WHAT’S A PROMISE RING? - The concept of a ring to symbolize love and loyalty dates back to Roman times, when brides-to-be would wear bands around their left ring finger. The beauty of the promise ring is that its meaning is entirely up to you. Some couples use the promise ring as a pre-engagement ring, others use it to signify an important milestone in their relationship or a promise they’ve made together. Some people wear promise rings on the left ring finger, because there’s a vein that runs from that finger straight to the heart. Others wear them on a chain or on their little fingers. Giving a promise ring would be similar to making someone a promise. Promise ring, pre-engagement ring, commitment ring… you say toe-mah-toe, I say toe-may-toe. Whatever you call it, this post-modern pre-engagement trend is on the rise, and we absolutely love the idea. More opportunities to celebrate and solidify the love? What’s a promise ring? A promise ring is just that – a ring that symbolizes a promise, although not THE promise (as in, marriage). The beauty of the promise ring is that its meaning is entirely up to you. Some couples use the promise ring as a pre-engagement ring, others use it to signify an important milestone in their relationship or a promise they’ve made together. It makes total sense – couples these days are usually already living together or happily choosing to marry later in life.

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What’s A Promise Ring?

And How To Wear One?

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The concept of a ring to symbolize love and loyalty dates back to Roman times, when brides-to-be would wear bands around their left ring finger. The beauty of the promise ring is that its meaning is entirely up to you. Some couples use the promise ring as a pre-engagement ring, others use it to signify an important milestone in their relationship or a promise they’ve made together. Some people wear promise rings on the left ring finger, because there’s a vein that runs from that finger straight to the heart. Others wear them on a chain or on their little fingers. Giving a promise ring would be similar to making someone a promise.

Gardens of the Sun

No, really. What is it?

Read our guide on what it means, how to give one, wear one, and honor one.

Promise ring, pre-engagement ring, commitment ring… you say toe-mah-toe, I say toe-may-toe.

Whatever you call it, this post-modern pre-engagement trend is on the rise, and we absolutely love the idea.

More opportunities to celebrate and solidify the love? Count us in!

What’s a promise ring?

A promise ring is just that – a ring that symbolizes a promise, although not THE promise (as in, marriage).

The beauty of the promise ring is that its meaning is entirely up to you.

Some couples use the promise ring as a pre-engagement ring, others use it to signify an important milestone in their relationship or a promise they’ve made together.

It makes total sense – couples these days are usually already living together or happily choosing to marry later in life.

So, a token of commitment in the form of a thoughtful ring that was born out of an intimate promise between two loved up people?

Why not?

Where did it come from?

Miley Cyrus. Not. Although she did play a big part in making it so popular among modern couples.

The promise ring reminds us of the good ol’ high school sweetheart tale of the guy giving a girl his class ring.

But actually, the idea of the promise ring goes way back.

Posy rings – engraved with lovely poems – were common in 16th century England, and acrostic rings – spelling out names of loved ones in gemstones – were all the rage in the Victorian times.

And the concept of a ring to symbolize love and loyalty dates back to Roman times, when brides-to-be would wear bands around their left ring finger.

What should it look like?

Whatever your heart desires.

We’re not exactly traditional here at Gardens of the Sun, and we’d never tell anyone how their rings should look, but even in mainstream thought, promise rings are a free-for-all.

The more pragmatic folks out there tend to pick a promise ring with their engagement ring and wedding band in mind (nothing that would clash).

And some couples see the promise ring as a chance to get creative and make it a fashion piece.

Bands with a mosaic or a cluster of stones are popular as they signify fruitful years together.

We think the Hidden Gems, Particles and Soul Searchers collections make great promise rings.

How to wear one? Or give one?

Some people wear promise rings on the left ring finger (if not engaged or married), because there’s a vein that runs from that finger straight to the heart.

Others wear them on a chain or on their little fingers (pinky promise, get it?).

Giving a promise ring would be similar to making someone a promise.

Do it over a candle-lit dinner, in front of the TV, at a baseball game, while you’re hiking in the desert, through a love letter, on Skype – the point is, each couple expresses their love and enjoys their time together differently, so that should inform the whole process.

The main thing is, there’s no “on bended knee” expectation with the promise ring. It’s whatever floats your love boat.

We love the promise ring because it reminds us to stop, slow down, step back and talk about important and intimate commitments with the person we love.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the wedding whirlwind that we forget about the most important thing: the true promise we make to each other.

What does a promise ring mean to you?

WE LOVE WHAT WE DO

At Gardens of the Sun, we don't just create jewelry. We’re here to shake things up, gently.
To turn destructive practices into positive impact - the kind that changes lives. 

Every decision we make is infused with love and care for our planet. 
Every piece of jewelry we make connects you to a larger purpose.

A journey beyond jewelry. 

https://gardensofthesun.com/blogs/news/what-s-a-promise-ring-and-how-to-wear-one

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My Promise

Patti Page

CLICK HERE . . . to view complete playlist . . . 

https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2018/01/my-promise-patti-page-forever-my.html

PLATINUM - Platinum is a naturally occurring chemical element that is actually about 30 times rarer than gold. It's the least common of all the popular precious metals. In appearance, platinum is silvery-white and shiny. Because it looks so similar to white gold, the distinction can be confusing to the untrained eye. White gold is actually yellow gold that was mixed with other metals and then plated with rhodium to appear more white — a white mask that will unveil a yellow tinge over time. Platinum, on the other hand, will maintain its naturally white color. If you look closely at a piece of well-loved platinum jewelry, you'll notice a satiny finish on the surface that developed over time. This change in texture is known as 'patina. Many platinum aficionados actually desire this change in appearance. Platinum is also more durable than gold, which is one of the reasons it is often the metal of choice for engagement rings, (gold prongs are more likely to break than their platinum counterparts.) Nowadays, platinum is more likely to be mined as ore from deep underground. Workers blast rock into small pieces and transport it to the surface for further processing. Platinum also may be found as a byproduct of processing other metals like nickel and copper. Most platinum is derived from a mineral called cooperite, also known as platinum sulfide. Platinum is even found in outer space. Platinum has also been discovered in heavy concentrations in meteorites.

