Rings

It is not exactly known when the first ring was invented, but they are mentioned in the myth of Prometheus, as well as in the Bible in Genesis. The first mention of a ring in ancient Rome occurred in 432 A.D. and the jewelry went on to become very popular with the Romans.

Although the shape of a ring is simple, people have managed to come up with many styles and designs to choose from throughout the ages. The gimmel-style ring dates to the late 16th century. This design links three rings together. The three rings or hoops are commonly made from three different shades of gold. Another popular and well-known ring design is the Claddagh. Centering around two clasped hands, with a heart above, this ring is an Irish tradition that began around 300 years ago.

But perhaps the most common and best-known ring design is the wedding ring. Records show that rings were given as a part of the wedding ceremony as far back as 4800 B.C. in Egypt. Then, as today, most wedding bands were worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. The Romans are said to have picked this finger, because it was their belief that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.