An anniversary ring symbolises a milestone in a relationship and is traditionally given as a gift for a wedding anniversary and as a celebration of a commitment between two people. Anniversary rings can take many forms but there is a traditional choice for each particular milestone. For the ten year mark, the most popular choice is to give diamonds, specifically an eternity ring.
Origins of the Eternity Ring
Typically a metal band encrusted with a continuous circle of small diamonds, the infamous eternity ring was first seen as early as 2000 BC, tracing back to the Ancient Egyptians. At this time, they were gifted as symbols of eternal love and life.
It’s interesting that despite being lost in time until the 18th century, today’s sentiment of the eternity ring hasn’t changed much from its original meaning all those years ago. It wasn’t until the western world rediscovered the trend in the 1960s, that the modern eternity ring came to be the piece that we all know and love today.
Like many of the classical diamond pieces of jewellery, today’s eternity ring was a result of clever marketing by diamond merchants. After a discovery of small uncut diamonds in the Soviet Union, many diamond merchants were left unsure of how to market these newly found gems, particularly because they were too small to be used in engagement rings. As a result, these small diamonds were set all around the metal band and were sold as the ultimate post – wedding commitment!
The Different Styles of Eternity Rings
Full Eternity Rings
Traditionally, this style of ring consists of lots of small diamonds set all away around the metal band. This is referred to as a ‘Full Eternity Ring’.
This photo shows a full eternity ring simply set in a delicate rub over style with round brilliant cut diamonds, handmade using 18ct yellow gold
Half Eternity Rings
This style of eternity ring sees small diamonds encrusted in only the upper half of the band, instead of all the way around the ring.
This photo shows a half eternity ring handmade using platinum, rub set with 5 round brilliant cut diamonds.
In typical jewellery industry fashion, there is an endless list of possibilities when it comes to choosing your preferred style of eternity rings. Shown below are just a few examples of eternity rings that have been handmade here in the Artisan workshop…
Eternity Ring Examples:
This photo shows a 3 band ring handmade using rose gold. The centre band is a half eternity ring, handmade from platinum and rub set with 5 round brilliant curt diamonds.
This photo shows a full eternity ring handmade using 18ct white gold, chanel set with princess cut diamonds and finished with polished edges.
This photo shows a pair of matching half eternity rings handmade using 18ct white gold. These rings have been channel set with diamonds, alternating between round brilliant cut diamonds and baguette diamonds, all complete with a polished finish.
This photo shows a full eternity ring, rub set with round brilliant cut diamonds, some of which have been illusion set to look like marquise diamonds. This ring was handmade from platinum, all complete with a mill grain edge.
This photo shows a three band ring, handmade using polish finished 18ct yellow gold. The centre band is a full eternity ring in 18ct white gold, rub set with round brilliant cut diamonds.
This photo shows a pair of his and hers full eternity rings, handmade using platinum. The ring on the left has been channel set with round brilliant cut diamonds, and the ring on the right has been grain set with round brilliant cut diamonds.
This photo shows a full eternity ring handmade using 18ct white gold with round brilliant cut diamonds in an off centre channel setting, all complete with a polish finish.
This photo shows a full eternity ring handmade using platinum, rub set with round brilliant cut diamonds and marquise diamonds.
If you want to know more about the different styles of rings we offer, book your free design consultation today to come and chat with our jewellery experts.