Men’s engagement rings are quickly becoming one of the fastest growing categories in the men’s rings world.
Labelled as the so-called ‘Mengagement’ by the New York Times back in 2010, and already an ever-growing trend in the US, in recent years the Irish market has also seen increasing demand for men’s engagement rings - sometimes also dubbed ‘man-gagement rings’.
Further popularised by celebrities such as Ed Sheeran and Michael Bublé, the male engagement ring is fast-becoming a way for both people in a relationship to equally show their love and commitment, as well as a means for men to show the world that they are “off the market”.
More commonly however, men’s engagement rings are also becoming a popular way for both women and men to pop the question to that special man in their life.
The Engagement Ring – The Evolution of a Tradition
Tracing its history as far back as ancient Rome, and originally used as a sign of ownership, the engagement ring of today has thankfully instead become a symbol of mutual love and commitment to a shared future in marriage.
In general, engagement rings are traditionally placed on the ring finger of the left hand, as, at one time, it was believed that this finger contained a vein (the vena amoris) that led directly to the heart.
Although engagement rings are customarily worn only by the woman in most western countries, engagement rings for men are in fact very common in various other countries such as Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Sweden.
In Ireland, a Leap Day (February 29th) was historically the only day that a woman could propose to their other half. For many Irish couples however, this tradition understandably no longer fits with modern views on marriage and equality. Gradually, couples are moving away from outdated traditions, and embracing new ones.
Increasingly, women are now the ones frequently popping the question with approximately 1 in 20 women being the ones to propose to their male partners. As well as that, following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Ireland back in 2015, there’s never been a better time than now to say “I do” - declaring love for love in all its many forms - with a male engagement ring.
Choosing the Perfect Men’s Engagement Ring
In order to find the perfect men’s engagement ring, you’ll need to find one that matches your partner’s personality and tastes, while also considering the metal, style, and finish. Usually, men want something more subtle and masculine than what is typically seen in traditional engagement ring ranges.
If you’re thinking of proposing to the special man in your life, get in touch with us now to ask about our very own range of men’s engagement rings.
As one of the only jewellers in Dublin with an onsite manufacturing workshop, at Martin Gear Jewellers, we can also manufacture the perfect men’s engagement ring for the love of your life - from classic to contemporary and all styles in between.