Rings

Changing in meaning and fashion over the centuries, rings have been worn at least 4,000 years in all cultures. They've served many purposes from functional to purely fashionable.  In some parts of the world, rings were used as signets to stamp hot wax to seal documents.  Other cultures used them in trade, to indicate ownership over another, and as talismans for superstitious reasons--to bring good fortune or healing. Gemstones set in rings were believed to have magic or healing properties.  For example:

Garnets are thought to stop bleeding, cure blood infections

Emeralds are the antidote to poison

Amethyst helps hunters and controls negative thoughts

Pearls are said to bring money, protection and luck

Ruby brings courage and passion

Sapphire cures mental illness

As gem cutting techniques and setting creation techniques improved over the ages, the appearance of precious stones became more and more popular.  In 1886 Tiffany & Co. came up with a prong setting for diamonds whereby the diamond could be held away from the gold band of the ring, thereby letting light pass through the stone for even more sparkle and dazzle.  The Tiffany setting is still very popular today.

Ring fashions have changed throughout the ages as most jewellery does, as well.  From the signet wax sealing rings, to signifying royalty, at some times in history it was popular to wear rings on all fingers, sometimes more than one ring on each finger.  And rings can be worn on toes. Rings can have watches, making them very useful. Of course rings are also given as prizes, such as the championship Super Bowl ring given to winning athletes at that event.  Students frequently wear class rings to commemorate graduation from school. Egyptian Earth-bound gods wore rings to symbolize their unending power.  In Greek mythology Zeus made Prometheus wear jewelry in the form of an iron ring after he was freed from chains on a mountain. Zeus said that way Prometheus would still be bound to the rock.  Some rings had secret compartments used to hide poison.  And of course they were sometimes used for weddings, especially for women, and during World War II wedding rings began to be worn by men to remind them of their wives back home.  Mothers sometimes wear rings set with their children's birthstones. Clerics, like the Catholic Pope's Ring of the Fisherman, often wear jeweled rings with symbolic significance.  Nowadays many people trade rings, such as promise rings, friendship rings, or engagement rings as a symbol of commitment.  Puzzle rings are interlocking bands worn just for fun.

Along with the many reasons to wear a ring from the traditional, symbolic, to purposeful and fun, rings can also be made with a variety of materials including Lucite, gemstones, plastics, wood, bone, glass, iron, copper, carved stones, gold, silver, and platinum, just to name a few.