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Family Crest Rings have a very long
history:
Jewelry has been used by men and women for wealth
storage and for personal adornment for tens of thousands of years.
Heraldic jewelry, such as the family crest ring, has roots squarely
grounded hundreds of years ago, in the Middle Ages. In those
long-ago times, several specific types of heraldic jewelry were
designed for practical reasons as well as for their beauty. A
prime example is the family crest ring.
During the Middle
Ages, family crest rings were beautiful pieces of jewelry that were
used by members of the nobility to identify themselves as lords of
the manor. Family crest rings can still be used to signify
family membership, although now they are also used as a decorative
fashion accessory.
Designs Used in Family Crest Rings:
The
surface of the top of a family crest ring is engraved with a graphic,
heraldic device called a family crest. Some people use the term
"family crest" interchangeably with the heraldic terms
"coat-of-arms" or "family shield." But
technically, a family crest is only one component in the design of a
coat-of -arms, usually the uppermost portion that stands on top of an
armor helmet that is depicted in the coat-of-arms. The
stylized representations which we now think of as being family
crests originated as displays sitting atop actual armored helmets
worn by knights during Medieval battles and tournaments.
A
variety of patterns, colors and devices may be used in family crests,
with some of the more common devices being a hand or arm holding a
weapon, a lion, a horse, a dragon, or an eagle's or other bird's
wings. Each of the components of a family crest has a specific
meaning, and together they tell a story about the progenitor of that
family and his deeds. No matter which elements are used in the
design of family crests, they are always symbolic,stylistic and
stunning.
Family Crest Rings Can Be Useful As Well As
Beautiful:
Although the need to identify themselves by wearing
family crest rings has long past, many individuals even today wear
family crest rings as a means of symbolically linking to their family
history and heritage. In countries where the noble class still
exists, family crest rings can also be a status symbol - they serve
as an instant identifier of the wearer's level in society. Even
today, a fine family crest ring is a uniquely appropriate gift for
a man or woman of high accomplishment or high social status.
Family
crest rings are often made of precious metals such as gold, silver or
platinum. The arresting appearance of high-quality pieces, with
their intricately engraved detail, captivates anyone who sees one.
Their visual appeal can be enhanced even more if they are enameled
with vivid colors or set with precious gemstones.
Family crest
rings have become extremely popular because of their attractive
designs and the family history that they signify. The pageantry
and the magnificence of the Medieval world are quickly brought to
mind by these beautiful rings with their highly stylized, intricate
designs.
History and heritage, perfectly and beautifully
symbolized by family crest rings.
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