« Why It's a Beautiful Idea When Both Partners Wear a Ring »
We know it from Hollywood films, from stories told by friends, or we've experienced it ourselves: He kneels devotedly before his beloved, presents an engagement ring and asks if she will be his wife. She joyfully accepts the proposal and lets him slip the ring onto her finger. But what if the man, contrary to tradition, also wants to wear such a piece of jewelry? Everything about the engagement ring for both partners.
Traditions Are Changing
Already in ancient times, among the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans, the ring was no longer exclusively a pledge for marriage and a receipt for the dowry, but slowly established itself as a symbol of love between man and woman. It was worn exclusively by women on the ring finger, whose vein, also called vena amoris – the love vein – is said to lead directly to the heart. After all, the circular shape symbolizes the sun, the full moon, and infinity, and nowadays is considered a sign of a shared vow filled with love and devotion. The romantic Italians changed this tradition, where only the partner wore such a symbol, over the years. Thus, there is now a tradition in Italy after the "fidanzamento", or engagement, of the engagement ring for both. In Germany too, the demand for an engagement ring for men and women is increasing.
Modern Marriage Proposals – A Proposal from the Woman to the Man
For many couples, the focus of an engagement is no longer on maintaining traditions, but on living out their own ideas of a perfect proposal. While some can't imagine anything too grand in front of the public eye, others prefer intimate moments for two. It doesn't always have to be a forced kneeling if both partners aren't the romantic type and wouldn't feel comfortable with it. The proposal also doesn't always have to come from the man. There are increasingly more women who take the initiative and ask their partner to marry them. A marriage proposal from a woman to a man is no longer unusual. A partner knows her husband very well and can assess beforehand whether he will accept the proposal and is also willing to wear the corresponding piece of jewelry. Thus, more and more couples are deciding to acquire an engagement ring for both.
Which Style Is Right?
While the traditional piece of jewelry worn by a woman is often set with gemstones, preferably a diamond in princess cut, men tend to prefer it simple without stone settings. In rare cases do men choose a delicate or ornate style. The choice tends to fall on a more robust ring made of platinum, titanium, or carbon. How individually the ring is designed, whether conventional silver/gold or more elegant platinum or palladium is ultimately chosen, is completely a matter of personal taste and available budget. The often widespread rule that the ring should cost the equivalent of one month's salary is long outdated. Everyone should only spend as much on the desired piece of jewelry as is financially possible for both.
Engagement Rings in All Styles
By the way, the world's most expensive known engagement ring belonged to Grace Kelly. With a diamond of 10.48 carats set in platinum and flanked by two smaller diamonds, it was valued at 3.5 million euros. The crazy version that actress Megan Fox received in early 2022 from her fiancé, musician Machine Gun Kelly, is fortunately an exception. This ring is lined with thorns on the inside. When worn, these supposedly don't bother, but it could become more than unpleasant if she ever takes it off. A potentially bloody affair.
On Which Hand Does the Man Wear the Ring?
Traditionally in Germany and Austria, both wear it on the ring finger of the left hand. Here too, the origin traces back to the ancient custom that the love vein from the left ring finger leads directly to the heart. In other countries, such as Switzerland, it is tradition to wear the ring on the right hand. Ultimately, couples can independently decide, regardless of conventions, on which hand they want to wear the piece of jewelry. Often the less active hand is chosen to limit wear marks. Couples who work in manual trades where the piece of jewelry might be subjected to too much wear sometimes wear it on a chain. To avoid complete wear marks, it is sometimes kept in a beautiful box on the nightstand.
Choosing the Engagement Ring for Both Together
Some couples don't like surprises and would be completely overwhelmed by a proposal. Away from a marriage proposal, both simply talk openly and specifically about their ideas of a possible upcoming marriage and then decide together to choose the engagement rings for each other. Some couples prefer to choose the piece of jewelry that both will wear on their finger for years to come themselves, to ensure it matches their ideas. An engraving on the inside gives the engagement ring for both a personal touch.
There are many reasons why couples want to plan their engagement together and choose the corresponding pieces of jewelry together. One option is to get them at the same time as the wedding rings. This way, you can plan for the engagement ring to match the wedding ring and form a beautiful unit on the finger. After all, wearing these for both is a beautiful sign that shows the world that you are in a committed relationship and are planning the next big step together – marriage.
