Everything You Need to Know About Eternity Rings

Eternity rings have long been symbols of everlasting love and commitment, but when should you give one? What if you already have a diamond wedding ring? And how do you choose the perfect design? Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, the birth of a child, or another special moment, read on to have all your questions about eternity rings answered!

What is an Eternity Ring?

Among the jewellery exchanged between married couples, eternity rings are often the least well-known and least given. But that’s possibly because it’s seen as ‘nice to have’ rather than an essential! 

Viewed as a symbol of everlasting love and a promise to one another, they are usually continuous bands of diamond or other gemstones, demonstrating the unbreakable bond between the couple. Traditionally the stones will go full circle around the band, but some find that uncomfortable or don’t like the idea of stones on the inside of their hand, so they also come as halves and 2/3rds.

A little bit of History…

The notion of an eternity ring dates back over four thousand years to Ancient Egypt, where they were exchanged as tokens of eternal love and life. Sometimes they would feature an ouroboros (a snake swallowing its tail), symbolizing infinity.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, eternity rings became popular in Europe, often set with coloured gems such as rubies, sapphires or emeralds. The modern diamond eternity ring that we think of today gained prominence in the 20th century, especially the 1960s when De Beers marketed them as the perfect anniversary gift.

When Do You Give/Receive an Eternity Ring then?

It’s a question I’m asked frequently, when do you get an eternity ring? There are some key moments that lots of people argue are the right times, but to be honest, you can give/receive an eternity ring whenever you like! 
Anniversaries, like the milestone ones of 10, 25, 30 years etc, can be a good time, as can the birth of a child. Some people prescribe to the ‘push present’ idea and it wraps neatly into that. Others may want to wait until after they’ve had all their children before giving an eternity ring as well.
Other big life achievement or events, such as a renewal of vows, are also deemed to be appropriate and worthy times for an eternity ring as well.

Design and Style

One of the biggest decisions in design is a full vs half setting. This is primarily down to preference and practicality. It’s worth asking a partner what their preference would be in advance as there will be a price difference due to diamond quantity.
Metal choice is the next aspect to consider and is likely to be the same as your wedding and engagement ring, especially if you intend to wear them all together (metals can rub against each other if they are different carats or types). However, if you’re going to wear it on your right hand, then you have free rein!

Another large consideration is the gemstone type. Are you wanting all diamonds or a mixture? Some people opt for the birthstones of their children (hence waiting for the last one before giving) to alternate with diamonds. Others choose sapphires or rubies for example because they like them! Again, there is no right or wrong.

The shape of the gemstone doesn’t need to be round either. You can have many alternative shapes like emerald cut, marquise, princess etc. This will then impact the design elements and how the ring flows. Do you want the stones claw set, channel set or bezel for example. With all these different options, what your lifestyle is like, what your existing rings are and which hand you propose to wear it on will all play a part.

But I Already Have a Diamond Wedding Ring?!

On occasion, a bride has ummed and ahhed over having a diamond wedding ring because what would they have as an eternity ring?! All it means is creating a ring that complements the existing band and stacking them accordingly. You can then incorporate coloured gems or different sizes stones to make them different from one another. 
Some people opt for a top and tail effect and wear wedding ring, engagement ring and then eternity ring. This can work well if you have a shaped wedding ring and then the two can halo the engagement ring. 
As a final thought, you always have your right hand that can be adorned with a sparkly diamond ring!

How to Choose the Perfect Eternity Ring: A Buyer’s Guide

A bit like buying an engagement ring, only spend what you feel comfortable spending and don’t be pressurised into parting with more money than you want to. That’s the golden rule of the perfect eternity ring! After that, everything else is down to personal taste.
For example, consider the lifestyle factors of the wearer – will it be worn daily, are they very manual, will a full eternity ring be comfortable? Do you want to create a custom design? This may be so it fits with an engagement ring or is like a fan or tiara to it. Lastly, you may want to have it engraved with initials or dates or even have some stones inlaid so that you know they are there, but they aren’t visible from the outside.

It's For an Eternity

Eternity rings are beautiful in both their look and what they represent. Milestones, children, special moments in a marriage – they symbolise your endurance as a couple and are therefore a deeply personal part of your story.
When it comes to style and design, it’s down to you. No one can tell you what is right or wrong, they can merely advise from a practicalities and budget perspective. So, if you’re thinking about buying an eternity ring, whether you're looking for a classic diamond band or a unique custom design, I'd love to help start your story. Get in touch to explore your options!