RINGS:  From the beginning, humankind has associated rings with ceremony, spirituality, and superstition. They have been a major part of our jewelry since ancient Biblical times. The ancient Egyptians often wore gold rings that featured the image of the scaraboeus, a beetle that is a symbol for the world. The ancient Romans and the ancient Greeks frequently wore rings of gold that were dressed with exotic gemstones and engraved with intricate fine line designs.

In the thirteenth century when Pope Innocent III demanded a longer waiting period between betrothal and marriage, so rings were used to mark those who were in a period of engagement. These first engagement rings were normally made of iron and placed on the third finger of the left hand. The ancient Romans believed that the third finger on the left hand had a vein that ran directly to the heart. This is the reason why engagement rings and wedding rings are placed on that finger today and that is why we refer to that finger as the ring finger.