Wedding rings are considered to be rather important items. This is because they are items which will hopefully be worn for the rest of the couple’s lives. It is for this reason that wedding rings are items which both men and women are extremely picky about. In Judaism, the wedding ring has a different status although the same concerns for appearance exist.
In Judaism, the wedding ring is largely considered to be a Judaica item akin to a Menorah and therefore has significance beyond being a token of love. In fact, the mere giving of the ring together with a declaration in front of witnesses marries the couple. However, this is only so in regards to women’s wedding rings. Jewish men’s wedding rings actually have no significance outside of being a gift, although in the past it was considered in some communities to be a dowry and is the subject of debate in the Talmud.
During the Biblical and Talmudic eras, Jewish men’s wedding rings were mostly reserved for the wealthy, although it was common for men to wear rings for other purposes, such as a signet ring. Wedding rings during this time were simple items, essentially a plain band made of gold or silver. This is mainly due to the difficulty in melting gold and molding it into a band. As time progressed, Jewish men’s wedding rings started featuring symbols and were occasionally engraved.
From the middle Ages up until the last half of the previous century, it was common for Jewish men to wear wedding rings. These rings could be extremely ornate or simple. Fancy Jewish men’s engagement rings had decorations that included engraved names, Stars of David and semi-precious gemstones such as topaz, garnets and amethyst. Precious stones such as diamonds and sapphires were only found amongst the wealthy. However, because that vast majority of Jews were largely excluded from the opportunities available to the rest of the world, Jewish men’s wedding rings were simple bands made from gold, silver or copper.
Currently, the trend of Jewish men wearing wedding rings has experienced resurgence in popularity. These rings are usually similar to women’s wedding rings, being undecorated and typically made of one or two types of metal, usually different shades of gold. However, because there is not actual restriction on having gemstones set in men’s wedding rings, some have diamonds set in their wedding rings. The settings on such rings are subtle and are limited to those which mask the presence of the diamond and protect it, such as bezel and channel settings.
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