Engagement Rings Are... Interesting.

Here's why:

1. The ring literally symbolized "ownership".

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And meant to tell others that this particular woman already belonged to someone else.

In the ancient Middle East women must have been in short supply.

Young men put simple brass rings on the fingers of young girls (sometimes as young as 11 years old) they had laid their eyes on, in order to convey to the rest of the community that this particular one was already spoken for.

The couple would then remain "engaged" until the girl reached a more mature age, at which the couple would finally get married.

2. Engagement rings were used as virginity insurance.

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A now-obsolete law called the "Breach of Promise to Marry" once allowed women to sue men for breaking off an engagement.

3. In the second century BC, the Roman bride-to-be was given two rings, a gold one which she wore in public, and one made of iron which she wore at home while attending to household duties.

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Sauce.

4. Why give rings when you can give thimbles instead?

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It's more fun and it already has been done.

5. In the 20th century, prior to a 1948 Ad Campaign, diamond rings were never synonymous to marriage or engagement.

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Through its bold advertising, diamond giant DeBeers did something extraordinary - it managed to convince generations of men and women that the only acceptable symbol of an engagement was a diamond ring.

6. Puzzle engagement rings were used as an anti-adultery tool instead of a sign of love that lasts forever and ever.

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Wealthy Middle Eastern men then used these rings as wedding bands for their wives, who were often forced to wear a puzzle ring when their husband was away. The husband would know upon his return whether any of his wives had been disloyal by removing the ring whilst he was away, because the ring was designed to collapse upon removal and could only be put together again if you had the skill and knowledge required.

7. Feet get them too.

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In the Hindu tradition, women are given toe rings, called bichiya, as engagement rings.

8. In some states, an engagement ring is a conditional gift.

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If the wedding doesn't push through, the ring must be returned to the donor. (PDF)

9. They're better than Dr. Phil.

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