The Ring of the Reformation

The marriage between Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora happened two years before Luther first began to truly organize his new Church. Luther had always argued against celibacy, but his marriage with Katharina was like the seal of approval on clerical marriage (despite the fact that several formal priests and monks were married earlier). Obviously since this was such a special occasion, you would expect Luther to get his beloved a special ring to match this monumental event. According to artist Lucas Cranach, Luther did just that.

Pictured above is Katharina von Bora wearing her beautifully adorned wedding ring. The ring was said to have been made with all gold. In the center of the ring was a crucifix made complete with a figure of Christ the Savior being stabbed in the side with a spear. Finally the ruby itself was deep red, the color of Jesus' blood and underneath the stone was the couple's names and their wedding date in German. 

While the original ring is said to have went missing, here is an accurate replica of the ring so that you can get a closer look at the beauty and intricacy of it.