I happen to really like that the promise ring is back in style. Although this "pre-engagement ring" got its name in the 1960s, this time 'round, there's much greater variety to choose from, in terms of design. Before you begin a search for the perfect one, here are some fast facts on exactly what a promise ring is, who it's for, when it's given, and more.

What is a "Promise Ring"?

It's a ring that symbolizes a future commitment, with the intention of becoming officially engaged to be married at a later (unknown and unspecified) date.


First popularized by senior high school students in the latter part of the decade of the 1960s, the promise ring goes by other names, too. Those include: Pre-Engagement Ring, Pre-Proposal Ring, First-Love Ring, and Sweetheart Ring.

What's a promise ring look like?

Today, a modern promise ring often looks very different than back in the Sixties when, typically, it was in 14k yellow gold and resembled a mini version of a traditional engagement ring in a Tiffany setting with a non-ostentatious two-point colorless diamond. (With the two promise rings pictured  here, from SYNA Jewels, each has approximately 0.10-carat total diamond weight, and one of the rings features natural color champagne diamonds.) Another popular style in the '60s was a ring with the word "Love" spelled out (frequently in a kind of cut-out fashion) with a small white diamond set next to it. Also common back then were delicate rings with a heart-shaped setting--in yellow gold and, again, with a tiny colorless diamond.

   Ah, but what a difference half-a-century makes!

First, a lot of fine jewelry stores offer very affordable promise rings in sterling silver, so precious gold (or even gold-filled) is definitely no longer a must. Additionally, contemporary promise rings needn't contain a diamond. Some may be fashioned with simple words of love only--for example, forever, always, etc.--or perhaps punctuated with the girl/woman's favorite gem or birthstone, or possibly designed with romantic symbols of commitment, such as an infinity sign as well as the traditional heart, or even symbols of love according to a particular culture. 

Who buys a promise ring? 

This type of ring is intended for a woman, so most times, it'll be the guy buying it for his future-future bride. However, with female same-sex couples, it's a great idea for both women in the committed relationship to buy a promise ring for each other--and, whether they want the same or a different ring for each of them, that's a matter of personal choice and up to the individual couple.

What's a good occasion to give a promise ring? 

You can celebrate your pledge of future engagement commitment at any time, of course, but I think it's a particularly great jewelry gift for Valentine's Day. A promise ring is the perfect sentimental piece of jewelry, too, as a gift for any holiday, birthday, and graduation.

Why are promise rings popular again?

In my opinion, two things have ignited the trend of promise rings. One is culture, the other is fashion. Since the Great Recession began in 2008, many couples have been postponing an engagement/wedding until they feel more financially secure. Another factor influencing the promise ring's comeback has been the jewelry accessorizing idea of stack rings. Since the turn of the century, wearing slim two-or-more delicate rings on the same finger keeps getting stronger. So the promise ring winds up being a ring a woman will always wear, even later on, once she has her engagement ring and wedding band. At the same time, fashion, especially in the past half-dozen years or so, is very much about simultaneously wearing many rings on several different fingers. So the usually slender-shanked promise ring will also be forever-beautiful as a pinkie ring. (FYI: Actually, that's how I wear mine. It's a simple sterling silver ring, with a cutout heart of teeny-tiny diamonds.)