Wedding rings
WEDDING RINGS
Symbol of the Promise of Loyalty par excellence Over the centuries, traditions and beliefs have alternated around this object. Let's start with a simple question: why is it called a wedding ring? The origin of the name comes from the Latin term fides or fidelity. Fides was also the Roman goddess who represented the personification of loyalty, the underlying foundation of marriage.
The ancient Egyptians and the ancient Romans used to adorn their fingers with rings to signal their social status and it seems that the tradition of wearing the wedding ring was born from this custom. What does wedding ring mean? The word ring derives from anulus which in Latin means "circle" and from which the word "annular" also derives. Therefore, the wedding ring is also linked to the symbolism of the circle which refers to the closing of a contract or bond .
In pagan wedding ceremonies it was customary to draw a circle on the ground around the bride and groom as a sign of good luck. In Roman times that circle became the annulus probulus, an engagement ring that first men and then also women wore as a vinculum to the promise of marriage .
The wedding ring also appears in medieval traditions. The future bride braided one of her hairs into a diamond ring and kept it on her heart for nine days before giving it to her groom on the occasion of the wedding. It was from the 17th century that the custom of wearing the ring on the wedding day and keeping it on the finger for life became established, while it was only in the 18th century that the custom of engraving inside the wedding ring began to spread. wedding the names of the spouses and the date of the wedding. The wedding ring has a meaning that has its roots in antiquity, but the curiosities about it are not over yet.
WHY ARE WEDDING RINGS MADE OF GOLD?
The ancient Egyptians and Romans preferred to make rings in iron or silver, they were rarely made in gold. We owe the use of gold wedding rings to a Christian tradition: in Christianity, in fact, gold was considered a resistant material that lasted over time and therefore a symbol of eternity also used in decorations and ecclesiastical objects.
WHY IS IT WORN ON THE RING FINGER OF THE LEFT HAND?
The exchange of wedding rings is the solemn gesture performed by two spouses in the wedding rite. Being such an important symbol, the reason why they are worn on the ring finger of the left hand is also no coincidence. There are various theories about it, but they all agree in stating that the wedding ring should be worn on the fourth finger, called the ring finger precisely because it houses the ring par excellence, symbol of fidelity.
According to an ancient Chinese legend there is a very specific meaning for all the fingers of the hand and each finger corresponds to a loved one: the ring finger represents the partner, the thumb the parents, the index finger is attributed to brothers and sisters , the middle finger to ourselves and the little finger to our children.
The ancient Egyptians maintained that the wedding ring should be worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because from there runs a small vein called “ vena amoris ” (vein of love) which goes up the arm towards the heart.
According to Christian tradition, the wedding ring is worn on the ring finger because the officiant during the wedding ceremony touches the first three fingers, formulating the blessing phrase "in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit" and then puts the ring on the fourth finger.
From an anatomical point of view , it is even thought that the ring finger is the first finger to form in the fetus during pregnancy. However, if you think about the practical side, there could also be a much less sentimental explanation, namely that the wedding ring goes on the left hand because it is the one that is commonly used the least, so you avoid ruining the ring by doing daily chores (a unless, of course, you are left-handed!)
However, there is a small note to be made: in some cultures it is not always worn on the ring finger of the left hand. In fact, the wedding ring on the right hand , always on the ring finger, is worn in some northern European countries and in certain regions of Spain. In England it was customary to wear the wedding ring on the thumb.
CURIOSITY: ETIQUETTE
Etiquette requires that wedding rings be paid for by the groom or the groomsmen. The couple freely chooses the material, shape and engraving to place inside the rings based on their tastes. Superstition dictates that the wedding rings are not purchased on the same day as the engagement ring as it would be a bad omen.
Nowadays, in addition to the increasingly trendy wedding ring in white gold, you can find the classic ones in yellow gold, the more original ones in rose gold, platinum and the brand new champagne gold. The bride's wedding ring can even be enriched with a diamond. There are various types, based on the model and the technique with which they are made. The most common are the classic wedding ring (round and smooth) and the brogue (thinner and more rounded).
WEDDING RING MODELS
There are many varieties, but those listed below are the main ones: 
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FRANCESINA wedding ring: it is thin, flat on the inside and slightly rounded on the outside, many women like it because it can be combined with other rings, such as diamond ones for example. Men often prefer it because they are not used to wearing rings and this is more comfortable. It varies from 3 to 5 gr.
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CLASSIC or LOMBARD wedding ring: it is the yellow gold ring, in recent years also made in white and red, it varies from 3 to 10 grams. The shape is rounded on the outside and flat on the inside. Traditional wedding ring that can be embellished with diamonds
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MANTOVANA wedding ring: it is very similar to the classic one but wider and flatter. It has a width of approximately 6 millimetres, is flat on the inside and on the outside it has a smaller curve than the classic one which is rounded on the outside. It varies from 5 to 8 g.