Why Promise Rings For Couples more common?
It's so common to see brides flashing her engagement ring on Instagram that we barely consider why men do not have an engagement ring to display, too. Why is this? There are numerous historical, social, and even legal reasons that women wear engagement rings but their fiances don't. Some of these reasons are interesting and others can be quite difficult to accept in today's world. This article will examine the history of CoupleSet engagement ring and the current trends that affect how couples choose to propose. We'll also examine why there aren't more "mangagement” rings.
What You Need to Know
Historically, engagement rings upheld gender-based beliefs that women "belonged" to men once they got engaged. As freer members of society, men didn't need to wear them.
In the early 1900s, men gave engagement rings as "collateral" in case they decided to end the engagement and ruined the reputation of the bride-to be.
As gender norms change the engagement rings of men are becoming more sought-after. Many people choose to wear them to show a sense of equality in their relationship.
Why Women Wear Engagement Rings (and Men Don't)
Due to outdated gender roles men aren't wearing engagement rings.
In the past, men would present engagement rings to women in order to show that they were "taken" by them or that they "belonged" to him. This was sometimes taken literally (in certain cultures, women are seen as submissive). Men were not viewed as commodities, therefore they didn't require rings to symbolize their marriage. This tradition has been in place for centuries.
The rings were also used as a collateral in the event that the groom failed to keep his promise to marry the bride. This would have damaged her reputation and decreased her chances of getting married again.
The Romans were the first to present rings to brides to symbolize that they were "spoken-for" or "off-the-market" (terms are still used today metaphorically).
Women kept engagement rings in the 20th century in the beginning of the century as "insurance."
In the early 1900s, the law in America codified the idea that a woman could keep her ring in case her husband-to-be broke the contract. The "Breach of Promise to Marry" law of 1945 allowed women to sue men who "broke their contract" and retain the costly diamond ring as compensation. The law was not repealed officially however, today the majority of states in the US have either banned the law or do not enforce it.
While this law might sound like something that is good however, its reasoning is founded on misogyny. In the past, women were expected to be virgins on their wedding day, however being engaged allowed couples to take part in premarital sexual sex (as an unspoken exception to the rule). If the man was unable to keep the engagement, the woman was seen by society as insufficient for marriage.
Engagement rings were not as popular among men at this time since women didn't need "collateral." Men's ability to get married later was not contingent on whether or not they'd been engaged or had sex before.
Rings for women are a very popular gift because of the slogan "A diamond is a diamond for life".
In 1947, the De Beers diamond company used this slogan to link diamonds with the "foreverness" of marriage. Diamonds began to become more popular and accessible to Americans after they opened new mines, featured movie stars and promoted. Men began choosing engagement rings made of diamonds to prove they were serious about the "forever" part (and that they wouldn't end the engagement and face legal action).
De Beers' success in marketing and the attitudes of the public and the law regarding engagement in the era have led to the classic engagement ring that people think of when they think of engagement rings.
De Beers advertised diamond rings for men, but the idea was never really popular.
De Beers didn't come up with diamond engagement rings. Archduke Maximillian of Austria set the trend in European nobles when he ordered one for his fiancee Mary of Burgundy in 1477.
Popular Engagement Ring Styles for Men
Classic bands
A sleek, simple gold or silver band without any ornaments or stones is a timeless yet modern design. They will never go out of fashion and look like men's wedding rings, too. The bands are available in a variety of metals, shades and thicknesses.
Simple bands may have inscriptions on the inside, an inscription or small stones on the outside, or one rectangular-cut, flat side to draw attention (similar to an engraved the ring).
Minimalist designs
The minimalist jewelry has a more masculine look and feel, which makes these designs simple choices for a no-frills kind of guy. Many minimalist rings feature a metal band with just one small, square or rectangular-cut stone (usually a diamond) which is typically encased in the band (rather than being supported by prongs).
Certain designs don't feature stones, but instead utilize simple, clean lines and patterns around the band to create visual interest.
Statement rings
Who says that an engagement ring for a man has to be slender and elegant? Statement jewelry can be created using any type of metal band, in any color, size or style, depending on the style and preference of the wearer. Instead of the traditional diamonds, these rings also sport more colourful stones like sapphires rubies, emeralds, and more (some even blend multiple colors, cuts, and types of gemstones).