Jewelry shopping can be intimidating. That’s why we started Ask Holden, our blog where we answer your FAQs, break down scary industry lingo, and guide you in finding the perfect piece of jewelry.
Have a certain ring in mind but at a loss for words? Lucky for you, flowers have different meanings and can send a secret code to the one you love. We've paired our rings with the flowers that get the message across. Keep reading to see what love notes are hidden in our ring collection.
The Royal Flush, Orchid
Want to give your partner the royal treatment? You might be thinking about getting them a beautiful orchid to show your love and affection. How thoughtful! In Japanese culture, orchids symbolize luxury, prosperity, and wealth. It’s even thought that meditating on an orchid’s unique bloom will bring abundance. One should note that orchids require special care and attention to really flourish. So if you give your partner an orchid (or the Royal Flush), you're telling them that you're dedicated to nurturing your relationship and keeping that spark alive. As the saying goes - "how you do anything is how you do everything." That holds true for relationships and orchids.
The Line, Hyacinth
May true love never die. If you’re gifting your partner The Line, you’ve probably been with them for what feels like forever (even though that still doesn’t feel nearly long enough). This relationship is the one that has stood the test of time. You've been there for each other through thick and thin - whether you were romantically involved from the start or not. Like hyacinths, The Line represents constancy, devotion, and longevity in a relationship. So, whether it’s for your 5, 10, or even 20 year anniversary, give the gift of The Line to your “forever person.”
The Floating Eternity, Baby's Breath
Your partner makes you feel like you’re floating on air. You can’t take your eyes off of them. You’re so in awe of this compassionate and affectionate person whom you trust with your life. Do we hear wedding bells? Our Floating Eternity paired with a bouquet of baby’s breath could be just the thing to show you care. Like the Floating Eternity, baby’s breath is delicate and whimsical. What’s more - it represents eternal love and romance. A bouquet of this flower can show your partner just how exquisite and stunning they really are - inside and out.
The Column Baguette, Iris
Thinking that your partner is too perfect for this world - perhaps an angel in disguise? The Column Baguette could be just right for them. Whenever we think of The Column Baguette, we think of Iris (the Greek goddess for whom iris flowers were named). While taking on many epithets in Greek culture, Iris was primarily known as the messenger of the Olympian gods and later on as simply the Rainbow goddess. Rainbows, the Greeks believed, were the road between Heaven and Earth. Who knows, maybe your partner really *isn’t* from around here. Plus, the columns on the ring remind us both of Greek architecture and of the stripes on a rainbow (hence, Iris!).
The Full Eternity, Lavender
Thinking about you and your partner’s relationship - who has their head in the clouds and whose feet are planted firmly on the ground? If your partner has a calming presence, then the Full Eternity will be a great choice. The delicate diamonds in this ring remind us of the little blossoms present in lavender (ok - lavender is technically an herb, but we’re including it here). Lavender represents not only healing and relaxation, but also elegance and grace.
While we think that that’s super cool in and of itself, lavender actually has a whole other history to it - one that we think makes it pretty bad a**. After the invention of purple dye in the mid-19th century, lavender colored clothing became somewhat of a status symbol in both men and women’s fashion. But towards the end of the century, lavender became linked to aestheticism, or “art for art’s sake,” and was deemed effeminate (and therefore demonized). In the 30s, the term “having a streak of lavender” became a lexicalized insult for someone who was homosexual (or at least thought to be). Then, during the McCarthy era, there was a nationwide purge to take LGBTQ+ people out of government positions - ie. The Lavender Scare. It wasn’t until 1969 that lavender became a widely considered symbol of empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community, when lavender arm bands and sashes were distributed in a gay power march commemorating the Stonewall Riots. Then, in 1970, a group of radical feminists, wearing hand-dyed t-shirts that said “Lavender Menace,” stormed the stage of the 1970 Second Congress to Unite Women after the president of the NOW (National Organization for Women) denounced lesbianism. Like we said – bad a**!
The Domed, Red Roses
We couldn't not include this one! Red roses are a classic choice for Valentine’s Day bouquets. So why not pair them with a timeless wedding band? This flower actually has a fascinating history and lives up to the hype. Historians suggest that roses were first cultivated about 5000 years ago. References to the flowers come up during the Han Dynasty and are even mentioned in the earlier context of ancient Egyptian burial methods. They became associated with the Ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite as a symbol of power, passion, love, and beauty. When the goddess came across her lover Adonis wounded by a wild boar, his blood and her tears mixed together to produce a red rose bush.
Not only are roses symbols of love and adoration, but they are also associated with secrets. In Ancient Rome, roses would be strung from the rafters of banquet halls to let the participants know that drunken words or activities that took place there would remain confidential. Sub rosa, as it was known, was our equivalent to “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” This is all to say, red roses aren’t just a “cute” gift for your partner. They have a certain gravity to them that means more than just “I like you.”
Our message to you:
Rings can say a lot of different things, so if the secret messages for the rings listed above don’t resonate or we missed a ring that you wanted to purchase, don’t fret. Each ring, like each couple, tells a unique story, and we don’t want to limit anyone from expressing what they want to say (through rings or flowers!). But, if you’re tongue-tied this Valentine’s Day, this could be a fun place to start!
Have another love note that you want to share? Email us at help@hiholden.com.
Questions? Give us a shout at help@hiholden.com or a ring (pun intended) at 646.722.6817.
