What is an engagment ring?

When a man loves a woman he asks her to marry him. The engagement ring is a symbol of his commitment and a pledge of his love.

Additional Notes:

An engagement ring is a symbol of commitment for a future marriage with the person it was given to. Love is hopefully the reason for the marriage, but not always. Most engagement rings are given to a woman from a man, but "man-gagement" rings are becoming increasingly popular so the men can show their commitment too.

Most engagement rings are made out of yellow gold, white gold or platinum. Originally, engagement rings were a solid band without any gemstones but today most engagement rings include a diamond, at least in North America. In other parts of the world, notably Europe, an engagement ring often includes sapphires or other gemstones.

Engagement rings can come as part of a bridal set with a matching wedding band (to be worn after the marriage) or without the wedding band.