The 1940’s campaign to normalize engagement rings for men proved to be largely unsuccessful. In recent years however, we have seen more and more men opting for a ring to show off their engaged status to the world. Male Engagement rings (also known as a mangagement ring) could be here to stay in 2018. So, where did this trend originate, and will it continue to rise in popularity? We take a close look at the topic with the help of Tension Set engagement rings retailer Angelic Diamonds.

A rising trend

2011 was the year that the male engagement ring was first spotted on the internet. Since then, we’ve seen many men, including some our favourite celebrities giving their support.

In the 1940s and 50’s, men didn’t even wear a wedding ring, which shows just how much how times have changed. It’s thought that men in this era began wearing rings as they went off to war, so that they would have a reminder of their wives and children back at home.

It’s all down to personal preference however, for example, Prince William is never seen wearing his wedding ring and neither is Prince Phillip.

Same-sex marriage has also influenced the rise of the male engagement ring. In July 2013, the UK legalised same-sex marriage, and on March 13^th 2014, the first gay wedding was held. Many jewellers followed this by releasing a range of male engagement rings – a move which also appealed to many women wanting to propose themselves.

Google data also shows a clear trend. The volume of searches for ‘male engagement rings’ reached 54,00 in late 2014. By September 2017, this figure had more than doubled to 12,100. On leap day (29^th February) 2016, when it’s traditional for women to propose to their partners, the number of searches for this term hit an all-time high with 22,000 total searches.

How women are reacting to the trend

Women appear to be welcoming the trend, with many feminists praising the idea. Some claim that when women wear engagement rings, it signifies their taken status whilst men are free to go without a ring, as though they are still single.

Others however simply want to show their other half equal appreciation by spending their money on something special for them to enjoy – just like their own ring.

How men are reacting to the trend

Whilst it has long been the norm for men to wear wedding rings, it’s much less common for men to wear an engagement ring. Many men have welcomed the trend, wearing a ring to show off their engaged status to the world. In 2010, Michael Bublé was seen wearing an engagement ring, explaining that in Argentina, where his fiancée is from, it is customary for men to wear a ring. Johnny Depp was also spotted wearing an engagement ring, explaining that he had chosen to do so when the ring that he had bought for his fiancée was too big. Female celebrities have followed suit – Jennifer Hudson proposed to her fiancé with a ring a few months after he proposed to her.

There are still some men who do not feel entirely comfortable wearing an engagement ring. There has been a trend for men’s engagement watches alongside the ring trend. Vintage watch retailer H.Q Milton revealed that they have seen an uptake in the sales of engagement watches in recent months. On a similar note, the co-founder of luxury watch retailer Christopher Ward said that customers were now buying watches with engraved personal messages for their partners. It would seem as though more women than ever before are wanting to spend money on their partners, rather than it being one-sided.

So, what does the future hold for male engagement rings? It would appear that modern jewellery-wearing habits have already changed a lot. Only time will tell if the trend for ‘mengagement rings’ is here to stay. Perhaps engagement watches will catch on and become more popular. Either way, it’s great to see couples showing their love for each other with a symbol of their affections.