Family Rings

Though the practice of family rings nowadays is already obscure, in the past, wealthy families have family rings that carry the family name’s signet, or crest if it is a noble house. This serves several purposes: one is to claim relations to a family name, and one is to have a readily accessible seal (used on a still wet sealing wax) to authenticate documents with.

Today however, the best use of family rings only would serve perhaps as engagement or wedding rings. Because heirloom rings always have a bit of history behind them, especially if it was a wedding ring beforehand, the family ring becomes even more meaningful when it is offered again as a wedding or engagement ring fully because it has already seen a successful marriage. Most especially if it has been passed down as tradition over several generations already. To those people who believe in good luck, blessing, and such, no other engagement ring or wedding ring can be more apt than family rings.

That is why it’s important for heirloom rings, family rings to be of optimal quality and durability; that they can weather the generations that use them. Traditional family rings usually are jeweled ring, gem encrusted with any precious stone like diamonds, rubies or sapphires. Recent family rings however may be made of more modern materials, like platinum and titanium, though most of the time, precious stones also exist.

Like family heirlooms, family rings are subject to time and elements, more so than others since they are worn and thus subject to abrasion, corrosion (most especially for lesser quality materials), and physical damage. That is why some family heirlooms, even those designed to be worn, are often kept in safety after its initial use on the wedding ceremony. That is to make certain the family ring will survive until the next generation. Some others even take insurance such items though it is unlikely that getting insurance will fully recompensate the loss of heirloom family rings.

However, all that is not saying that lesser quality family rings would never do as heirloom engagement rings. Especially if the history of a ring is that profound, it has more meaning to become an heirloom engagement ring. If the ring is badly damaged, it is possible to re-melt the metal and reshape it back. On some occasions, the stone is extracted and placed on a newer ring with appropriate holder.

There are those families like in the old past that do stick with the tradition of having each member carry similar rings. These rings are usually custom made, with each ring specifically individualized to each family member. Names may be stenciled into the metal as proof of the ownership. While this is an archaic method of identifying family members and sharing influence and authority, family rings of these types are ineffectual nowadays. Today, family rings are made as sort of pride, though they are still in essence the same, signifying a member of a certain family name.

Aside from the actual users, ring collectors are also keen in the family rings interest. Since as mentioned earlier heirloom family rings usually have a bit of history behind them, family ring collectors would also study each rings history before engaging in active pursuit of a certain family ring.

So it leaves to you, whether you need a family ring or not. As you should know by now family rings don’t serve much of a purpose besides having a uniform accessory, if there is such need for that. On the other hand heirloom gem stone family rings; those that are used on matrimony and matrimonial promises like engagements and weddings, are far more important and could grow into something with exceptional and priceless value.