Engraving Ideas: Personalized Rings and Things

If you are looking for a completely new approach to ring engravings, how about runic quotes in Old Norse.

Here is the link:

Runic Love Quotes

All you need to find is a service that makes ring engravings from image files (jpg etc). I know for fact that there are many websites that do exactly that. Then you can surprise you beautiful Norwegian girldfriend with a ring inscription that she may not be able to read, but which will definitely warm up her cold Nordic heart.

There is apparently quite a large selection of rings that have Roman numerals engraved on them. I am presently at a loss regarding the meaning and significance of this engraved message. As one seller of Roman numeral rings quite  simple-mindedly acknowledged: “Don’t worry about trying to figure out what roman numerals are on this ring, just trust us when we tell you they look cool.”

Still, what does this mean? This can represent the idea of time (the numerals are I-XII), combined with the idea of eternity (a very persistant symbolic interpretation of a ring). 12, of course, is also the number of apostles, but I do not see much religious significance in this design. There may be other forms of numerology in place here. Some of the less insane sounding interpretations are:

• Twelve is the number of something that is complete and forms a whole, a perfect and harmonious unit. In  ancient civilizations, this number corresponds to the idea of plenitude, completion and integrity of a thing.
• Number 12 is a symbol of material and spiritual food, because of the 12 breads which Jesus Christ broke at the Last Supper, Himself being the Bread of Life.
• 12 symbolizes power and the Good, and governs both space and time, that is to say the operation of the Cosmos, hence its designation as a “cosmic number”. http://www.ridingthebeast.com/numbers/nu12.php)

See also:

Roman Numerals: Charts, Tips, History

This continues the theme of unique wedding bands for guys who ordinarily would not be caught dead wearing any sort of jewelry. Black is an unusual color for a wedding ring (or any ring, for that matter). It is, however, a color that can be made to look very stylish and attractive. Titanium itself is becoming a very valid choice for wedding rings, as in this Black Satin Finish Wedding Ring.
Wikipedia has this to say about titanium and its use in jewelry making: “Because of its durability, titanium has become more popular for designer jewelry in recent years, whereas until recently the metal was too difficult to work into the intricate shapes with the precision necessary for fine jewelry. Today, titanium rings — including engagement rings and wedding bands — are one of the fastest growing segments of the titanium jewelry market,in part due to the ability of the metal to be grooved, inlaid, and carved without losing strength. Some titanium jewelry also incorporates diamonds or other gemstones, typically in close settings such as bezels, flush, or tension designs. Its inertness again makes it a good choice for those with allergies or those who will be wearing the jewelry in environments such as swimming pools.”

This should explain well enough that the novelty of titanium as a preferred material for wedding rings is largely due to the metal’s qualities. Prior to the recent years titanium simply was to difficult to deal with in consumer products. But the same exact qualities have now made titanium a desirable metal when it comes to the piece of jewelry that most people (even men) wear everyday. Titanium is durable, scratch-resistant and it can be just as attractive as gold or platinum.

Some people have their hearts set on wearing unique rings. When it comes to color, black is an increasingly popular choice. While a black titanium ring might have better quality and status associated with it, have a look at this stainless steel ring. It features 12 characters that symbolize animals of the Chinese Zodiac. A more traditional version (black on white steel) is also available.

No, I am not talking about the wedding ring engravings that spell out the couple’s initials and birthdays or the date of the wedding. Not even the ones that have wedding vows engraved on them or feature memorable quotes, mottos and mantras - what have you. I am talking about all of the above, but from a very different perspective.

In an interview with The Star, John Thompson, director of Birks on Bloor St. W., says that has seen a lot of shy and nervous soon-to-be newlyweds. “I find people take the buying of the wedding bands very seriously,” he says. “The trend now is for something quite plain, and often people have the date and their initials engraved inside – which indicates to me that they intend to wear it a long time, they are taking it seriously, and they want something that they won’t get tired of.”

He added that men are somewhat hesitant about wearing a wedding band, not because of lack of commitment but simply because they’ve never worn a ring before. “A lot of men say it feels kind of strange, and it is their first and only piece of `jewellery.’” (I highlighted the most important parts)

In my opinion, these are very important sociological observations. Most interestingly, if you choose to engrave your wedding rings you are sending a signal to everybody, including your future spouse! The signal that says, “This is a serious thing. We will wear these rings for a long-long time.” The psychological motives behind this may be simple. By creating special memories and unique shared experiences people tend to become closer to each other. Traditionally this is meant to be achieved by having an expensive wedding with many guests. True, this is a sure way to create memories and family ties. We all know, of course, that expensive weddings do not insure against divorces any better than modest ceremonies. Why would a wedding ring engraving create any hopes for a better married life?

As we have already noted, when couples choose to have their rings engraved they display the strength of their commitment. The actual engraved rings reinforce their commitment. While still a part of the wedding ceremony held in public (expensive of not), the traditional exchanging of the rings becomes more intimate and meaningful for the bride and the groom. The memories associated with engraved wedding rings are more personal and enduring than the recollections of a public event that is a wedding. And that’s the reason why engraving your wedding bands has the potential to add lasting value to a relationship.

Now, of course, if you look from this perspective, choosing an inscription for your wedding rings becomes an even more serious task. Wouldn’t it seem that the more personal the message on the wedding rings, the better?

And, speaking of unique and unusual engravings on wedding rings, how does “Lobster” sound to you?