Wedding & engagement rings, what is the difference?

Probably while surfing a gold jewellery online store or passing by a gold shop, you have come across various types of rings that are used for married couples. Some are referred to as engagement rings, wedding rings and bands. So what are these ring types, and do they differ?

These rings are different and used on different occasions. Surprisingly enough, they are even different from one culture to another.

For example, in the US, the UK and other western countries, engagement rings are the ones used in marriage proposals and during the engagement period. Engagement rings are worn only by the bride.

Engagement rings are usually unique and lavish in style. They would come with a large stone in the middle or in a halo structure where several smaller stones circle around the main stone in the middle. They can come in yellow gold, white gold, or platinum.

On the other hand, wedding rings, which are the same as wedding bands, are usually simple, and they don’t come with any special features. They are usually of plain yellow gold. These are exchanged at the wedding and are worn by the groom and bride on their left hand close to their hearts. Women usually wear their wedding bands under the engagement ring, and sometimes they may only wear their exquisite engagement rings.

In the Arab world, the story is reversed. Engagement rings are actually wedding bands. Bands are worn upon announcing the official engagement, so these are a symbol of being in an official relationship. These are worn by both the groom & bride during the engagement period on the right hand. Wedding bands are simple and most of the time come in yellow gold, but some designs for the bands come with different gold colours in which yellow must be among them. Groom’s bands are, most of the time, silver.

At the wedding, the bride and groom exchange their engagement rings, i.e. bands and place them on their left hand. The bride will get her wedding rings which have precious gemstones such as diamonds. These rings are usually worn during special occasions, whereas engagement rings or bands can be worn daily.

Regardless of the cultural differences between wedding and engagement rings, most human cultures consider rings a symbol of commitment, loyalty, and true love that last forever.