What is a Promise Ring?
What is a Promise Ring?
Since the late Middle Ages, exchanging a ring with your lover has been a popular way to tell the world and your beloved just how important the relationship is to you. After all, a ring symbolizes a lot of things, including commitment and eternity.The most well-known of these rings are engagement rings and wedding rings, but there's another type as well: a promise ring.
But what is a promise ring? Who wears them and who buys them? What finger should you wear them on? Read this helpful guide to find out everything you need to know about popular promise rings.
What do Promise Rings Mean?
As the name implies, a promise ring represents a promise and a symbol of commitment between a couple. Usually this promise is related to the relationship. It's a way of showing devotion and openly declaring your love and dedication to the relationship.
Sometimes, a promise ring is referred to as a pre-engagement ring. For couples that don't have plans for marriage yet, a promise ring can be a symbol of their intention to one day get married.
If there is some obstacle to marriage, like geographic distance or a financial obstacle (or even age if a couple is very young), a promise ring can show a couple's commitment and act as a placeholder for an engagement ring. Alternatively, if a couple never plans to marry but wants to commit to each other, they might use the term "promise rings" instead of wedding bands.
The beauty of a promise ring is that a couple's promise to each other is as unique as they are. A promise ring can symbolize whatever the couple chooses, so that it's meaningful and personal to them. It can even symbolize a promise between friends who are platonic.
As the name implies, a promise ring represents a promise and a symbol of commitment between a couple. Usually this promise is related to the relationship. It's a way of showing devotion and openly declaring your love and dedication to the relationship.
Sometimes, a promise ring is referred to as a pre-engagement ring. For couples that don't have plans for marriage yet, a promise ring can be a symbol of their intention to one day get married.
If there is some obstacle to marriage, like geographic distance or a financial obstacle (or even age if a couple is very young), a promise ring can show a couple's commitment and act as a placeholder for an engagement ring. Alternatively, if a couple never plans to marry but wants to commit to each other, they might use the term "promise rings" instead of wedding bands.
The beauty of a promise ring is that a couple's promise to each other is as unique as they are. A promise ring can symbolize whatever the couple chooses, so that it's meaningful and personal to them. It can even symbolize a promise between friends who are platonic.
Are There Promise Rings for Men?
Anyone can wear a promise ring, regardless of gender. Some couples exchange matching or coordinating rings. Other times, one partner will give the other a promise ring. Like the meaning of the ring itself, every couple can decide who should wear a promise ring.
While traditionally men give their female partners a ring as a sign of their love and devotion, in recent years more men have begun wearing promise rings as well.
When a couple plans to get married one day, they might exchange inexpensive promise rings before getting engaged, and then use those rings later on as back-up rings for traveling.
Anyone can wear a promise ring, regardless of gender. Some couples exchange matching or coordinating rings. Other times, one partner will give the other a promise ring. Like the meaning of the ring itself, every couple can decide who should wear a promise ring.
While traditionally men give their female partners a ring as a sign of their love and devotion, in recent years more men have begun wearing promise rings as well.
When a couple plans to get married one day, they might exchange inexpensive promise rings before getting engaged, and then use those rings later on as back-up rings for traveling.
Anyone can wear a promise ring, regardless of gender. Some couples exchange matching or coordinating rings. Other times, one partner will give the other a promise ring. Like the meaning of the ring itself, every couple can decide who should wear a promise ring.
While traditionally men give their female partners a ring as a sign of their love and devotion, in recent years more men have begun wearing promise rings as well.
When a couple plans to get married one day, they might exchange inexpensive promise rings before getting engaged, and then use those rings later on as back-up rings for traveling.
What Finger Should You Wear a Promise Ring?
Like the promise ring meaning, the finger you choose to wear your ring on is flexible. Depending on a couple's future plans, they may want to wear promise rings on their left ring finger as a placeholder for wedding bands or engagement rings.
The Romans started the tradition of wearing their wedding rings on the ring finger of the left hand because that finger has a vein that leads straight to the heart. There is a lot of meaning and symbolism to wearing any type of commitment ring on your left ring finger. However, this is not the end all be all and in some traditions, it is even common to wear a ring on your right ring finger to symbolize that you are in a committed relationship, but not engaged yet.
Because a promise ring symbolizes love, the left ring finger is a great finger to wear it on. After marriage, some couples will move their promise rings to the opposite hand, or wear them on a chain as a necklace.
Like the promise ring meaning, the finger you choose to wear your ring on is flexible. Depending on a couple's future plans, they may want to wear promise rings on their left ring finger as a placeholder for wedding bands or engagement rings.
The Romans started the tradition of wearing their wedding rings on the ring finger of the left hand because that finger has a vein that leads straight to the heart. There is a lot of meaning and symbolism to wearing any type of commitment ring on your left ring finger. However, this is not the end all be all and in some traditions, it is even common to wear a ring on your right ring finger to symbolize that you are in a committed relationship, but not engaged yet.
Because a promise ring symbolizes love, the left ring finger is a great finger to wear it on. After marriage, some couples will move their promise rings to the opposite hand, or wear them on a chain as a necklace.
How Much Should You Spend on a Promise Ring?
Most promise rings are used as a precursor to engagement and marriage. Instead of costing a few thousand dollars like the average engagement ring, you shouldn't be expected to spend very much on promise rings. How much you should spend on a promise ring for your partner will depend on many things including income, lifestyle, and how important it is to you. These factors will be different for each and every person and it is totally okay to spend more or less than the average person! Typically, the average couple spends under $400 on a promise ring but it could be even less based on the discussed factors.
What do Promise Rings Look Like?
The best promise ring is a ring that you and your partner both love. However, promise rings tend to be simpler and more minimalist than an engagement ring.
Just because they are simple doesn't mean they have to be made with cheap materials, though. You want the ring to last as long as you promise to love your partner. You'll want to make sure the jeweler you commission your promise rings from uses luxury grade materials.
At Patrick Adair Designs, you are guaranteed to find something one-of-a-kind that fits your unique partnership. We offer a variety of promise ring styles and materials in a range of prices. If you are on a budget, consider our minimalist Pure Carbon Fiber Ring. If you are looking for something more stylish that is still affordable, check out our Glowstone Rings.
The best promise ring is a ring that you and your partner both love. However, promise rings tend to be simpler and more minimalist than an engagement ring.
Just because they are simple doesn't mean they have to be made with cheap materials, though. You want the ring to last as long as you promise to love your partner. You'll want to make sure the jeweler you commission your promise rings from uses luxury grade materials.
At Patrick Adair Designs, you are guaranteed to find something one-of-a-kind that fits your unique partnership. We offer a variety of promise ring styles and materials in a range of prices. If you are on a budget, consider our minimalist Pure Carbon Fiber Ring. If you are looking for something more stylish that is still affordable, check out our Glowstone Rings.
How do You Give Someone a Promise Ring?
Because promise rings and engagement rings can look very similar, the way you give someone a promise ring should be as different from a marriage proposal as possible. You don't want to spoil a tender moment in your relationship by unintentionally leading your partner to believe you're about to propose.
When you're ready to buy a promise ring, you should also be ready to have a serious discussion about your relationship with your partner.
A good way to avoid any confusion is to have a conversation with your partner about the future of your relationship as you present the ring. You shouldn't kneel, and you should be clear that you're discussing a promise ring and not a marriage proposal.
Another great way to approach it is to pick out the rings together, and exchange them as a couple. You can decide on a design together which makes your rings as special and unique as your relationship. You can even work with a jeweler to make custom rings that no one else in the world will have.