Beyond Tradition: The Gold Wedding Ring
When you glance at the hands of someone who is married, you may be so used to seeing the thin, gold wedding ring around their finger that you don’t stop to think about the origins of this tradition. Wedding rings were first exchanged in Egypt in around 2,800 B.C. The custom was later adopted by the Romans, who believed that the ring symbolized the cycles of eternity and life. The first wedding ring was an iron hoop worn around the finger, but by the second century the Romans began using gold because of its resistance to rust as well as because of its beauty and luster. Today, the gold wedding ring is by far the most popular.
How Many Carats?
One of the most important things to ask yourself when purchasing a gold wedding ring is how many carats you want in the ring. Gold is a very soft metal, which means that in its pure form it is very easily bent. Thus, jewelry is rarely made from pure gold. Instead, different alloys, that is, gold mixed with other metals, are used to make gold jewelry. The concentration of alloy metals used is measured in carats. Pure gold is referred to as twenty-four-carat gold, and as the number of carats decreases it means that more alloying metals have been added to the gold. The fewer carats you have, the sturdier your gold wedding ring will be. If you are planning on having jewels set in your ring, it would be beneficial to select a higher carat gold to ensure the durability of the prongs used in the setting.
The ideal gold for jewelry is eighteen-carat gold. Anything above eighteen carats is too soft and not as durable. Lower concentrations, such as nine or ten-carat gold, contain so many alloys that they are more metal based than gold based. Nine or ten-carat gold often tarnished and turns a green or black color. Eighteen-carat gold is both sturdy and is of good quality, making it an excellent choice for your gold wedding ring.
Quantity Means Quality
The more carats in the gold you select mean that the gold is of better quality. This is a very important factor to consider when selecting your gold wedding ring. Many people are allergic to nickel, one of the metals used in gold alloys. When in contact with the skin, nickel can cause an irritating rash. To avoid a gold wedding ring with large amount of nickel, choose a higher carat gold.
Next time you see a gold wedding ring on someone’s hand, take the time to appreciate the ancient tradition that has become such an important part of our lives. Make sure to consider the thought that went into the selection of the ring this is a true symbol of the love that couples have for one another.
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