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History and Modern Uses of Wedding Jewelry

25 September, 2025

When two people decide to tie the knot and get married, wedding jewelry is a big part of the proceedings. Rings not only symbolize a couple’s love and commitment to each other, but can be a sign to the rest of the world (including other single people!) that a man or woman has found their companion.

At AAA Jewelers, our collection of engagement rings, wedding rings and all related products is second to none. We customize to the individual needs of you and your partner, and stand by the highest quality guarantee in the industry.

Have you ever wondered exactly how wedding and engagement rings came to be, though? Here’s a bit of back story on wedding jewelry, plus where the history has led us to today.

The History

Historically, engagement rings – generally given by a man to a woman, though these definitions aren’t necessarily strict – symbolized a commitment by the groom-to-be. This commitment wasn’t only to the bride-to-be herself, either: It was to her whole family. Purchasing an engagement ring was considered a financial commitment just as much as any emotional one.

This is where the notion of a woman being “taken” once she wears her engagement ring comes from. A woman would wear her ring in public to show that she was not available to other suitors – this was also a status symbol for her family, especially if the man was wealthy and bought an expensive ring.

Additionally, men had different standards for wedding jewelry in the past. A man’s version of the engagement or wedding ring was often referred to as the “wedding band,” and was a much simpler piece of metal that rarely had diamonds or other precious stones involved. As time has gone on, however, it’s become more and more acceptable for men to also receive a more typical engagement ring, or for men to simply get one ring – a wedding ring – which does contain diamonds or precious stones. The term “wedding band” in present times most commonly means the same thing as “wedding ring.”

Engagement Rings

In modern times, engagement rings are still relatively similar to the old days – though there’s far less family status involved in most cases, and many of the more rigid traditions have certainly been relaxed to one degree or another. By far the most common use of an engagement ring, though, is a groom-to-be presenting a diamond ring or other precious stone to a bride-to-be as a way of asking for her hand in marriage.

Wedding Rings

Wedding rings may differ from couple to couple. Some women will choose to keep their engagement ring as their wedding ring also, and others may receive a second ring – in these cases, most women will move their engagement ring to their right hand (instead of the usual spot on the ring finger of the left hand) for the wedding ceremony, after which they’ll place both rings stacked on their ring finger of the left hand.

In almost all cases, if a woman is receiving a specific wedding ring, her groom will also receive a matching wedding ring. Of course, as we noted, modern times mean more creativity and less attachment to tradition – some couples choose to purchase and wear wedding jewelry in their own unique ways.

Now that you know all you need to know about wedding jewelry, you can look for that perfect ring for your partner with the utmost confidence. Our expert sales staff at AAA Jewelers is here to assist you along the way.