Eternity rings are an important, loving gesture that symbolise the commitment of two people to each other, and their dedication to stay together.

You might be wondering if they are the same thing as the wedding ring, which is an important part of getting married, but they are not. They are in fact presented to the wife by the husband some time after marriage has taken place -- usually upon the birth of their first child, or at the first anniversary of their wedding. Symbolically they are a very important gesture of the strength and commitment of the relationship and the happiness that already exists within the marriage.

The rings are also sometimes known by alternative names such as "infinity rings", "anniversary rings", "promise rings" and "special occasion rings". While opinions on the matter vary, there is in fact no definite place to wear a promise ring -- some people wear them on the same finger as their wedding ring and others on their middle finger, while some people might wear it on their right or left hands.

There are two main types of ring available. The first is a "half ring". All eternity rings are usually embedded with jewels around them, and half rings are distinctive because they only have jewels going half way around them. This means that the ring can be resized in the future. You might wonder why you would want to resize a ring that only one person is going to use -- the answer is that promise rings are often handed down through generations. If you are thinking of doing this then it could be worth considering the purchase of a half ring.

The other option is going for a "full ring". With jewels embedded around the full area of the ring, these are usually extravagantly designed and wonderful to look at. They also make a large gesture of your investment in the marriage. As with all eternity rings they are available in a range of materials, the most popular being silver, gold and platinum. There are also a wide range of popular stones used in these rings, such as diamond, amethyst, emerald, garnet, ruby and sapphire. There really is no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to choosing the metal and stone for your ring, it really comes down to personal preference.

Some people choose to match the metal of their promise ring to the metal of their wedding ring, especially if they are going to be worn on the same finger. Others might choose the stone based on its symbolic meaning -- for example, birthstones, which could represent the birth of a child or partner.

Giving your partner or loved one a promise ring is an important and symbolic moment in your relationship. Before you purchase one you should spend some time considering which is the right eternity ring to buy.