Why aren't Rings For Couples More common?
It's so commonplace to see brides flashing her new engagement ring on Instagram that we rarely think about why men don't have the ring they want to show off also. Why is this? As it turns out, there are a myriad of historical social, political, and legal reasons -- some interesting, and some quite problematic in the present-day world of Simple Matching Bracelets, whereas their husbands don't. In this article, we'll take a look at the history behind engagement rings, as well as the current trends shaping how couples propose to each in order to discover why there aren't any more "mangagement" rings on the market.
What You Should Be Educated About
Historically, engagement rings upheld sexist beliefs that women "belonged" to men once they got engaged. They didn't wear them since they were more affluent members of society.
In the 1900s, males gave engagement rings as "collateral" in the event that they had to break off the engagement, and damaged the reputation of their bride-to-be.
As gender norms change the engagement rings of men are becoming more popular. Men often wear them to show their equality in a relationship.
Why women wear engagement rings (and men don't)
Due to gender stereotypes that are outdated, men don't wear engagement ring.
In the past, men would give engagement rings to women as a visible sign to others that the woman was "taken" or "belonged" to them, sometimes literally (in many cultures, women were viewed as subordinate to men). Since men were not considered a commodity, they did not need rings to prove they were married and the tradition continued for a long time.
The rings also served as a security measure in the event that the future husband backed out of his promise to wed the bride, since it would hurt her reputation as well as the likelihood of getting married in the future.
The Romans were among the first people to present rings to their brides-to be to show they were "spoken for" or "off the market" (terms that still get used in the present day to mean).
In the early 20th century women wore engagement rings to serve as "insurance."
In the early 1900s in America, the idea of keeping the ring as collateral should the husband-to-be broke things off was codified in law. The "Breach of Promise to Marry" Law of 1945 allowed women who "broke the agreement" to take on their husbands for a lawsuit and keep the ring, which was expensive, as compensation. The law was never repealed however, most states in the US have either banned the law or do not enforce it.
While this law may sound like something that is good but its logic is rooted in misogyny. In the past women were expected be virgins on their wedding day, however being engaged allowed couples to be involved in premarital sex (as an unspoken exception to the rule). If the man had a break with the engagement then the woman was judged by society as less suitable for marriage.
Engagement rings were not popular with men at the time, because women didn't require "collateral". Men could get married later, regardless of whether or not they had been engaged or if they'd had sex in the past.
Rings for women are a popular present because of the motto "A diamond is a diamond for life".
In 1947, De Beers diamond company used this slogan to connect diamonds to the "foreverness" of marriage. They also commissioned new mines, and also featured actors in their advertisements making diamonds more affordable and desirable to Americans. Men began choosing diamond engagement rings as a way to show they were serious about "forever".
De Beers' marketing success plus the legal and social attitudes toward engagement at the time resulted in the diamond ring people think of when they picture engagement rings.
De Beers advertised diamond rings for men, but the idea did not really take off.
De Beers didn't come up with diamond engagement rings. Archduke Maximillian the archduke of Austria began the trend of European nobility by ordering one for Mary of Burgundy.
Popular Engagement Ring Styles for Men
Classic bands
A sleek, simple gold or silver band without any stones or decorations is a timeless, yet modern design. They will never go out of fashion and look like wedding rings for men also. Bands come in a variety of colors, metals, and thicknesses that match the wearer's style.
Simple bands could have an inside inscription or an inscription or a small stone on the outside or a flat, rectangular cut side to add visual interest (similarly to a signet ring).
Minimalist designs
Minimalist jewelry is often characterized by more of a masculine appearance and feel, making these simple designs ideal for the casual guy. Many minimalist rings come with a metal band with a single small, rectangular or square-cut gemstone (usually a stone). The stone is typically embedded in the band, rather than being supported by prongs.
Some designs don't have stones, but they use simple, clean lines and patterns to create visual interest around the band.
Statement rings
Who says a man's engagement rings have to be delicate? Statement jewelry can be created from any metal band in any shade, thickness or style, depending on the preferences of the wearer. Instead of traditional diamonds these rings also sport more colourful stones like sapphires rubies, emeralds, and more (some even combine various cuts, colors, and varieties of gems).