Engraving Ideas: Personalized Rings and Things

Engraved clocks are perhaps not as popular as they used to be, but this actually puts them in the unique gift category. Clocks are intrinsically useful, you can find one in almost every room, so there is never any need to fear that the recipient of the gift “already has one.” Of course, they do! But you can give them something better! To make and engraved clock even more special and definitely a great conversation piece consider staying away from the usual “To Bob from Mary” style of engraving. The options you have for a very classy engraving actually come from the world of sundials – perhaps the most ancient of all time-keeping devices. As you will see these suggestions will also work flawlessly for a watch, but the task of choosing the right watch for someone is a lot more complicated than finding a clock that person might like. Keep that in mind, especially if it seems to you that some of these suggestions sound too morbid.

So, for centuries, sundials were engraved with various quotes of wisdom. The connection between time and eternity, mundane and heavenly was thus recognized. In fact, many such engravings display influences of specific schools of philosophy! Many of these inscriptions refer to the sun, as the source of the sundial’s ability to keep time, but there are many that are more general and applicable:

AGE QUOD AGIS – Do what you are doing

ALIIS INSERVIENDO CONSUMOR – By serving others, I am worn away Note that although originally a sundial inscription, this phrase actually makes a lot more sense for a clock mechanism, it also indicates a particular philosophy of life.

ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS – Art lasts, life is short

ASPICE ET ABI – Look (at me) and pass on

DEO FAVENTE – With God’s favor

DEUS ADEST LABORANTIBUS – God favors the diligent

DIES DIEM TRUDIT – Each day forces out another day

DISCE DIES NUMERARE TUOS – Learn to value your days

DUM SPECTAS FUGIO – I flee even as you observe me

EX HOC MOMENTO PENDET AETERNITAS – Eternity is hinged upon this moment

FESTINA LENTE – Make haste slowly There is actually a company called Festina that makes clocks and watches. In my opinion, only the complete quote makes sense. Who would want a clock that is too fast? The phrase indicates a perfect balance that must be achieved in a clock and in life.

HINC VIVERE DISCE – Learn to live by this example

HORA PARS VITAE – Every hour is a part of life

ITA VITA – Thus (passes) life

LABOR IPSE VOLUPTAS – Labor contains pleasure

NE QUID PEREAT – Let nothing be lost

NON NOBIS NATI SUMUS – We are not born for ourselves

NON REDIBO – I shall not return

NOSCE TEIPSUM – Know thyself

OMNIA FALCE METIT TEMPUS – Time reaps everything with its sickle

OMNIA FERT AETAS – Time brings all things

POST TENEBRAS SPERO LUCEM – I hope for light after darkness

QUID CELERIUS TEMPORE? – What is swifter than time?

SAPIENTIS EST NUMERARE – It is the wise who count

SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI – Thus passes the glory of this world

ULTIMA DECIDET – The last one decides

UMBRA DEI – The shadow of God

VERITAS TEMPORIS FILIA – Truth is the daughter of time

VIGILATE & ORATE, TEMPUS FUGIT – Be vigilant and pray, for the time hastes away

The phrase Spes In Deo ("Hope In God"), as well as its variant In Deo Spes are popular inscriptions found on ecclesiastical rings. Here I have a visualization of a modern gold ring design featuring these words.

Other well-known religious ring inscriptions include:

Deus dona vivas in Deo – May God grant that you may live in God

Vivas in Deo – May you live in God

In Hoc Signo Vinces – In this sign thou shalt win

Laus Deo – Glory be to God

Mater Dei Memento – Mother of God, remember (me).

Prayers and excepts of prayers can also be engraved on rings. Some historical examples of such engravings are:

AVE MARIA

AVE MARIA GRATIA

JESUS, MARIA

JESUS NAZARENUS

MARIA, ANNA, IH’US

Sometimes the prayers are not engraved, but rather represented by small knobs that can be used as beads for repeating Ave . Eleven knobs would signify eleven Aves and one Pater Noster . Such rings were called "decade rings", the term which was occasionally used in a corrupted form of "dicket rings".

The Greek letters Alpha and Omega are also often used in Christian ring designs, as well as Chi and Rho.

“True love waits” silver purity ring

“True Love Waits” is the most common and popular inscription on purity rings. Curiously, this phrase does not have a direct correlation with any Bible verse (which is not a problem per se). This makes it more difficult to deal with common request to translate the words “True Love waits” into Latin (something one might wish to do for a personalized purity ring).

First of all, the Latin nouns that denote “love” have many undesirable connotations, some of them quite distant from the idea of purity. “Amor”, seemingly the most obvious candidate, very often specifically means “sexual love” – not exactly proper for a ring that promotes abstinence. Conversely, he sense of Love in “True Love Waits” is more encompassing and contains sexual love only as a component that is supposed to be fully revealed when the time is right. However, amor is still the most widely used word for love. At its core it has the proper meaning. Ancient Christian sources use “amor verus” (true love) a number of times. So, I suppose, amor is OK as a term on a purity pledge ring.

