What does the ring represent?

There’s a famous song titled With This Ring performed by The Platters in the ’60s. It’s nice listening to this song because it talks about never-ending love. “With this ring I promise I’ll always love you, always love you. Baby, I never thought so much love could fit in a little band of gold. But I’m telling you, darling. I feel it in my heart, got it in my soul,” goes the lyrics of the song.

Why do we often use the ring as a symbol of everlasting love? According to various sources gathered from the Net, the custom of exchanging rings dates back over 4,800 years ago. The wedding ring is usually worn on the fourth finger or what we call the ring finger because there’s an old belief that the left hand’s ring finger is connected by a vein directly to the heart. The ring is also round which means it has no beginning and end.

More than just a fashion accessory, the following celebrities wear their ring as a sign of their commitment to their beloved:

The year has just started and stars have already walked down the aisle like Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Sotto who tied the knot last Jan. 12 at Club Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas; Roxanne Guinoo and Elton Yap were married last Jan. 23 at the Santuario de San Antonio Church in Manila; and John Estrada and Priscilla Meirelles had a romantic sunset seaside wedding last Feb. 26 at Thunderbird Resorts in Poro Point, San Fernando, La Union.

If there were celebrities who got married, there are also couples who are officially engaged. Lara Quigaman and Marco Alcaraz have been together for almost two years now. Marco proposed to Lara last October. Kyla announced that she and her five-year boyfriend PBA cager Rich Alvarez are getting married. She wants a church wedding, “Minsan ka lang kasing ikasal, di ba, kaya maglalakad na ko sa aisle.”

On the other hand, a promise ring represents a promise or commitment between two people. Didn’t Cristine Reyes receive a promise ring from her boyfriend Rayver Cruz? The actress proudly showed it in The Buzz during an interview. Cristine said that it might be destiny because it is the only ring that fits her. What is Rayver’s promise to Cristine that is symbolized by the promise ring?

In Hollywood, Beyoncé displayed her wedding ring on the red carpet for Fashion Rocks at Radio City Music Hall in N.Y.C. The singer who secretly married rapper Jay-Z flashed her 18-carat diamond by Lorraine Schwartz valued at more than $5M during the event.

Natalie Portman showed off her stunning engagement ring while posing in-front of the photographers after picking up her award at the 2011 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards for her movie Black Swan. The ring was carefully designed by dancer-model fiancé Benjamin Millepied to include recycled platinum, an antique center stone and accenting pavé diamonds taken from a conflict-free mine. The ring was created for the couple by Jamie Wolf, a ballet dancer-turned-jewelry designer.

Reese Witherspoon is engaged to Hollywood agent Jim Toth. According to reports, the ring is a four-carat Ashoka diamond on a pave diamond-and-platinum band and was custom-designed by the William Goldberg Diamond Corp. The center stone features 62 displayed facets and rounded corners and is based on a classic diamond from around 262 B.C.

Hilary Duff is married to Canadian NHL player Mike Comrie in an intimate ceremony in Santa Barbara, California. For her engagement, Hilary received from the hockey player a 14-carat princess cut diamond ring reportedly costing $1M.

Purity rings have become a trend among teenage stars especially in the US. It is said that purity rings represent sexual abstinence until a person gets married. Some of the famous celebrities who wear them are the Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, and Jordin Sparks.

Selena, who is rumored to be Justin Bieber’s girlfriend once said, “It’s something I made a promise to myself about.” Miley who was accused of being pregnant while dating Nick Jonas explained, “It’s given me the street credibility to say that would be impossible because I’m living my life the way I believe is right and that is to stay pure.”

Meanwhile in England, the upcoming Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 has generated a worldwide buzz. The couple was engaged on Oct. 20 last year while having their private vacation in Kenya. Prince William gave his fiancée an 18-carat white gold ring with a 12-carat oval sapphire and 14 round diamonds the same engagement ring that his father, Prince Charles, gave to William’s mother, the late Princess Diana. It is said that the ring costs £30,000 at the time of Diana’s engagement. Kate showed off her engagement ring at St. James Palace in London hours after the news broke about their royal engagement.