What Does an Eternity Ring Symbolize?
Looking for a gift that symbolizes your eternal love and commitment to your partner? An eternity ring is the ultimate choice. As the name suggests, an eternity ring is a dazzling celebration of your everlasting affections. While they can be given as a gift for any reason, they are most often sought for anniversaries, engagements, and weddings. Eternity rings also double as promise rings, a ring given to a romantic partner to signify their commitment and fidelity.
Eternity rings can be found in a wide range of styles and colors with the most common design featuring a circle of stones to represent a love that lasts forever. Before gifting an eternity ring, learn more about what it conveys and the different options available to you.
Brief History of the Eternity Ring
Most historians believe that the eternity ring dates back nearly 4,000 years ago in Egypt. Originally referred to as “Shen” rings, these romantic tokens of love symbolized eternity and were often used by couples to mark important occasions. In the 18th century, these rings once again resurfaced, acting as promise rings for young suitors.
While today’s eternity rings often feature classic white stones, gorgeous colored gemstones were more commonly used in centuries past. The eternity rings we all know and love today were popularized by De Beers in the 1960s.
Common Eternity Ring Designs
Eternity rings can be found in many styles, ranging from classic metal bands adorned with a continuous line of white stones to more unique approaches that feature pops of bold color.
The gemstones typically extend halfway around the ring, or in some variations, a quarter or three-quarters around. There are several advantages to choosing an eternity ring that does not have gems that encircle the entire band, such as the ability to adjust the ring without having to rearrange the stones.
Many eternity ring designs also differ in the way that the gemstones are set. The most common stone settings among eternity rings are claw set, channel set, and grain set. These rings are most often set with round brilliant cut diamonds or cubic zirconia, but can also be found with other cuts, such as princess cut or baguette cut gemstones.
Eternity Rings vs. Infinity Rings
The terms eternity ring and infinity ring are often used interchangeably. While there are similarities between the two styles of rings, there are also distinct differences. The intent of both types of rings is to symbolize the undying love between two people; however, the main differences lie in the design and use of the rings.
Eternity rings typically have diamonds that are set around a metal band to symbolize a person’s commitment to another. They are generally given as gifts during a long relations hip or marriage, such as to commemorate an anniversary. They may also be used in combination with an engagement or wedding ring.
Instead of having a perpetual circle of diamonds like in eternity rings, infinity rings typically incorporate the infinity sign, or figure 8, to symbolize the eternalness of marriage. There are several ways that the infinity sign can be incorporated into the ring design, such as by having the symbol at the top of the ring where a center diamond would usually go or by creating the symbol on the band itself.
When to Gift an Eternity Ring
There is no right or wrong time to gift an eternity ring to someone that you love and cherish. Many couples choose to gift a ring when celebrating a special milestone in their relationship, such as a 10 year wedding anniversary. The ring is a stunning way to acknowledge that the relationship has grown and evolved over time but your commitment to one another remains strong.
Another popular time to gift an eternity ring is when you are celebrating the arrival of your first child together. Gifting an eternity ring to a new mom helps solidify the bond that you now have as a family. Consider other special moments to gift an eternity band, such as a birthday, Christmas, when renewing your vows, or when purchasing your first home together.
How to Wear an Eternity Ring
There are different ways to wear an eternity ring depending on what other jewelry you wear with it. If you choose to wear all of your bridal jewelry together, you’ll want to put your eternity band on top of your engagement ring, meaning your wedding ring goes on first, then your engagement ring, and then the eternity ring.
Our Top Picks for Eternity Rings
There is no shortage of incredible eternity rings on the market; however, some can be quite costly. At Kiera, we focus on creating designer jewelry that is not only beautiful but also affordable. Our environmentally-friendly designs incorporate sparkling cubic zirconias that help us maintain our commitment to sustainability and the use of conflict-free materials.
Some of our favorite eternity bands from KIERA include:
Starry Eternity Band – This stunning piece features a full line of dazzling round cubic zirconias in a prong setting.
Round Eternity Band Ring – Available in yellow gold or rhodium-plated sterling silver, this exquisite eternity band contains round-cut cubic zirconias.Wavy Baguette Eternity Band Ring – This fancy-shaped eternity ring is truly unique with its incredible zig-zag design that showcases baguette-cut gems.
Satellite Band Ring – Simply yet sophisticated, this elevated eternity ring features 14k yellow gold plated shimmering smooth metal with cubic zirconias.
Diagonal Baguette Eternity Ring Band – If you love pops of bold color, this baguette eternity band will impress with its 22 pieces of colorful gemstones.
Commemorate the next special milestone in your life with the right gift. Shop Kiera for gorgeous and affordable eternity rings that are responsibly sourced and professionally crafted.