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