Engraving Ideas: Personalized Rings and Things

Just published a new guide:

Ideas for an Engraved Wedding ring

A few suggestions for picking just the right thing to say on the single object you will cherish forever (if you are lucky).

When it comes to personalizing the Bible it is my belief that it is best done with a verse from the Bible . Psalms 118:105 is a popular choice: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. But not have this verse in Latin? Latin is a traditional language of inscriptions. The original language of this verse is Hebrew, but you may have a more difficult time finding an engraving service capable of reproducing it. Also, Latin is a perfect choice for Catholics. If you cannot read the Vulgate, at least engrave a verse from it!

Lucerna pedibus meis verbum tuum et lumen semitis meis.

William Jones writes in his book “Finger-ring Lore”:

The veneration for a wedding-ring is shown in the instance
of the great lexicographer, Dr. Samuel Johnson.
He writes under date March 28, 1753: ‘I kept this day as the
anniversary of my Letty’s death, with prayers and tears
in the morning. In the evening I prayed for her conditionally,
if it was lawful.’ Her wedding-ring was preserved by
him, as long as he lived, with an affectionate care, in a little
round wooden box, and in the inside of which was a slip of
paper inscribed : ‘ Eheu ! Eliz. Johnson, nupta Jul. 9,
1736 ; mortua, eheu ! Mart. 17, 1752.’

The Latin phrase means: “Alas! Eliz. Johnson, born on Jul.9 1736, died, alas! on March 17, 1752.” Unless my math is failing me Dr. Johnson’s wife expired at a tender age of 16. I am not familiar with conventions of the time regarding marriage. My amazement is therefore primarily caused by the degree of affection that Dr. Johnson had for his wife whom he could not have known for a very long time.

Something tells me that these skateboards are not for riding. Truly, there is some sort of disconnect here between the medium and the subject. Well, I suppose there can be a little bit of controversy at the heart of every great art piece

A British couple found an antique engraved ring (using a metal detector, I believe). The engraving is in French and says: ” Mon Cuer Avez” – Have My Heart. As anyone who ever studied French should notice, this posie ring features a “relaxed” Medieval spelling of the word cœur . I hope that if someone decided to use this exact inscription of a modern ring they would use the proper spelling, unless the general style of the posie was meant to recreate an antique look. I think that this should be one of the rules when choosing an engraving: If there is any possibility of a mistake or misinterpretation one should always strive for the most correct way of spelling or expressing an idea.

An anecdote, somewhat related, came to mind when I read about this. A middle-aged Londoner (from the East End, I believe) was faced with a difficult decision when choosing between two ladies, Anna and Mary, both absolutely lovely and both willing to join the fellow in matrimony. Although not a religious man, this Londoner stumbled into a church and, kneeling down in the pew, asked God for advice on whether he should have Ann or Maria for his wife. When the man got up he was most pleased to see that the Almighty had put the answer right before his eyes: ‘Ave Maria.