An eternity ring symbolizes a love that never ends and is timeless – for eternity. The eternity ring dates back almost 4,000 years to ancient Egypt. The circle was a powerful symbol in that culture, meaning that the bond between two people was so strong that it could never be broken with the center space signifying passage into the future. Those rings were made of metal or reed.

Other rings from that era have been found showing a snake devouring its own tail, forming a complete circle, and representing the cycle of birth and death, called “Ouroboros.” Now of days, those circular rings are made of metal with the same size gemstones such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, or other semi-precious stones either covering the entire band of the ring or partially.

The diamond is often used for marriages and is the most popular stone for an eternity ring because it is the strongest and most brilliant gem on our planet.  The diamond is symbolic of love, fidelity, truth, purity, and trust however other colored stones, such as colored diamonds, might enhance the ring by adding a special meaning to it. 

Eternity rings are commonly used as wedding rings but can also be given as an anniversary present, a gift for the birth of a child, or a special Valentine’s Day present. As a wedding ring, the ring should be worn on the third finger of the left hand or in Europe the third finger of the right hand. In ancient Egypt, the third finger on the left hand was believed to have a blood vessel that ran directly from this finger to the heart. However, if the ring is given as an anniversary or special occasion present, the eternity ring can be worn on any finger. 

Eternity rings come in “full” or “half” styles. “Full” eternity rings have stones set in a continuous line all the way around the metal band, giving it maximum brilliance. A “Half” eternity band has stones only half or three-quarters the way around the ring, making it less expensive than the “full” style. This ring has been said to be a bit more comfortable and practical than a “full” ring. One minor setback with the “full” ring is that because the gemstones go all the way around the band, the stones get knocked when doing your normal daily chores sometimes causing the prongs to get bent or a stone to pop out, so you need to be a bit careful when wearing a “full” eternity band and make sure you have your ring checked by a reputable jeweler every so often. 

There are several different settings that are used for this ring.  

• A claw setting or prong setting are popular as they offer the most incredible sparkle and brilliance from the stones. However, you will need to be a bit more careful with this setting and make sure that you have your jeweler check the prongs regularly.  
• A channel setting protects the stones by placing metal around the edges of the stone. This is probably the most secure setting by keeping the stones in place.  

As with any piece of jewelry that you are purchasing, make sure you do your homework before you go looking and set a budget. Knowing what you are looking at and why the price is what it is of what you are looking at is important. This ring and commitment that both of you are about to make it for a lifetime. So choose wisely and give your special someone a gift that shows the eternal love that you both have for each other.