The Lore of the Rill s
BY STEPHANIE TUCKER
f you're planning the big I Do and
shopping for those bands of gold,
you're joining a tradition rooted in
ancient Roman property rights.
Back at least as far as 509 BC, the
signet ring, precursor to today's wed-
ding band, became an integral part of mar-
riage in Roman society. Because there were
no locks and keys, the ancient Romans kept
valuables in cases sealed with wax and im-
printed with their personal seal, or signet.
These early signets often included the name
of the wearer, either raised or set deep into
a flat metal base.
On a couple's wedding day, the man
would hand his wife a ring bearing a fac-
simile of his signet, thus entrusting her with
equal rights in managing household affairs.
Rings were made of available metals, usu-
ally iron; gold was reserved only for senators
and magistrates. Rings were worn on the left
hand, simply because it was used less than
the right. The ring is thought to have en-
tered the Jewish ceremony during the sev-
enth or eighth century, in token for the price
paid to the bride's family as compensation
for the loss of her labor. It was made of plain
metal, preferably gold, and contained no pre-
cious stones. It had to be valued at more
than a perutah, the smallest denomination
of currency in Talmudic times, and be en-
tirely the property of the bridegroom— not
obtained by credit or gift. Meeting these
criteria, it could be used in the ceremony,
where it was usually placed on the pointer
finger of the bride's right hand.
"Some of the most beautiful and intricate
rings ever created were those associated with
Bridal attendant gathering photo courtesy of
the Diamond Information Center. Renaissance
Jewish wedding rings were ornate and intri-
cate. Illustrations from Engagement & Wed-
ding Rings, Gemstone Press.
STY LI*: • II RI DES 11,95 •
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