February Calendar of Events
(continued from page 31)
the Jewish wedding ceremony during the
Renaissance period," said Antoinette
Wed-
Matlins, author of Engagement
ding Rings and Jewelry Gems, The Buying
Guide.
Meet and
Preview the new
and extraordinary
collections of
these famous
designers.
ILISSA
Demetrios himself
Feb. 2, 3, 4
WATTERS 8ic WATTERS
Bridesmaids
A personal appearance
Feb. 9, 10, 11
EVA HAYNAL FORSYTH
& SCAASI BRIDE
A personal appearance
Feb. 16, 17, 18
JIM HJELMS
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Bridal and Bridesmai ds
from award-winning designer
A personal appearance
Feb. 23, 24, 25
32 • IIR I DES 1 905 • S'EY I -E
Lore Of The Rings
Matlins made an exclusive appearance in
conjunction with the Diamond Information
Center's "The Power of Love" exhibit fea-
tured at Tapper's Jewelry last fall.
This exhibit, which was only at three lo-
cations in the United States, chronicled the
history of diamond engagement rings for six
centuries. Authentic pieces and antique
reproduction rings were on display for the
customer's viewing.
"The exclusivity of this exhibit was part
of the excitement for me," said Steve Tap-
per. "I also enjoyed seeing the diamonds set
as natural crystals," he added.
The exhibit begins with a replica of the
engagement ring of Mary of Burgundy and
Maximilian of Austria. Mary of Burgundy,
daughter of Charles the Bold, Duke of Bur-
gundy from 1467 to 1477, was one of the first
women recorded to have received the equiv-
alent of today's engagement ring. In 1477
her fiancee, Archduke Maximilian of Aus-
tria, ordered two rings from financier and
cut-diamond merchant Jacques Coeur: one
a plain gold wedding band, the other a band
set with a diamond.
During the Elizabethan period, in late
16th and early 17th centuries, the Gimmal
or Jimmal ring was popular. It consisted of
two or more semi-circular links that were
united by a hinge and formed one ring when
brought together. Each portion of the ring
included part of the ring face. A three-part
ring might include outer hoops with hands
that clasp in the center to enclose a heart af-
fixed on a central ring. The rings were bro-
ken apart at betrothal, with the man and
woman keeping the top and bottom hoops
to wear, and their witness keeping the cen-
tral ring. At the marriage ceremony, the ring
was united again.
Some gimmals had five to eight links,
each engraved with words making up a posy,
or sentiment. Sometimes called posy rings,
this form of gimmal was popular from the
late 16th to the beginnings of the 18th cen-
tury.
The rings were used as either betrothal
or wedding rings, worn by both men and
women, and engraved on the inside, so that
only the wearer knew of the promise worn