The History of Wedding Bands

Ah, the timeless allure of wedding bands. Today, we recognize these small but mighty tokens of affection as universal symbols of marriage and commitment.

But you may be surprised to know that the modern wedding bands we know and love today have evolved over centuries, spanning countless cultures and civilizations. From Egyptian snake rings to Medieval poetry-inscribed rings and everything in between, wedding bands have seen some fascinating changes over the years.

To help unravel the tapestry of this ringology, we’re taking you on a trip back in time to learn the origins of the wedding band. We’ll break down the history of wedding bands with fun facts, cool ancient ring pics, and modern-day inspiration for your unique mens wedding band. 

The Early Beginnings: Egyptian Pharaohs and Roman Empires

The Egyptians

The story starts roughly 3,000 years ago. Unearthed from ancient scrolls, we find the first evidence of wedding rings in ancient Egypt. Men would exchange wedding rings with their wives as a gesture of unity. Often crafted from simple materials like woven reeds or leather, these rings carried some pretty deep symbolism. 

In ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures, people considered the circle sacred, as it represented eternity and perfection. It was a symbol without beginning or end, mirroring the timeless bond between two souls. The shape also represented the sun and moon, which the Egyptians worshiped as deities embodying eternal cycles of life, death, and rebirth. 

The history books show us a prime example of these ancient rings: the Egyptian Ouroboros (oor-uh-boor-ros) ring. These super cool gold snake rings depict a serpent swallowing its tail. It is one of the oldest symbols in the world, representing the continuous renewal of life. 

Photo credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Snake Ring

The Greeks

After Alexander the Great conquered the Egyptians in 332 BC, the Greeks carried on the tradition of giving rings to their sweethearts as a sign of devotion. Like our eternal tail-eating friends above, the Greeks had their fair share of symbolic ring motifs. Most notably, the god of love, Eros, also known as the original wingman, Cupid. 

Photo credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gold ring with intaglio of seated woman and flying Eros

The Romans

Around 146 BC, the Romans landed on the Greek peninsula and took their turn running the show. Like the Greeks, they picked up the nuptial tradition from their predecessors and started exchanging rings made with iron and copper in marriage ceremonies. 

During this time, we see the first use of two wedding bands. In ancient Rome, brides received two rings: one simple band made of iron for wearing during household duties and another made of gold for going out in public. 

The Romans also started to embrace gold as the predominant ring material. Similar to how we view precious metals like gold and platinum today, people in Roman times viewed gold wedding bands as symbols of wealth and social status. 

Like the Greeks, the Romans were also fond of some good ole’ fashioned symbolism. You know how we call it “the ring finger”? The Romans decided that the ring finger, or the fourth finger, contained a “vena amoris” or “vein of love” that connected directly to the heart. And while anyone who’s been in a 7th-grade anatomy class will tell you this is entirely inaccurate, we still rock the ‘ring finger’ tradition today. 

Photo credit: Mauricio Toussaint, The Finger of the Heart

The Rise of Ring Styles: Medieval and Renaissance Era

For the thousands of years that followed the Roman empire's collapse, the wedding ring began to take on a new life with the introduction of precious gems, personalized engravings, matching ring sets, and more. We also start to see couples wearing bands during the engagement period to symbolize their commitment. 

Gimmel rings

Gimmel rings, deriving from the Latin word “gemellus,” meaning twin or double, started gaining popularity in 16th-century England. These rings typically featured two or three interlocking bands, each representing the promise and love between two individuals. Both the bride and groom would wear one band during their engagement period. Then, during the wedding ceremony, the groom would place his band on the bride’s finger, uniting the wedding bands in a matching set. 

Photo Credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gimmel ring (Twin ring)

Fede rings

Fede rings, originating from the Italian phrase “mani in fede,” meaning “hands joined in faith,” also became popular during this time. These rings feature two hands clasping together, representing the bond of marriage and love. 

Photo Credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gold finger ring | Roman

Over the years, the fede motif evolved into a style known as the Claddagh ring. Like the Fede ring clasped hand design, the Claddagh ring depicts two hands holding a heart with a crown. First designed in the 17th century by Galway silversmith Richard Joyce, many Celtic cultures still embrace the Claddagh ring as a symbol of love, loyalty, and friendship. 

Manly Bands, The Claddagh

Posy rings

Another popular design in Medieval Europe was the posy ring, also called poesy or posie rings. This ring is one of the first genuinely custom wedding bands. Goldsmiths would engrave the inner or outer band with short poems, Bible verses, phrases, or mottos. This new ring design marked a pivotal moment in ring history, forcing goldsmiths to advance their techniques and learn to engrave personalized messages on the inside of rings. 

Photo Credit: The British Museum, Posy ring 

Religion and Rings: Christian and Jewish Traditions

It’s no secret that marriage is deeply rooted in religious tradition and custom. From ancient times to modern-day ceremonies, religious beliefs have greatly influenced the symbolism and practices surrounding the exchange of wedding rings. But when exactly did this pagan custom become commonplace in religious circles, you ask? Let’s find out.

Christian Traditions

Some smart history folks suggest that Christians officially sanctioned wedding rings for marriage ceremonies in the 9th century. By the 11th century, people embraced these gold beauties as an integral part of the marriage ritual. It soon became a rule that no man should place any type of ring on a woman’s hand unless he meant to get married. No pressure, right?

Early Christian wedding rings often depicted scenes of Christ, like the one below, as a tangible reminder of the couple's commitment to center their union around faith and Christ’s teachings. Today, Christians believe that the wedding ring symbolizes not only the union created in marriage but also a physical emblem of God’s eternal blessing. 

