There are countless stories of enduring love. In fact, most of us know of a couple who manage to keep their romance alive with eternity rings, red roses or just everyday expressions of their love – a hug, a term of affection, a daily kiss. And most of us will know of elderly relatives who have kept their love for each other alive for decades – eternity rings are just one expression of enduring love. Perhaps because of the culture of fame we live in, we only hear about the high profile romances of famous actors and stars; the passions of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton or John Lennon and Yoko Ono are well documented. And Burton and Taylor were known for expressing their love through diamonds and jewellery. Eternity rings are an increasingly popular way to express commitment and romance in a marriage.
Platinum Eternity Rings, Roses and Romance
Famous actors Dame Judi Dench and her husband Michael Williams were one of the most celebrated couples for their enduring love. As well as starring alongside each other in the appropriately named sitcom A Fine Romance, Williams knew how to keep the romance alive. Some couples opt for eternity rings, Williams would send Dench a single red rose every Friday throughout their 30-year marriage. The marriage sadly ended in 2001 when Williams succumbed to lung cancer. Their endearing and enduring romance began when he met her in a London pub and followed her to Australia where she was on tour – they married in 1971.
The Red Rose – Transcending Culture and Time
Swapping eternity rings with a loved one is a way to express eternal love. And the concept of eternal love was certainly demonstrated by the widow of Aga Khan III. Begum Om Habibeh formally known as the French beauty queen, Yvette Blanche Labrousse, proved that romance can cross cultural boundaries as well as defy time. Begum is the Urdu name given to a woman who marries into Muslim royalty.
In the West, devoted couples celebrate their wedding anniversaries, swap eternity rings and indulge in Valentine's Day treats. But the French widow perhaps beat all gestures of romance – until her death, when she was buried next to her late husband, she regularly laid a red rose upon his tomb for 43 years. The romantic gesture earned her the affectionate name of 'Red Rose'. As the fourth and last wife of the spiritual leader of the Shiite Muslim Ismaili community, her enduring love is perhaps a symbol of hope in today's war-torn Middle East.