Is a diamond ring essential?

November 04, 2013

Is a diamond ring essential?

The problem is that it's one of the items on the list of prescribed gifts for engaged couples, but if you think about it, the expectation for it really is a product of marketing rather than true tradition. See the article and the links in Is a diamond ring essential?

Comments

Yarmi Boy said…

In a traditional Jewish wedding there is an exchange of valuables (not dissimilar to the African tradition of Labola). The groom’s gift to his bride is the most vital part of the ceremony and in fact, in order to be recognised by Jewish law, the groom (chatan) is required to give a valuable gift to his bride (kallah) on the wedding day. In modern Jewish marriages this gift is almost or always the wedding ring.

This said, it has become tradition that the ring is presented as an engagement ring and in almost all cases (as Judge Judy confirmed in US courts) the engagement ring should be returned to the groom if the wedding does not go ahead (or if the kallah pulls out in the first 6 months I suggest... )

In my personal experiences a diamond ring is so beautiful to the kallah, that it definitely helps encourage the positiveness of the marriage process :)

November 5, 2013 at 4:30:00 AM EST