- Cut down: this is a variation of claw setting, only in this case the precious stones are exposed much more because they are set in the band with no edges.
Of course, all these settings have their advantages and disadvantages, at the same time, the ring must match your lifestyle and preferences. While choosing your eternity ring online, make sure to choose a trustworthy retailer, offering high-quality products and services. Qualified experts will surely help you in your quest for your unique eternity ring, symbolizing the most important and special moments in your life!
