I have had the joy of creating wedding rings for some beautiful couples, and it has got me reflecting on the significance of that most enduring symbol of love and commitment: the wedding ring.
The wedding ceremony has evolved and changed through time, and today many couples are choosing to do things their own way - from non-traditional weddings to very personal commitment ceremonies. The wedding ring, too, has evolved and changed over the centuries, shifting with fashions and always being a reflection of the person who wears it. It makes perfect sense, then, for modern couples to choose something that is unique to them - pieces that reflect who they are and the way they love.
Read on to discover the origins and symbolism of wedding rings, and why unique, non-traditional and alternative wedding rings are the right choice for couples living and loving in their own distinctive ways.
The Origin of Wedding Rings
Since the time of the Ancient Egyptian pharaohs, the ring has symbolised eternity - an unbroken circle with no beginning and no end, the void in the centre seen as a portal to the unknown.
Rings have been exchanged between lovers to represent love and devotion since antiquity, and the Romans are attributed with first putting marriage rings on the fourth finger of the left hand (the mythical vena amoris or ‘vein of love’ was believed to lead from there directly to the heart), a tradition which continues in many parts of the world to this day.
Finding Inspiration in Medieval Wedding Rings
By the Medieval period in Europe, betrothal rings, marriage rings and wedding rings were mostly made in precious and highly coveted gold, and they took many forms, from plain gold band rings to ornately decorated rings set with precious stones and diamonds.
Many medieval love rings and wedding rings bear beautifully romantic and sentimental inscriptions - posie (sometimes spelled poesy or posey) rings were exchanged or given as betrothal and wedding rings until the Victorian period, and engraving significant words or symbols on a wedding ring to make it meaningful and unique is still popular today.
I’m very inspired by the simplicity of medieval jewellery, and unlike the heavily decorative styles that came in the later Baroque and Renaissance periods, medieval wedding rings often have an understated quality that feels strikingly modern and super exciting as a basis for the design of alternative wedding rings. Medieval rings often featured raw diamonds and unusual gemstones, chosen not only for their beauty and symbolic value but also for their magical properties, a connection that I love and an approach I continue in my work today - I use raw diamonds and unconventional, unique stones such as salt and pepper diamonds instead of the so-called ‘perfect’ white diamonds, to create alternative wedding and engagement rings that carry real beauty and character.
What are Alternative Wedding Rings?
Alternative wedding rings step away from the polished, plain bands that seem to dominate the contemporary mainstream style, and embrace shapes, textures and stones in their design that tell modern love stories. They are individual and unique, full of character, designed and made by hand and often one-of-a-kind.
For many couples, sustainability is an important consideration when choosing wedding rings, which is why I choose to use only 100% recycled gold, not newly mined, and ethically and sustainably sourced natural diamonds from established and respected suppliers - ensuring that each piece not only carries personal significance but also respects the earth from which it came.
Love isn’t one-size-fits-all, and alternative wedding rings are a way to express your individuality, honouring tradition while also making it entirely personal. Unisex or non-gendered wedding rings are becoming a popular choice for many couples and are a great way for two people to wear matching bands which are perfectly paired and yet complete individuals - forged in the same fire, made to stay together for a lifetime.
Signet Rings as Wedding Rings
Signet rings have been worn as betrothal and wedding rings since the early Middle Ages, and more and more modern lovers are choosing to wear a signet ring as an alternative wedding band, a style choice I’m completely besotted by - see the incredible images below from a recent photoshoot I was involved in for proof of how cool a signet ring can look as an alternative wedding ring with character!
Signet rings, rich with history and symbolism, endlessly personalisable, are the perfect choice for an ancient-inspired, alt-wedding style that is made for modern love stories. A timeless style that can be crafted and customised with meaningful symbols and textures, you could even add in a sprinkling of star-set salt and pepper diamonds for an alternative wedding or engagement ring that is elevated far beyond the conventional.
Worn Textures, Faded Gold: Alternative Wedding Style For Romantics that Don’t Fit the Mould
I often turn to historical references when designing my jewellery, always drawn to pieces with timeworn textures, raw surfaces and unusual diamonds, and medieval-inspired shapes and forms that hark back to a time when magic and symbolism was everywhere.
Wedding and commitment ceremonies are the ultimate ritual, both ancient and contemporary. Wedding rings - along with engagement, promise, commitment and betrothal rings (all kinds of love rings!) - are a beautiful opportunity to take inspiration from the past and bring it into your own modern love story.
An alternative wedding ring isn’t just about aesthetics (although it is a beautiful thing to be able to create something that fits your aesthetic to the core!) - it’s also a quiet statement about your values, your individuality, and the choices you make in your life and your love.
Unique Wedding Rings for Lovers and Dreamers
Crafted by hand in raw gold, carved with texture and meaning, I create my non-traditional and alternative wedding rings to feel unearthed, not newly made - carrying the quiet magic of something ancient and timeless, made for modern rituals. I love to work with clients to bring their own stories into a design, creating bespoke pieces that are as unique as the love they symbolise. You can explore the Ceremonial Collection of alternative wedding and engagement rings here or get in touch if you’d like to collaborate on a custom ring of your own.