The idea of wedding rings for men is a relatively contemporary occurrence. Typically, women would be given promise, pre-engagement, or engagement rings as part of the dowry price her finace conferred on her family. However, with dowries as out-of-fashion as corsets, wedding rings no longer signify the financial exchange of marriage – they signify love and commitment. Thus, men too wear wedding rings, and, increasingly, promise and pre-engagement rings too.
Adding to the appeal of promise rings for men is the fact that, in contrast to previous decades, men are now embracing jewelry as a fashion option. Jewelry with a decidedly rugged look, such as titanium silver and platinum materials, square shapes, solid weights and sharp edges are popular among celebrities, musicians, and the actors that strut the red carpet every awards season. Promise rings for men are the natural next step in the evolution of men’s jewelry.
The process of dating and pre-engagement is more flexible than ever, and promise and pre-engagement rings are no exception. While most couples exchange promise rings as a way of expressing their decision to eventually get married, the tradition of promise rings is open to creativity. For some, a promise ring might signify a decision to remain celibate before they get married or engaged. These promise rings are also sometimes called “purity” rings. Other couples exchange promise rings when they decide to live together before getting married, to mark the transition from dating to being a co-habiting couple.
There is a lot of variation in how promise rings are worn. While many women wear their promise rings on their left hand ring fingers, like an engagement ring, it is also popular to sport a promise ring or pre-engagement ring on the ring finger of the right hand, to avoid confusion. While modern promise rings are most often given to women by their male partners, more men than ever are wearing promise rings as well! A rising number of couples trade “pair” promise rings that match, similar to wedding bands. Some popular styles for modern promise rings include sterling silver, three small diamonds, and heart shaped stone designs. Many couples get matching promise rings that are engraved with a design of both of their names, or exchange promise rings with an engraved saying that is meaningful to them both.
When a couple decides to exchange promise rings, they many choose to get matching promise rings, they may get each choose a ring for the other separately, the man can get a promise ring for the woman, or the woman can choose one for the man! Whatever she chooses, she will do wise to keep her boyfriend’s personal taste in mind. Many men now enjoy a bit of flash and sparkle in their daily look. Look for a promise ring that has a mix of masculine and glamourous – a solid-weight ring with square edges and a series of inlaid diamonds looks rugged while still conveying the luxury and delicacy of the loving sentiment. A promise ring set with a man’s birthstone, or a mix of his and his girlfriend’s birthstones, also has a charming personal touch.