Secondly, it is not easy to find a suitable word for “wait” in Latin. S.H. Taylor’s translation of Doederlein’s dictionary of Latin synonyms comments on this: “For the German distinction between warten and harren , the former denoting calm, passionless waiting for, the latter, eager, impatient longing for, the Latins have no corresponding synonyms. I tried several different words: exspectat, moratur, manet, cunctatur. Exspectat is probably best, especially taking into consideration this verse from the Vulgate:

beatus qui expectat et pervenit ad dies mille trecentos triginta quinque

Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
(Dan 12:12)

So, after long deliberations I decided to suggest this translation:

Amor verus expectat

Nevertheless, this is one case when I would encourage people to use English, instead of Latin. Every seminary student knows that Greek has many words that mean “love”. Well, if English has one word with just the right mixture of connotations, why not use English? I don’t think that the phrase “True love waits” is in any danger of being misunderstood. If Latin is a must, why not go with:

iuvenilia autem desideria fuge sectare vero iustitiam fidem caritatem pacem cum his qui invocant Dominum de corde puro

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

(2 Tim 2:22)

Also, there is a wonderful Classical quote:

Quos amor verus tenuit, tenebit – True love will hold on to those whom it has held. (Seneca)

The need for “waiting” can be seen as implied here.

Apart from “True love waits” people often choose these English inscriptions for their purity rings:

Purity

Pure

Pure before God

Faith

When You Have Faith, Anything is Possible

I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine.

Jesus

Chaste

Chastity (Purity rings are also sometimes referred to as chastity rings)

You can also ad the person’s name of the personalized purity ring, but as far as I can tell this is not a widely used practice. The reason for this is partially in the fact that some purity rings are distributed through special events and programs that promote chastity.

For promise rings see also:

White Gold Promise Ring – Meaning and Significance

Men’s Promise Rings: Simple, Discreet, Meaningful

Promise Rings: History and Meaning

The fact that Martin Luther was after all a Renaissance man often goes unnoticed behind the display of his religious fervor. A fine testament to his interest for every detail of Creation, as well as appreciation for artistry and ingenuity can be found in Luther’s betrothment and marriage rings. The unbelievable complexity of these engraved creations should be marked by everyone who is trying to come up with a creative idea for a wedding ring!

William Jones book on ring lore has a wonderful account of these antique rings:

Mr. H. Noel Humphreys, an eminent authority on these subjects, states (Intellectual Observer , February 1862): ‘The betrothment-ring of Luther, which belonged to a family at Leipsic as late as 1817, and is doubtless still preserved with the greatest care as a national relic of great interest, is composed of an intricate device of gold-work set with a ruby, the emblem of exalted love. The gold devices represent all the symbols of the “Passion.” In the center is the crucified Savior : on one side the spear, with which the side was pierced, and the rod of reeds of the flagellation. On the other is a leaf of hyssop. Beneath are the dies with which the soldiers cast lots for the garment without seam, and below are the three nails. At the back may be distinguished the inside of the ladder, and other symbols connected with the last act of the Atonement; the whole so grouped as to make a large cross, surmounted by the ruby, the most salient feature of the device. On the inside of the ring the inscriptions are still perfect. They contain the names of the betrothed pair, and the date of the wedding-day in German, “der 13 Junij 1525.” This was the ring presented to the wife at the betrothal, and worn by her after the marriage.

The marriage-ring worn by Luther after his marriage was still more intricate in its structure. It is an ingeniously contrived double-ring, every intricacy of structure having its point and meaning. In the first place, though the double-ring can be divided, so as to form two complete rings, yet they cannot be separated from each other, as the one passing through the other causes them to remain permanently interlaced, as an emblem of the marriage vow, though still forming two perfect rings; illustrating also the motto engraved within them, “Was Got zussamen fü get soll Kein Mensch Scheiden ” — What God doth join no man shall part. On the one hoop is a diamond, the emblem of power, duration, and fidelity; and on the inside of its raised mounting, which, when joined to the other hoop, will be concealed, are the initials of Martin Luther, followed by a D., marking his academic title. On the corresponding surface of the mounting of the gem of the other hoop are the initials of his wife, Catherine von Bora, which, on the closing of the rings, necessarily lies close to those of Luther. The gem in this side of the ring is a ruby, the emblem of exalted love ; so that the names of Catherine and Luther are closely united, when the rings are closed, beneath the emblems of exalted love, power, duration, and fidelity. There can be but little doubt that these curious and interesting rings were designed by the celebrated painter and goldsmith, Lucas Cranach, and possibly wrought with his own hand, the marriage of his friend Luther being a special occasion which he doubtless wished to honor with every
attention. Lucas was, indeed, one of the three select friends whom Luther took to witness his betrothal; the others being Dr. Bugenhagen, town preacher of Wittenberg, and the lawyer Assel, who all accompanied him to Reichenbach’s house, where Catherine resided.’

Double-rings are well known in various cultures. In Japan, double-rings are know as a variation of hanayama puzzles. According to one seller of these Japanese rings (who incidentally brings up Luther’s name), “It is rumored to prove as evidence of its wearer’s adultery…when it comes apart into pieces.” This may or may not be a very strong selling point, but the notion is curious. Caveat emptor!

Intaglio (Italian for “carving”), as a term in jewelry refers to incised (negative) engravings, typically used to create seals and signets. Although the demand for signets that can be conveniently used to seal letters has decreased drastically intaglio designs are still quite popular as decorative elements. Intaglio rings are excellent collectors’ items. It must be noted that very often intaglio designs are produced without lettering. This makes their reversed character less obvious, but they can still be properly called intaglio rings.