In all honesty, while Greek engagement rings do imply some cultural design aesthetic, the practice of giving engagement rings per se is a Greek one. In fact, the traditions of the Greeks are so pervasive that we can consider not only design considerations as Greek, but also practices.

Taking a look first at traditions, realize that the practice of engagement was something that was important in early Greek societies. In fact, men and women in Greece customarily ‘engaged’ each other before getting married. Once an engagement agreement is made, a priest is called to bless their engagement rings, which they now wear each on their left ring fingers. Notice how consistent their practices are to current practices.

In addition, the name for the common engagement ring material, the diamond, was given by the Greeks. The Greek ‘adamas’ meant something that was ‘unconquerable’. This may be the reason, then, why people
try to embody what the diamond stands for: that their relationship is unconquerable.

However, aside from these marital and engagement traditions, the Greeks are also known for aesthetic engagement ring designs. Greek engagement rings are often characterized by the band depicting the Greek key design. These Greek key bands have designs that resemble the mythical labyrinths. While these Greek rings are popular as simple bands, engagement ring creators offer the option of making allowances for setting the diamond in the middle. Often, the diamond stands out from an inner band that is wrapped with the Greek key outer band. The outer Greek key band ends about a millimetre or so on both sides of the diamond.

The Greek key design provides a unique design option that gives homage to the engagement tradition introduced by the Greeks. In addition, engagement rings in the Greek key design also enjoy an undeniable cultural identification with the Greeks, similar to popular Celtic designs or minimalist Zen styles.