Top International Engagement Rings and Wedding Ring Designs

I recently finished a hub article, featuring Irish bridal jewelry, and had so much fun writing it, I decided to do another piece. This time around, I thought I'd write about some unique wedding/engagement ring traditions from around the world. As some of my loyal readers already know, I love writing about wedding traditions. Everybody needs a little good luck on their side, on their wedding day. With divorce rates at an all time high in America, starting a marriage out on the right foot by embracing one of these engagement ring traditions, just might be what a marriage needs to make it last. After all- this is why we all love centuries old wedding folklore and traditions.

When it comes to famous wedding wear jewelry, Ireland takes the cake! The Claddagh wedding ring is one of the oldest, metalworking, designs still in existence today. First crafted by Richard Joyce, the Claddagh wedding ring is a symbol of love, friendship and loyalty. It is a beautiful reflection of why people get married. When I see the Claddagh wedding ring, I mostly think of a marriage built on friendship. What a wonderful way to put empowerment into your marriage.

In France, and in some French-speaking countries, the most common celebrated pattern for the bridal couple, is a design of three interwoven rings or individual bands. Whether the bands are interwoven or separate from one another, the meaning of the French design remains the same. They stand for the Christian virtues of love, faith and hope.

One of my favorite wedding designs, is the Turkish Puzzle wedding ring. The story of this ring dates before the birth of Christ. It is older than the many of the Mayan ruins. The puzzle ring, as the story goes, got its name from a Turkish Nobleman; who was a passionate man. In this folklore, it is written that this Nobleman was deeply in love with his wife, who was the most beautiful woman in his lands. Unfortunately, her overpowering beauty drove him mad with jealously.

Therefore, he commissions a special order to his jeweler, to design a ring that would hold fast and always reveal to him certain secrets, of her loyalty to him. So one day his jeweler presented him with his unique design. It was a puzzle ring, designed to be only reconfigured with a special key. Thus, the Nobleman was ordered to go on a special journey, which was too far away from his potential new bride. So in his hast to wed her, he presents her with a beautifully, interwoven, gold band. What she didn't realize was that when the ring was removed from her finger, it fell apart and the Turkish Nobleman was the only one who possessed the secret solution key. Thus, the Turkish Puzzle Ring tradition was born.

It is a symbol of lasting loyalty and solidarity. It is the type of ring that beckons the strictest amnesty of love.

Whilst most Russian wedding rings are usually plain gold bands, their early, 19th century ad, triple rolling, wedding ring design is a very sheik look from yesteryear. Much like that of the Celtic Trinity Knot ring of Northern Ireland, this look is an embodiment of Christian symbolisms. It represents that the couple, about to be married, is unified under the Divine Trinity of God, and nothing of this world, can break the two of them apart.

It is a ring, interwoven in copper, silver and gold. The most precious metals of this world that represent everlasting love.