Did you know that Catholics were the first to encourage couples to wear wedding bands? They started the tradition as early as the 1300s, which was 500 years before other religions. But what does a traditional catholic engagement ring look like? BAUNAT has the answers.

Discover BAUNAT’s range of tasteful engagement rings.

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Catholic Wedding Traditions

To have a truly Catholic wedding, your wedding ceremony has to take place in a Catholic church. If you are both Catholic, the ceremony will likely take place during a Nuptial Mass, which includes readings of the Liturgy of the Word, followed by the Rite of Marriage (the exchange of vows and rings), and Liturgy of the Eucharist (communion).

Hymns are sung, psalms are read, and you can ask friends of family members to read passages from the Old and New Testament. All of these steps lead up to every hopeless romantic’s favourite part – the kiss. In many Catholic ceremonies, the bride and groom exchange rings after the couple (hopefully!) ‘I do’. The rings are given to the priest to be blessed before being put on the recipient’s finger. In most Catholic countries, such as Ireland, Latin America and the Philippines, the ring is placed on the fourth (‘ring’) finger on the spouse’s left hand. At the end of the ceremony, the priest may invite the couple to “seal the deal” with a kiss, before leaving the church.
Engagement ring

What Makes Catholic Engagement Rings Unique?

Today, diamond engagement rings are the most popular choice across the world. But, the Catholic Church has a unique view of the meaning of engagement and wedding rings.

So, what makes catholic engagement rings unique is that they are not unique, but traditional.

The Catholics view the ring as a reminder to betrothed couples of their consent, of their vows. The rings represent their promises to each other and a symbol of their devotion to each other.

View our selection engagement rings

What Are Typical Characteristics of a Catholic Engagement Ring?

In Catholicism, diamond engagement rings should be traditional and modest. No diamond is necessary for a catholic engagement ring. An inscribed gold band will do just fine.

But if your betrothed wishes for a diamond, the best choice is a solitaire diamond engagement ring with side diamonds, or with a diamond on its own.

Let the ring itself, and your actions while wearing it, speak to what your marriage is made of, and not how much money you spent on it.

Want More Examples of Catholic Engagement Rings?

To achieve that minimal and traditional look, here are some stunning examples you could put on your beloved’s finger:

This classic white gold 0.9-carat solitaire diamond ring.
Or this white gold 1-carat trilogy ring.

Or if you want a more discreet look, this yellow gold eternity ring with small diamonds adding up to 0.55-carat is a perfect choice.

Or BAUNAT’s team of experts are happy to help you design your own engagement ring from scratch with your own tailor-made service.

Contact our team

Frequently asked Questions

Engagement ring which hand/engagement ring which hand Muslim/engagement ring which hand Christian

The engagement ring: on which hand do I wear it? The engagement ring: on which hand do I wear it as a Muslim? The engagement ring: on which hand do I wear it as a Christian?

In most cultures, people wear both the engagement ring and wedding ring on the left-hand ring finger. As a Christian, you can also wear the engagement ring on the left hand and the wedding ring on the right hand. In countries of the Islam culture, the hand on which rings are worn varies from country to country. Jordan Muslims wear their wedding ring on the right hand, but in Iran people choose the left hand. 

What is the romantic history of diamonds?

The diamond is used in many pieces of exquisite jewellery and comes in various sizes. It is, however, in its smallest form that it catches our interest the most: the diamond ring given in token of love and marriage. The actual history of this tradition transcends the perception of its creation as marketing hyperbole. The modern solitaire is just the most recent step on a long road from the past.

Rings date back several millennia, but those that are given as a token of love are first noted by the comic Roman poet Plautus in the 2nd century BCE. In those times, wedding rings were known for their interior inscriptions that recorded the marriage contracts signed in the presence of the Emperor's image. This custom was continued and Christianized by the 4th century, when priests would not permit weddings anymore without the exchange of rings.

What different shapes of diamonds do you use in your jewellery?

Diamonds come in different shapes. Each shape has different and unique characteristics that come to determine its specific quality. In most cases, BAUNAT uses the four following diamond shapes for its jewellery:

  • Round
    The round brilliant cut diamond is by far the most popular and most researched diamond shape available today. This shape has set the traditional standard for all diamond shapes. In addition, a round diamond will typically give you more flexibility in terms of balancing cut, colour, and clarity grades while still getting the fire and brilliance you want. Furthermore, it is the most classic choice. White gold earrings with a round diamond e.g. are extremely versatile. 
  • Princess
    The princess diamond has a square shape, with a length/width ratio of around 1.00 and 1.05. The princess cut is also referred to as the square modified brilliant cut, the square cut or the rectangular modified brilliant cut. The latter term is used when the proportions exceed 1.05. The cut requires more weight to be directed toward the diamond's depth in order to maximize brilliance. Depth percentages of 70% to 78% are not uncommon with these diamond shapes.
  • Pear
    This brilliant-cut diamond looks like a sparkling teardrop because of its single point and rounded end. The pear diamond’s unique look makes it a popular choice for a variety of jewellery such as diamond pendants and diamond earrings.
  • Oval
    The oval diamond has a traditional cutting shape with a particular touch. This shape is slightly less common than a brilliant and yet approximates the sparkling brilliance of a brilliant cut diamond. This diamond cut is popular among people with small hands and thin fingers, because the elegant oval shape has an elongating effect. Oval diamonds are also frequently seen in the engagement rings of celebrities and European princesses.
  • On demand, BAUNAT also offers other diamond shapes such as heart, Asscher, emerald, marquise, radiant or cushion.

More information about the 4Cs

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