The wedding ring is a recognizable symbol of love that husband and wife usually wear on the ring finger of their left hand. History reveals that wedding ring was first worn to signify the status of being married in ancient Egypt, where it was regarded as a never-ending band of eternal love. The Romans started wearing wedding rings much later to symbolize that a woman was no longer free. For a long time, only women wore wedding  rings. This is believed to be a reminder of the days when they were regarded as property. When World War II broke out and many young men  were separated from their wives, they began wearing wedding bands as a symbol of their marriage.

The wedding ring was not always gold. The early Romans wore iron bands as the metal symbolizes strength, but in the third century, it was  replaced by gold and silver, which do not rust. Antonio Atienza of Goldenhills Jewelry, which is based in Meycauayan, Bulacan, says wedding rings last forever and are tangible symbols of a marriage. He explains that the majority of Filipinos are very conservative when it comes to  choosing wedding rings, opting for yellow and white gold in classic designs. “Some want diamonds in their rings but most go for just gold because  they say it is more practical for everyday wear,” he adds.

Rose gold is also becoming increasingly popular among soon-to-weds with platinum as the most expensive. Atienza says he once made a wedding band with pink tourmaline and blue sapphire for a bride who wanted something unique. Goldenhills Jewelry creates wedding rings  mostly by hand. Goldsmiths or plateros painstakingly put in the details and touches that make every pair special.

a goldsmith polishes the jewelry...

“A good goldsmith is one who is born with talent. In my experience, it is a skill that can be learned but the really good ones have an instinctive  feel for how to make beautiful jewelry more than others,” Atienza says. The process of making a wedding ring begins with the design. Atienza  shares that sometimes, the soon-to-weds have their own ideas or designs for the bands. Otherwise, he will present a number of his designs for  couples to choose from. Then the materials will be prepared and weighed. This includes gold sheets, alloys (which are different depending on  what kind of gold one wants for the ring) and diamonds or other gems, if these will be used. The gold and alloy are mixed and melted to  achieve the desired color (gold plus nickel and zinc is for white gold; gold with silver and copper is for yellow gold). Then, a cast is made using  wax and this is placed inside a canister to leave the impression on plaster from which the wedding ring will be created. The gold is poured into  the cast and after it is cooled, the wedding ring is nearly completed. The ring is then brought to the goldsmith, who will put the final shape,  remove any marks and execute the design and details. The final step is polishing, to add luster to the wedding rings.

A pair of wedding rings cost P15,000 for the simpler ones to over P200,000 for those with elaborate designs. Platinum rings are more  expensive than gold ones. Goldenhills Jewelry is the top supplier of engagement and wedding rings in the Philippines. It offers ready-made and accepts made-to-order designs.

Jewelry design

KINDS OF BANDS

• Plain Band: The iconic symbol of a wedding ring; a simple polished gold band complements any style of engagement ring.
• Classic Milgrain Band: This style (also called beaded or granulated) sandwiches a shiny metal band between two beaded edges.
• Classic Diamond Eternity Band: In the past, an eternity band (a ring set with small diamonds all the way around) was a traditional gift that
marked an important wedding anniversary. Couples waited until such a ring was within their budget, then used the  sparkling upgrade to replace a simple gold band from their long-ago wedding.

• Comfort fit: Usually heavier than the regular wedding band and designed with a rounded inside so they slide on easier and sit on your finger more comfortably.