In many cultures, the luxury wedding ring is of paramount importance. It symbolizes the union between two people of different sexes through the sacred bonds of marriage. Indeed, it's through this distinctive sign that the bride and groom pledge their fidelity to each other and show their willingness to live together.
At the dawn of the 2020s, customs have not changed. And whether you're secular or motivated by religious belief or sentiment, the luxury wedding ring has a strong symbolic value for both man and woman. Whatever the price, it represents the fulfillment of a life together.
We'd even go so far as to say that even the most modest unions will put this traditional requirement above all else to mark their union. Although the use of luxury wedding rings is widespread, they are unanimously imposed by the bride and groom themselves to signify to others the fruit of their love.
The wedding ring: which finger should it be worn on?
This is indeed a matter of debate. However, one thing is certain: the luxury wedding band is worn on the ring finger. There is then a divergence between cultures as to the selection of the hand, with well-established practices depending on the type of religion. In France, the custom is to wear the wedding ring on the left hand. The Protestant religion, on the other hand, says the opposite. Other religions, such as Judaism, even move the wedding ring from the right to the left hand during the ceremony.
In short, while respecting each person's culture, the wedding ring is of the utmost importance. Just like the sumptuous wedding dress. In fact, a little anecdote dating back to Greek antiquity has its origins in the wearing of a wedding ring on the ring finger.
Indeed, Hellenistic culture considered that this particular finger possessed a vein directly connected to the fundamental vital organ: the heart. Described as the «vena amori», reason prevailed and the ring finger became the preferred finger for symbolizing love with a ring.
Luxury wedding rings in yellow or white gold: what's the latest on this jewellery competition?
Since the beginning of mankind, ornamental rings have taken many different forms. The earliest traces in Czechia and Anatolia show rings made of iron, leather or even ivory. However, this ancestor of the luxury wedding ring would look more like a man's signet ring. Whether they had a sublime quality or served as a form of currency, symbolism ultimately prevailed, with the sacrament of marriage as the main custom.
At present, the precious metal that will adorn the ring seems to be a much-debated topic among future spouses as they celebrate their nuptials.
What's more, custom goldsmithing is back in vogue. This practice marks the couple's desire to own a unique copy that will allow them to set themselves apart from standardized models.
In a similar vein, we realize that the choice of an original car as a wedding limousine also follows this trend.
So luxury wedding rings in yellow, white or platinum, where do we stand when it comes to weddings in 2020?
Yellow gold is still dominant, but seems to be losing ground to white gold. There are several main reasons for this:
- The meteoric rise of white gold in today's fashion trends
- Discretion in a less shiny but more elegant alloy
- A taste much more pronounced among young couples.
The choice between a yellow or white gold wedding ring is ultimately a generational one, although both are equally valid. Other parameters are available to the bride and groom, and depend on financial criteria.
One example is the
The engagement ring in French law: a passionate debate
Although the engagement ring has a lesser value than the wedding band. French civil law, and family law in particular, has turned its attention to the subject. It's another, lesser-known facet of jewelry and goldsmithing. But it's a real area of expertise in the field of family jewelry.
While divorce and de facto separation are becoming increasingly common in France, for many people marriage still symbolizes union and the hope of perpetuating the family name over time.
This time, the engagement ring has been the subject of some surprising court rulings. Jurisprudence has ruled on this point, giving right or wrong to the restitution of the good according to casuistry and material facts.
And this is understandable for a number of essential reasons:
- The strong sentimental value of property itself
- A family estate handed down from mother to family or from mother to daughter-in-law
- An antique gift destined to become a luxury wedding ring from generation to generation, at a significant cost.
In the happiest of situations, the engagement ring always ends up being replaced by a luxury wedding band. But when it doesn't: which way do court rulings go?
The landmark ruling in this area was handed down by the 1era civil chamber of the Cour de Cassation on June 20, 1961. The ruling states that, while the engagement ring is a family jewel, the rule is that it can be returned after a court judgment has been rendered, with proof in the event of the couple separating.
The only exceptions are in the event of the donor's faulty breach of contract, or in the event of the donor's death, which entitles the fiancée to keep the ring in memory of the deceased.
Apart from this particular case concerning the engagement ring, the Civil Code stipulates that «.« any donation made in favour of marriage will be null and void if the marriage does not ensue. » (article 1088 of the French Civil Code).
So the promise and the’wedding planning through the purchase of an engagement ring is implicitly recognized as an initial phase leading to saying «I do» in the future.
