Did you know there were male engagement rings once?

You know the story: The man spends a small fortune for a ring, kneels, and pops the question. Well, in 1926, jewelers paired with advertisers to sell the concept of the man Engagement ring. The male engagement rings had names like the Pilot, the Stag and the Master. 

Back in the 1920s, the jewelry industry made a botched attempt to market pre-wedding bling for men. But with today’s egalitarian marriages, the time may be right for another try.

On a clear day in Laguna Niguel, California, Anthony Franco and Shawna Stewart stood together at the altar, surrounded by 40 family members and friends. It was a traditional ceremony:

The two Colorado natives smiled in a sea of purple and white, Franco’s lilac tie matching the strapless dresses of Stewart’s five bridesmaids. Sunlight bounced off of the round brilliant-cut diamond on her left hand.

But one small detail set their ceremony apart from others. When the time came to exchange wedding bands with one another, Franco was already wearing a ring.