Jennifer Lopez (and her platinum rings) attend Fox's "American Idol" XIII Finale at Nokia Theatre L.A. on May 21, 2014 in Los Angeles.

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Platinum

What’s So Special About Platinum?

BY ALIA HOYT 

If phrases like "platinum status" and "going platinum" are to be believed, the precious metal is the best and baddest in all the land.

But how elite is it actually, particularly when compared with its best frenemy, gold?

Platinum Vs. Gold

Platinum is a naturally occurring chemical element that is actually about 30 times rarer than gold, according to Jenny Luker, president of Platinum Guild International USA (PGI), a marketing organization for the platinum jewelry industry.

"If all the platinum ever mined were melted and poured into an Olympic-sized pool, the platinum would barely reach your ankles. Gold, however, would fill three pools," she explains via email.

In fact, it's the least common of all the popular precious metals.

In appearance, platinum is silvery-white and shiny.

Because it looks so similar to white gold, the distinction can be confusing to the untrained eye.

"White gold is actually yellow gold that was mixed with other metals and then plated with rhodium to appear more white — a white mask that will unveil a yellow tinge over time," Luker says.

"Platinum, on the other hand, will maintain its naturally white color."

That's not to say that it won't change at all, however. 

"If you look closely at a piece of well-loved platinum jewelry, you'll notice a satiny finish on the surface that developed over time. This change in texture is known as 'patina,'" Luker explains.

Many platinum aficionados actually desire this change in appearance.

Platinum is also more durable than gold, which is one of the reasons it is often the metal of choice for engagement rings, (gold prongs are more likely to break than their platinum counterparts.)

Unfortunately, all of these attributes have given platinum a traditionally heftier price tag than gold, although Luker notes that the current price difference is minimal. 

"Right now, the price per ounce of platinum is actually lower than gold. However, because platinum jewelry is more pure (typically 95 percent platinum versus 58.5 percent gold in 14 kt. gold jewelry) and more dense than gold, it will still cost a bit more than a similar gold ring," she notes.

(On July 9, 2019, the price of platinum was $816.60 per ounce. Gold was $1,397.68 per ounce.)

How Platinum Is Mined

Platinum is mined mainly in South Africa, but also found in Russia and Zimbabwe.

The metal is formed when minerals are eroded from their original spot and then carried by water somewhere else (this is called stream bed mining or alluvial mining).

Workers sift through the sand or mud looking for gold, diamonds or platinum.

Nowadays, platinum is more likely to be mined as ore from deep underground. Workers blast rock into small pieces and transport it to the surface for further processing.

Platinum also may be found as a byproduct of processing other metals like nickel and copper.

Most platinum is derived from a mineral called cooperite, also known as platinum sulfide.

Platinum is even found in outer space. "Platinum has also been discovered in heavy concentrations in meteorites — first reported in F. G. Hawley's research papers, published in 1939," Luker says.

Although platinum's strength and beauty have made it a jewelry favorite since the ancient Egyptians and Mayans, jewelry-making is hardly its only useful application.

About half of platinum's demand is actually for use in catalytic converters for transportation vehicles like buses, cars and trucks, in large part because it's adept at converting harmful engine emissions into less damaging waste.

Platinum is also used as a catalyst to make chemicals like silicone, nitric acid and benzene.

In fact, the six platinum group metals (iridium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium and osmium) are all known for their impressive catalytic skills (meaning these metals increase the rate of chemical reaction between substances without changing their physical properties.)

In the healthcare field, platinum compounds are a component of some chemotherapy drugs, and are also used in pacemakers and even dental fillings.

The electronics industry has various applications for platinum, too — for instance, computer hard disks.

From a defense standpoint, platinum has been long valued for its strength, which goes far beyond simple scratch resistance.

The metal holds up well under high temperatures, boasts stable electrical properties and is highly resistant to chemical attacks.

For example, coating jet engine blades with platinum-based products protects them where temperatures can reach 2,000 degrees C (3,632 degrees F).

"Platinum was an important strategic defense metal used during World War II and was not allowed for jewelry application at that time," Luker says.

Even today, platinum is so important to economic and defense efforts that it was listed as one of the 35 minerals "deemed critical to U.S. national security and the economy."

With a resume like that, it appears that platinum's reputation and price tag are well-deserved, indeed. 

NOW THAT'S MISGUIDED

Ironically, Spaniards who discovered platinum in Colombia were less than impressed, tossing it by the wayside as an impurity in the coveted silver they were mining.

So disdainful of the metal were they that they dubbed it "platina," which means "little silver." From this term, we get the English word "platinum."

Alia Hoyt

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Alia is an Atlanta-based freelance writer who has contributed content to HowStuffWorks for going on a decade now, with a specialty in health writing. She’s also been published by TLC, Animal Planet, and a number of corporate clients. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!), and might someday get around to setting up a professional website. Until then, check her out on LinkedIn.
She and her husband are proud parents to three handsome, too-smart-for-their-own-good boys. Alia is a passably not terrible tennis player, lover of all things dance and music, brownie-obsessed, avid reader and off-key car singer. Her two favorite types of people are those who have a healthy sense of humor and those who actually read articles in their entirety before posting comments.

https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/platinum.htm