Eternity Rings

Eternity rings rhave been popular for a long time especially in the West. This practice has been in the world for centuries. People have always been exchanging rings which are symbolic of a sugnificant friendship or relationship for the last four thousand years. The first people to make and wear rings are the Ancient Egyptians. Normally these rings are comprised of a continuous circle of metal embedded with precious or other kinds of stones. This can be halfway of all the way around. In the early days of these rings, the symbolism was always unbraided love and friendship. Little has changed since then and many still exchange etenity rings as a show of undying love and friendship commitment. The round unbroken circle meant that the two parties had commited themselves to a friendship or relationship which cannot be broken. In essense, the friends were tying themselves to each other for life.

Today, these rings are exchanged in a number of occasions. The first one is friendship. While boys or men do exchange rings in one way or another, these types of rings are the forte of women or girls. It is not uncommon for girls especially students who are graduating to exchange rings as a sign that even if they are going separate ways they would always be friends.

Another occasion when rings are exchanged is during engagement. One of the most memorable moments of one's life is when they either propose to someone of the opposite sex or are proposed to by someone of the opposite sex. Upon agreeing to be engaged to the person, the couple then exchanges rings. It is common practice for the man to be the one providing the ring and the woman the one receiving.

Then there is off course the ultimate occasion, the wedding. While in engagement it is the man who buys and gives the eternity ring, when it comes to the wedding both couple do give rings. While a ring can be made up of gold, diamond, silver, bronze, ivory and even rubies and other precious stones, many are the opinion that it is the thought that counts. Nevertheless, people, even those with meagre incomes, go to great lengths to purchase wedding rings worth thousands of dollars in the belief that the more expensive the band the more it serves to express the person's love for the other.

Rings are also exchanged between parents and their children. This is a practice that can be seen in even in biblical days. While the bond that exists between parents and their children is perhaps unbreakable, some parents exchange riings with their children as a symbol. This is especially common when there is an impending separation especially by distance. Children going off to war also buy rings for their parents and vice versa. There are also those who exchange rings with those that are incarcerated. This is a powerful symbol although some prison facilities do not allow ring especially metalic ones.