Why do we do the ring thing?

Tips for Men
by Lawrence Mitchell, for AskMen.com

It's May and matrimony is in the air: The time has come for all us experts to provide men with advice on finding the perfect ring. Of course, the debate among certain cynical -- though some may say wise -- men will always ensue: Why the heck do we have to buy a ring? Why do we have to drop that kind of coin on a trinket?
The short answer for some of us is simple: Because we want to. Some of us recognize the inherent symbolism of an engagement ring, seeing it as a mark of decisive commitment, a promise of ultimate love, a testament to long-lasting devotion and so on. This is neither right nor wrong. This just is.

Past experience with women and family history can greatly influence opinions on the subject. A man who has been financially massacred by undergoing three divorces without the protection of a prenuptial agreement or decent lawyer may not look so well upon the expense -- or significance -- of an engagement ring. But when push comes to shove, most who marry will do the ring thing, like it or not.

There seems to be near universal agreement on the origin of the tradition. Most experts concur that it began in 1477 when Archduke Maximillian of Austria presented a big fat diamond ring to his future wife Mary of Burgundy. The reasons behind its staying power, however, are less clear. While cynics believe it's due to a vast conspiracy perpetrated by the diamond industry to make mucho moolah off the masses, romantics point to the influence of the Ancient Egyptians, who believed that the vena amoris (love vein) ran from the fourth finger of the left hand to the heart. So if you want to blame someone for our modern obsession with engagement rings, take your pick: the Hapsburg Empire of Austria, the global diamond consortiums or the Ancient Egyptians.

Men have a tendency to blame women for wanting a really big ring, but when you think about it, society fuels unrealistic expectations for the perfect everything: sex life, marriage, children, body, career, and life in general. So try to pursue your own nuptial bliss. Forget about trying to meet someone else's ideal of the perfect ring. Concentrate on choosing the perfect ring for your woman and your circumstances.