page_title: Pre-engagement ring
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Pre-engagement ring / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Gold Royal Claddagh Ring Claddagh Ring Français&#160;: Claddagh ring Polski: Claddagh ring Nederlands: Claddagh ring Русский: Кладдахское кольцо
context_page_description: A pre-engagement ring, sometimes referred to as a friendship ring or promise ring, is a ring given as a gift to a romantic partner to signify a commitment to a monogamous relationship, often as a precursor to an engagement ring. A heterosexual couple typically has the man presenting a ring or both exchanging rings, though women may present one as well. They may be worn on any finger due to not being as serious as an engagement ring, though they are sometimes worn on a necklace. These rings are typically purchased by those who are too young to get engaged to their partner or by a partner or partners who do not want to rush into marriage. While similar concepts have been employed in the past, the concept of pre-engagement rings came into prominence starting in the 1970s. It gained further prominence in the late 2000s when notable people began to use pre-engagement rings such as the Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, and Priyanka Chopra.
context_section_description: Similar concepts to pre-engagement rings have appeared at various points in history. One such example is posy rings, which were engraved with romantic poems in 16th century England. Another example were acrostic rings, which spelled out a word in gemstones such as "regard" using a ruby, emerald, garnet, amethyst, another ruby, and a diamond. Claddagh rings are another similar kind of ring. The term 'promise ring' entered the "jewelry dictionary" in the 1970s.
caption: A Claddagh ring
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