<P> The poesy ring was a style of ring that was popular during the Renaissance era . It was a band of sterling silver inscribed with a poem or "poesy". </P> <P> Different cultures used many other historical styles of wedding ring . For example, see the image below of the Byzantine ring depicting Christ uniting bride and groom . Also, in the Middle East the puzzle ring was a historical custom: this ring consisted of several pieces that joined together into a cohesive band when worn properly . The object of this style of ring was to render it very difficult to put on the finger properly such that, if the wife removed it, her husband would know . The fede ring, being a band consisting of two hands clasped in betrothal, is another historical custom of Europe that ostensibly dates from antiquity . </P> <P> In 1942 during the Second World War, British wartime restrictions on the manufacture of jewelry resulted in "utility" wedding rings that were limited to a maximum mass of two pennyweights, being slightly heavier than 3 grams, and were forged of 9 carat gold rather than the traditional 22 carat . The Regional Assayer Office hallmarked these rings, which guaranteed their gold content and compliance with the wartime regulations with a special utility mark adjacent to the mark for the year on the inside of the band; the hallmark resembled a capital "U" with the bottom curve absent or two parentheses enclosing a space, i.e., "()". </P> <P> The double - ring ceremony describes the exchange of wedding rings by and for both spouses . In several European nations such as the Nordic countries, it is common to exchange plain engagement rings of the same form for both sexes, and typically, an additional, more precious, and bejeweled wedding ring is given to the bride . In the nuptials, the groom's ring becomes a wedding ring also, and can be bestowed anew by the bride as a part of the wedding ceremony . The engagement is commonly a matter of agreement between the two, and the wedding rings are chosen together . Both engagement and wedding rings are worn on the left hand, the bride having both rings together . Occasionally, the groom receives a separate wedding ring . In Germany and Austria, both parties use engagement rings worn on the left hand . At the nuptials, a wedding ring is placed on the right hand, as in several east European nations, including Bulgaria, Poland, and Russia . This can be a new ring for the bride or both, or reusing the engagement rings . Any engagement rings can then remain on the left hand or be transferred to the right hand . In Germany, in has been customary for both the bride and the groom to wear a wedding ring since at least the 1870s and mentions of couples exchange rings during the wedding ceremony in the Netherlands can be found at least as far back as 1815 . In Brazil, Mexico and Spain both sexes also wear engagement rings, and the groom's ring often becomes a wedding ring in the nuptial exchange ceremony . In The Netherlands plain bands can be worn on either hand, left for Catholics and right for Protestants . When engaged, both bride and groom wear what will be the wedding band on the opposite hand and switch hands after the wedding . </P>

Where does the wedding ring tradition come from