Everything You Need to Know About Promise Rings

Promise rings serve as a symbol of commitment before a formal engagement. They are often confused with purity rings.  Purity rings are symbols of you and your partner’s promise to stay “pure” until marriage.  Promise rings are a way to declare your eternal love and devotion before you begin your journey into marriage.

Why Would I Want a Promise Ring?

To some, it may seem silly to get a promise ring, an engagement ring, and a wedding band, but they are great options for those couples who aren’t quite ready/don’t have the financial stability to get engaged and start preparing for their dream wedding. They allow partners to participate in the tradition of solidifying love and dedication to each other through a beautiful piece of fine jewelry before marriage becomes a practical option.  

“The appeal of the promise ring is derived largely from the many meanings it can represent,” explains Kimberly Kanary, vice president of public relations and social media at Kay Jewelers. “While many couples use the symbol as a way to signify a future engagement, others simply wear the ring as a means of reflecting devotion to one another.”

Promise rings are favorited amongst younger couples, who may want to marry a bit later in life but also want a physical representation of their commitment to their partner. “I often think of promise rings as similar to the mid-century tradition of a guy giving a girl his class ring or pin in high school,” says Elizabeth Woolf-Willis, GG, AJP, marketing coordinator at Simon G. Jewelry. Of course, an elegant diamond ring is more of a substantial gift that comes with more symbolism, but the ideas are similar.

They are also good options for younger people who don’t have the financial stability quite yet to spend big money on the perfect engagement ring but want to demonstrate their commitment to their relationship through a ring. Promise rings tend to range from $500-$2,000, so they can act as a place holder for younger couples who want some ring to symbolize their loyalty and love but haven’t hit their stride quite yet regarding their career.

History of Promise Rings

The tradition of the using a ring to declare your pre-marriage devotion can be traced back to ancient civilizations. This, however, was often out of necessity. Roman law in 2nd Century BC, for instance, required couples to wait a certain period from announcing an intention to marry to the actual ceremony.

According to Brooke Brinkman, vice president of marketing and communications at Simon G. Jewelry, the promise ring itself gained widespread popularity 16th century, when people in England would gift their partner with rings featuring engraved romantic poems. Later, during the Georgian and Victorian eras, couples would sport “Acrostic rings,” which featured gemstones spelling out words of commitment like “regard” and “love.”

Promise Ring Etiquette

Giving a promise ring to your partner doesn’t come with the expectation of getting down on one knee or planning some big romantic gesture. Having said that, the gift should not be taken lightly. Promise rings may not set your intention to get married as an engagement ring does.  However, they are still essential symbols of earnest devotion. Before purchasing your promise ring, make sure you understand that you are making a sort of vow to your partner that will hold a lot of weight.

There aren’t any traditional guidelines regarding what a promise ring should look like. At TwoBirch, we know it shouldn’t matter too much if your engagement ring subscribes to traditional expectations.  The important thing is it functions as a symbol of your true love for your partner.  We believe the same goes for your promise ring. Whether you’re getting one for your partner or matching ones, make sure your promise ring is something you like.

The most significant tradition surrounding engagement ring etiquette is where it’s supposed to be worn. But you can wear your promise ring on whatever finger you like. Some people even wear theirs as a pendant on a necklace chain. It is commonto wear them on the ring finger of the left hand.  The right side is common if they are married.

Non-Romantic Promise Rings

Promise rings are widely used to express loyalty to another person.  Their inherent symbolism of commitment and dedication can serve as a promise to oneself.  Many people that struggle with addiction and substance abuse gift themselves promise rings.  They view it as a way to pledge their devotion to their new clean and healthy life.

No matter what you are pledging commitment to, TwoBirch has you covered. We have a beautiful assortment of promise rings.  They incorporate different fine metals and stones and can satisfy a variety of budgetary needs. You can check them out here.