How wedding gemstones go beyond the diamond.

One of the first things people will ask if you tell them you're getting married is to see the ring. It's the first "fashion" moment before you buy your wedding dress. Some people (probably more than we'd like) will also use the look of your ring to determine how much your spouse cares about you. While today many people think of large diamond rings, there is actually an interesting history of wedding rings that goes beyond the diamond. Read on to find out more.

Before the Gemstones

Initially, wedding rings didn't even include gems. A posy ring (could also be spelled posey, posie, or poesy) was one of the first iterations of a wedding ring. The word comes from the french word, poésie, which means poem. This is because of the sayings that were inscribed on the rings, which can still be seen today. Posy rings were often inscribed with religious figures or text in the Middle Ages. Today, jewelry can be very customizable, and inscriptions on rings definitely still exist. You can even have them done in your own handwriting!

Sapphire

This is thought to be one of the first stones used in engagement rings. The symbolism of love, truth, and commitment seem appropriate; however, sapphires were also possibly used as ways to test women. In medieval times, people believed if a sapphire's color faded, the person wearing the jewelry was unfaithful. At this time, engagement rings, in general, were most popular among to wealthy.

Thimbles

Definitely NOT a stone, but too funny not to include. The Puritans believed jewelry was senseless or self-indulgent. Rather than buying their wives jewelry, colonial men would give their wives thimbles. After the women used these thimbles for their housework (of course), they would be able to use the tops of them to create rings. Once again, this doesn't seem to be the happiest historical engagement item. But if you're into it, you do you.

Pearls

Some may find pearls to be inferior to diamonds, but even some celebrities have rocked pearl engagement rings, such as Emma Stone. Back in the day, socialite Barabara Hutton was given a pearl engagement ring from Prince Alexis Mdivani of Georgia. Pearl engagement rings were even included in Anne of Green Gables, as Anne had a circlet of pearls as her engagement ring.

Two-Stone Rings

Ariana Grande has a pearl and a diamond in her engagement ring. The two-stone wedding rings symbolize the union of two people. The French call this style Toi et Moi, which means you and me. Symbolism as a part of wedding rings is definitely meaningful and desirable. The first Toi et Moi ring to hit the scene was in 1796 from Napolean Bonaparte to Josephine de Beauharnais. This was traditionally a ring that included a diamond and a sapphire, but you can choose any gemstones you wish.

Diamonds

Of course, diamonds are currently the most popular wedding gemstone. Diamonds are also considered to be the hardest material, which means they will not scratch as easily as other gemstones may. With modern technology, diamonds are even able to be created rather than sourced. This makes them less rare and more attainable. Although the process is not "natural," the diamonds are still considered real. This practice is more sustainable and affordable.

Though we all think of the diamond when thinking about engagement rings, there have been some other gemstones of note in history as well. Personally, I like the idea of the Toi et Moi style. If you are looking for an engagement/wedding ring, a great local jeweler is Pinetree Jewelers. Let us know your favorite wedding ring style in the comments below!