From wedding rings to religious symbols, men’s rings have carried tremendous significance throughout history. In West Africa, rings were originally used to represent God’s unmatched power and the authority of mankind on earth. In India, handcrafted rings have been used to symbolize everything from devotion and fidelity to eternity and belief in a deity. Today, like in many cultures, Indian rings represent love, engagement and marriage. Pre-Hispanic cultures in Central America and South America used handmade jewelry to denote social position, rank, as well as personal adornment. Metal, bone, shell, and stone—particularly jade—were chosen for beauty and durability. Even the choice of metal has meaning in particular cultures. The Incas, for example, believed that gold was a sacred metal sent by the sun god, Inti, and all mines belonged to the emperor, who protected his metals with great zeal.
What have men’s rings represented throughout history?
