| While an engagement ring is worn alone for a | | | | the promise of a deal became more trustworthy, |
| time, it is meant to join a wedding ring one day. | | | | a token was given to seal the deal. Eventually, |
| The traditional wedding ring is gold, which, by | | | | that token became the engagement ring. In |
| default makes the gold engagement ring a | | | | ancient Egypt, married women only wore a pair |
| tradition. Some Marriage traditions go back to | | | | of gold bracelets as jewelry. This became smaller |
| prehistory. The first brides were stolen by their | | | | and worn on a finger instead of a wrist. |
| future husbands and carried off to neighboring | | | | The ancient Greeks wore the gold wedding band |
| villages where they were treated as the property | | | | on the index finger, while Indians preferred the |
| of the men who took them. Eventually, life in | | | | thumb. The Romans believed that a vein ran from |
| ravaging hordes was replaced by life in farming | | | | the ring finger of the left hand directly to the |
| communities and a man's property included cattle | | | | heart. This finger was thought to have great |
| and other animals. | | | | power and became the home for the wedding |
| When the time came to include a wife in the | | | | band. At times, the wedding ring became the gold |
| household, her acquisition was the same as for | | | | engagement ring. In some centuries, the ring was |
| any other living property - the man traded for | | | | first worn on the left hand then switched to the |
| her. Usually this meant offering cows or goats for | | | | right hand for the wedding. Later, that was |
| the daughter of another farmer. In some cultures, | | | | reversed with the gold engagement ring worn on |
| the deal was not finalized until the actual swap of | | | | the right hand and moved to the left hand at the |
| "possessions" in case a better deal is offered. As | | | | wedding service. |