A Symbol of Eternal Love: The Eternity Ring

Symbolism of Love

Love between two people is often symbolised by special pieces of jewellery, more often than not, rings. Firstly, an engagement ring is given when proposing to the one you love. It represents an agreement to future marriage. Secondly, wedding rings are exchanged to signify the commitment, love and faithfulness a couple has for each other. Thirdly, an eternity ring is usually given during a happy marriage. This ring is a symbol of endless love shared between a couple. The three rings are usually worn together on the left hand, each representing their own special memory during a couple’s journey together.

History of Eternity Rings

The concept of giving an eternity ring dates back nearly 4000 years to the Ancient Egyptians as a token of love from husband to wife. Rings were used to represent eternal love between a couple rather than celebrating a special occasion. Ever since they were first introduced, the rings were a round circle of metal and often set with stones along the top or bottom, to this day they remain very similar. 

The Purpose of an Eternity Ring

Whilst there are no rules about when to give somebody an eternity ring, they are commonly given as a wedding anniversary gift to represent 1 or even 10 years of marriage. Traditionally eternity rings were used to represent the 60^th wedding anniversary, also known as the diamond anniversary. However, in more recent years, it has also been known for a wife to receive her eternity ring once she has given birth to a child, another symbol of endless love that the couple share together. An eternity ring, however, can be related to a personal occasion a couple shares together as opposed to any traditional link and represents a love that will last, just like the ring, for an eternity.

Eternity Ring Styles 

Similarly, to both engagement and wedding rings, the eternity ring is a metal band, usually available in platinum, 18ct white, rose or yellow gold. This type of ring is usually set with diamonds however, sapphires, rubies and emeralds can also be used, either alone or with alternating diamonds in-between.

Traditionally, an eternity ring is a metal band set with diamonds all the way around, such as the platinum eternity band shown here. This style of eternity ring is popular because no matter how much the ring spins around the finger, the diamonds are always showing, giving the wearer the ultimate sparkle. Eternity rings can hold a selection of different gemstone cuts such as round brilliant, princess and baguette cut. Depending on individual preference, some would choose the diamond cut set within the eternity ring to be the same diamond cut as their engagement ring. This is to ensure that they complement each other well.

Eternity rings are also available as a half gem set band. The half eternity style can be seen as being more practical for the wearer of the ring, making it more resistant to everyday wear and tear. There are also options for the eternity ring to feature just a small selection of stones across the top curve of the ring for more durability and perhaps, a more understated style.

When it comes to selecting an eternity ring, the decision between a full and half set eternity band is always a consideration. As a full eternity features more gemstones than a half, they tend to be more expensive, however they offer more sparkle no matter how much they rotate around the finger. A half eternity ring offers the wearer a substantial amount of sparkle whilst being able to go about day-to-day tasks without the underside of the ring being at risk. A full eternity ring is also not able to be resized due to the gemstones set all the way round the ring. Each member of our dedicated sales teams will be able to guide you through selecting the perfect eternity ring to suit you and your lifestyle.

Eternity rings are available in your choice of metal, gemstone, gemstone cut and carat weight and therefore you have the ability to make yours unique to your style. Marilyn Monroe was gifted an eternity ring from her husband, which featured exquisite baguette cut diamonds around the band.

An eternity ring has the potential to be as unique as you are. If the eternity ring is selected to celebrate the birth of a child, some people choose to feature the gemstone of the child’s birth month within the band. For example, to celebrate the birth of a child in September, the wearer may want to have sapphires featured within the ring. These sapphire stones may be alone or set amongst alternating diamonds. There is also the option to have the stones in alternating cuts around the band of the ring to add extra individuality.

The design possibilities with eternity rings are vast and personal to each individual. Therefore, we would advise contacting one of our showrooms where a dedicated member of our team will be able to guide you through the options available. Our bespoke design service is also an option to consider if you wanted something completely unique or perhaps, if you wanted to recreate a family heirloom into something to commemorate those special moments in your lifetime. 

An Alternative Engagement Ring

As an alternative, it is not uncommon for a man to propose with a gem set band instead of your typical engagement ring. Mel Ferrer broke tradition and proposed to Audrey Hepburn with a set of three bands in yellow gold, rose gold and white gold set with diamonds, offering a unique and individual proposal style.

Wearing a gem set band can be deemed as more suitable to those whose day-to-day lives involve their hands a lot. A single stone engagement ring could be a hazard in the workplace for some, so they may opt for a gem set band instead.

If you are looking to celebrate a special moment with a loved one, contact us here to discuss our selection of eternity rings, or alternatively visit our dedicated bespoke design page here to explore the design opportunities.