Ed Sheeran’s 2018 red carpet walk in 2018 with a ring on the finger raised eyebrows. He did tie the knot. He didn’t tie the knot; he was wearing an engagement ring. Wait…do men wear engagement rings? The answer is: It depends.
Sheeran is one of many men opting for engagement rings to show their status to the rest of the world.
In February 2018, he told reporters that he had never understood why men don’t wear rings. “Because it is the same commitment in either direction.”
Why do we wear engagement rings?
According to the American Gem Society, the practice of giving engagement rings dates back to hundreds of years. It is believed that Archduke Maximilian, an Austrian Archduke, ordered the first diamond engagement rings for his fiance in 1477.
The trend for engagement rings took off from there. Men presented engagement rings to women to show potential suitors that they weren’t on the market.
Up until the 1930s, engagement rings for women were also considered a financial transaction. Women could sue their husbands if they broke up. A woman is considered “damaged goods” when engaged but not married. You could also use the money to buy the ring after a breakup.
Are Guys averse to Engagement Rings?
Because it is still a growing trend/practice, there aren’t hard numbers about how many men wear engagement rings.
L. Bamberger & Co., the company that would eventually become Macy’s, placed advertisements in East Coast newspapers advertising engagement rings for men. These ads featured men wearing rings with masculine names such as the Master and the Stag.
Men didn’t like the ads because they thought engagement rings were a feminine-only accessory. However, the perception may be changing. A survey by The Knot found that about 5 per cent of men own engagement rings.
These reasons can vary from one person to the next. It’s a tradition for some couples.
After proposing to Luisana Lopilato, singer Michael Buble wore an engagement ring. He said that the boy also wore the engagement ring in Argentina. Sheeran said that she had told him the same thing. Other men like Sheeran do it because they see marriage as a partnership. Both sides assume equal roles and responsibilities, including wearing engagement rings.
What do Men’s Engagement Rings Look Like?
Women’s engagement rings used to have a distinct look: solitaires of diamonds with yellow-gold bands and possibly additional gems. Today’s bride-to-be is opting for more unique engagement rings. Multicoloured stones and non-traditional metal bands, such as rose gold, can be made to suit their individuality and their relationship.
This is true for men as well. While most engagement rings for men look similar to metallic wedding bands, some are customized with diamonds or other gems. Because not many men wear engagement rings, the possibilities are endless. Sheeran described the engagement ring that his fiancée gave him as “Cherry made it herself out of silver clay.”
So, do men wear engagement rings? Clarity got a diamond engagement ring, then a simple one for the wedding. It’s a great way to establish your relationship before the wedding and get a her-and-hers engagement ring.
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