I never had any idea

[Chickadee]

Ditto, lucybelle!

I always thought promise rings were a religious and/or "purity" thing. Hmm.

[Rach321]

Promise rings seem to be common where I'm from (Midwest US), but I never associated them with purity. I've always seen them as a promise to be together before couples are ready for a formal engagement (or in the case of people I knew from high school/college, their parents would not approve of an engagement at their ages, so they did a promise ring instead). I don't really understand them, and I never wanted one, but that's the only meaning I know for them!

[XxFranticLovexX]

I kinda like the idea behind it, but I don't really see the point of it unless there is some reason that you can't just jump into buying an engagement ring instead.

Though, I have a ring that my so gave me, on a chain, that I wear all the time and for a while he was wearing a ring that I sent him so that people would know that he was taken (at least, that was his reasoning for it XD ). He only stopped wearing it because I need to replace it since it isn't a good ring at all and I never expected him to actually wear it. lol. We never considered them to be a 'promise ring' of any sort though.

[Zephii]

To me, promise rings are for kids. You know, you're having your sweet teen relationship, but you're not legally old enough to get married so there's no real point in getting engaged (and likely you don't have the money anyway) but you want to have/give something. Maybe it's even like a practice run? Once you're 18, I really think there's no point anymore.

Is there room in that bitter women boat? Haha

[blankita719]

Well count me in as bitter as well since I've never received a promise ring

I always thought is was for younger kids as well - mostly older teens who weren't quite ready to be engaged for whatever reason. I never saw the point in it, but hey, those crazy kids - can't tell them anything!

[Ms.Justine]

I agree that is is a ploy to get women or men to buy diamonds. When in all reality I believe that a promise ring is the engagement ring. Unless used for religious purposes.

[one-more-reason]

my SO gave me a gorgeous amethyst ring for Christmas this past year, and he just called it an "I love you ring." hahaha. I don't think it has any particular meaning for him, I think he just wanted to get me something pretty and it happened to be a ring. I knew he was going jewelery shopping for me but I was expecting a necklace; the ring was a bit of a surprise! but I love it, I wear it on my left middle finger, I just like having it as a reminder and to show others that I'm taken, but I don't necessarily see it as a promise of anything. if he proposes later on, that's the real deal, like he said, this one is just an "I love you" ring.

[Inf_Amy]

I'd never heard of promise rings until coming to this site. I wear an eternity ring from my SO on my ring finger.

[Sanney4709]

I think the purpose of a promise ring is kind of for couples who are young or who don't have the finances to get married for a while but still want to show their commitment to each other. I have one and it wasn't like outrageously expensive but it means a lot to me. It may be a ploy for jewelry companies but what isn't a way to make a quick buck anymore. People find a way to make money off of everything. Anyways that's just my opinion. (:

[efish1042]

We have claddagh rings. Cheap ones from Target. We're looking to upgrade, though *cough*he*lost*his*cough*. I don't think it makes sense to buy an expensive "promise ring" unless it will also act as the engagement ring... in which case, it was never a "promise ring" to begin with... But I believe the symbol is worthwhile. Just maybe not worth a small fortune.

[floridaellen]

My SO gave me a promise ring. We were young (well, we still are) and it seemed like a great idea at the time.

I still wear it. It has a nice sentiment behind it. It reminds people I'm taken. And it's really pretty

[13000km]

I was going to jump in the I never knew...boat but I remembered when I was a teen "couple rings" were all the rage. Teenage couples would get cheap matching rings and wore them as something to show their relationship by. most of my friends who did that now agree that having rings really did nothing for the relationship then. Most are now in relationships that don't need to be proven that way, and are looking forward to receiving engagement rings.