Just the thought of a ring is enough to quicken a woman's heart and turn a man's thoughts to romance. Unlike a pair of earrings, a necklace, or even a bracelet, a ring often has the most powerful significance and sentimental value of any jewelry item.

Rings have had power over people throughout history, from Cleopatra to Princess Diana. From the Hindus and the Greeks to the Ancient Incas and Native Americans, the influence of rings has been dramatic. Rings have been used to confer authority, seal pacts, unite people, heal sickness, prevent ill luck, foretell the future and announce status. They have been worn in memory of loved ones, and worn to praise men and God. Can a simple pair of diamond stud earrings ever have that effect?

And don't assume that diamonds have always been a girl's best friend. Over the centuries, rings have been adorned with every gem humans have been able to tear out of the earth: Amber and chalcedony were favored in Ancient Rome; the Orient delighted in jade, while turquoise was king in Persia.

It is said that the wearing of rings probably grew out of the custom in the ancient world of wearing cylindrical seals around the neck; over time, they were modified to fit around the finger instead (which certainly sounds much more comfortable).

Rings haven't been used simply as wedding bands through history. In fact, many different types of rings, with different uses and purposes, have been popular over the centuries. There have been watch or dial rings that allowed you to keep track of all the time you wasted during the day; mirror rings to check your appearance and help you make a good impression; smoke rings with attachments for your cigarette; swivel rings that could be turned on your finger to hide a seal or signet; surprise rings that disguised a mythical or astrological symbol; chatelaine rings linked together to form a chain; curative rings to bring you back to health; memorial rings to commemorate those beyond health; pacifier rings to give an infant something to suck on, and even poison rings to...well, you get the idea.

The Signet Ring
If you had a signet ring-a ring with a carving on it so you could stamp an image onto another surface - in the ancient world, it would be the absolute last thing you would want to part with. It was more important than the cell phone or palm pilot of today! Kings used them to pass down their power. Merchants had the emblems of their trade carved on them and used them to seal contracts. Signet rings were as good as a signature, and stealing one of them was a serious offense. The mark on a signet ring could enhance one's reputation or condemn one to death, as those who wore rings with the impression of Brutus and Cassius discovered after Julius Caesar's assassination.

Many signet rings had mottoes cut on them, while royal signet rings were lavishly decorated with precious metal, gems and rich enamel. Signet rings remained popular through the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, customarily engraved upon gold and enhanced by carnelians, chalcedonies, lapis lazuli or bloodstones.

Did you know that...

* Women of rank in the Middle Ages wore signet rings as symbols of prestige?
* One of the most famous signet rings belonged to Michelangelo, which boasted a carving of a segment of the Sistine Chapel.
* Lovers had romantic images engraved on their signet rings?
* Some images minted on ancient coins were reproductions of the seals of city magistrates?
* To dream of a signet ring boded well or ill, depending on the nature of the dream?

The Religious Ring
Rings have been a part of religion in many cultures throughout history. Rome's high priests, for instance, wore hollow rings to identify themselves as those exempt from the hard labor of daily life.

When Christianity arrived on the scene, religious rings became hallmarks of the faith. These rings were often decorated with Biblical scenes, episodes from the Life of Jesus, and even creatures such as fish, which were symbolically tied to Christianity.

Papal rings are probably the most famous religious rings in the world today. They are so important that an ecclesiastical signet ring is broken upon the death of the Pope who wore it! The Fisherman's Ring, a massive and ornate gold seal ring, is made for each succeeding Pope.