Wedding Rings

An acclaimed ring designer traces the evolution of wedding rings in this pretty, square-shaped book. According to Gad, rings have endured as emblems of love and fidelity for centuries, ever since cavemen tied bits of hollow grass around their brides' fingers. From ancient Egyptian gold to 21st-century titanium, the ring has graced the fingers of lovers across cultures, varying in design and ritual but remaining a fundamental symbol of union. Gad organizes her chapters chronologically so that they detail how each new development enriched the ring's appearance and often its meaning: the improved craftsmanship of enamel, filigree and pave; the origins of inscriptions; the diamond boom in South Africa and the influx of gems from the New World are all discussed. Arriving at the modern era, Gad explains how Americans fashioned their rings to reflect aesthetic movements (Art Deco designs) and silver-screen romance (when Tiffany's wedding bands became de rigeur). Zeva Oelbaum's gauzy, softly lit photographs capture the detail of bands from vintage to ultra-modern, classically simple to exotically ornate. The more dazzling photographs (of Harry Winston's supersized diamonds, for instance) are a nice touch of hedonistic appeal. A few handy guides to quality, settings and care round out this paean to the ring.