Photo Credit: The Walters Art Museum, Marriage ring with scenes from the life of Christ.

Jewish Traditions

The custom of exchanging rings during a Jewish wedding ceremony dates back centuries and is deeply rooted in Jewish religious texts and teachings. Jewish wedding rings are traditionally plain gold or silver bands without gemstones or elaborate designs, representing a marriage free of distraction or complication. 

Lesser-known is the tradition of the Jewish ceremonial marriage ring, dating back to the 10th century and continuing through the 19th century. These ornate rings symbolized the couple’s home or temple, often featuring a roof that opened like a locket to reveal a Hebrew inscription. 

While our smart history friends tend to differ in their interpretation of its meaning, some historians say that every wedding in the community shared these intricately crafted rings. Dare we say the OG ‘something borrowed’?

Photo credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Jewish ceremonial wedding ring

Wars and Diamonds: The 20th Century Shift

The 20th century brought about some of the most significant shifts in the world of wedding rings, influenced heavily by wars, societal changes, and the rise of the diamond industry. Until this time, only women wore wedding rings. But like many things, the World Wars dramatically changed the future of the modern wedding ring. 

Men started wearing wedding rings during World War II as a way to remember their love back home. By the time of the Korean War, mens wedding bands were widespread across American and European society. Wedding bands became the norm for men wanting to show affection for their partner and fight for their return. Aww, so sweet! 

Photo credit: BBC World News

The DeBeers Era: How else could two months’ salary last forever?

Arguably, one of the most monumental shifts in the 20th-century ring game was the widespread adoption of diamonds in engagement rings. We have diamond giant De Beers to thank for this modern-day sparkly price tag. 

Until the 1940s, diamonds were just one of the many gems used in engagement rings. But, after the economic woes of the Great Depression, the De Beers marketing team (led by copywriting genius Mary Frances Gerety) launched a legendary marketing campaign. In the late 1940s and 50s, De Beers introduced the world to household phrases like “a diamond is forever” and “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” forever cementing the diamond’s status as the ultimate symbol of everlasting love and romance. 

Photo credit: The New York Times, Mary Frances Gerety with an original “A diamond is forever” advertisement. 

By the 1950s and 60s, diamond culture as we know it was in full swing. De Beers partnered with celebrities like Marilyn Monroe to showcase their diamonds as glamorous symbols of wealth, status, and romance. Thanks to De Beers’, the number of US brides receiving diamond engagement rings skyrocketed from just 10% in 1939 to 80% in 1990. 

The Modern Mens Wedding Band

Today, engagement rings and wedding bands are as common as bad Dad jokes during the father-of-the-bride speech. While the meaning remains relatively the same as its ancient roots–all the love and commitment, minus the ownership piece—wedding bands have evolved to include many styles, materials, and unique designs. 

Luckily for you, men, too, can have fun with their wedding bands. With options ranging from sleek titanium wedding bands to nature-inspired wood wedding bands, men can now select a ring that perfectly reflects their unique style and personality. 

And while we’re not the fashion gurus of Vogue, we’d like to think our team at Manly Bands has a pretty solid grasp on the types of rings that the modern man wants for his wedding band. Here are some of the latest trends we’re loving at Many Bands. 

Alternative Metals

As we’ve seen from our history lesson above, gold and silver have dominated the wedding band scene for centuries. And while gold wedding bands are still one of the heaviest hitters, there has been a rise in mens wedding bands made with alternative metals like titanium, cobalt chrome, and tungsten. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option or a metal with a little more heft to it, there are a plethora of alternative metal wedding band options to choose from. Here are a couple of our alternative metal MVPs: 

• The Hero, Made with Tungsten

• The Dapper, Made with Cobalt Chrome

• The Inventor, Made with Titanium

Unconventional Materials

Oh yeah, the fun doesn’t stop at different metal options. Now, mens wedding bands are crafted with some of the most unique and downright badass materials that would make their ancient predecessors do a double-take. That’s right; we’re talking about modern materials like carbon fiber and silicone and otherworldly materials like meteorite. These unconventional materials effortlessly fit any lifestyle, budget, or passion. 

For the practical man, we love rings like The Best Man, made with lightweight, flexible silicone. More of an enthusiast, you say? Our unique ring collections, like Jack Daniels Whiskey Barrel rings or Fender guitar string rings, will quickly become your favorite barside conversation starter. 

Diamonds

Remember when they said, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” We’re here to say that diamonds are a man’s best friend, too. These days, the modern man is challenging traditional ideas and gender norms of what a mens wedding band should look like, opting for more intricate designs and inlays like wedding bands with diamonds. Our diamond collection has the perfect mix of masculine energy and luxe sophistication to give your wedding band the sparkle and style it deserves. Some of our diamond-studded favorites include The Zeus and The Billionaire. 

Custom Rings

Gone are the days of boring, plain wedding bands—unless that’s your vibe. We’re not here to judge. Now, men not only have the option to mix up the metals and materials used to make their rings, but they can also choose to build their own fully custom wedding bands. Got big fingers? No problem—our BYOB (build-your-own-band) collection has rings up to size 25! Want a poem or inside joke engraved inside your band like the Medieval posy rings, can do! We offer free engraving on most of our ring styles.

Want to learn more about the thousands of unique wedding band options available at Manly Bands? Contact our Customer Support team for expert advice, recommendations, and virtual high-fives!