While most people are clear on which finger to wear their engagement ring and wedding ring on, the knowledge can dwindle when it comes to other rings, what works best on which finger, and what each finger represents.
Should you wear a ring on your little finger, for example, and if so — what type? Also, if you do so, what message is that sending to others?
Rings are always in style, and so if you’re a fan of finger adornments, this article is for you.
We decided to put this guide together to cut through the confusion and help you to decide which ring to wear where and why.
The little finger
If you wear a wedding ring on your left hand, it can be balancing to wear a ring on the little finger of your right hand, too.
Bands work best on this finger, and a thick band in particular — as a dainty one might look a little lost.
As depicted in the popular film, The Godfather, Italian gangsters of the past would bow down and kiss the pinky ring of mob leaders as a show of respect and allegiance.
However, pinky rings certainly aren’t just for mobsters! In fact, British royals have been seen sporting a ring on this finger.
In some countries, students of specific vocations receive a pinky ring upon graduation — for example, qualified engineers and geologists in Canada are often gifted an engineer ring and an earth ring, respectively. These career-related rings tend to be made of iron, silver, or stainless steel.
In the UK, a tradition going back hundreds of years is for men to wear a signet ring on their left pinky finger. This ring often sports a coat of arms and symbolises status and the importance of family. These rings tend to be passed down through the generations.
Overall, it is thought that a ring worn on the little finger symbolises intelligence, intuition and communication.
The ring finger
In the UK, the engagement ring and wedding ring are worn on the ring finger of the left hand, leading this finger to represent everlasting love.
Traditionally, the wedding band is placed on the finger first, followed by the engagement ring; this is for practical reasons. Most brides are given or choose an engagement ring with a diamond or gemstone in a prong setting and so most opt for a simple wedding band so that the two rings sit well together.
In addition, eternity rings are also worn on this finger; either on the left hand or the right. If you wear an eternity ring together with your wedding and engagement ring, you’ll have an eye-catching ring finger for sure!
If you want to feel more balanced however, simply slip your eternity ring on to your right hand’s ring finger instead.
It’s also worth noting that a promise ring from a partner or a chastity ring would also traditionally be worn on the ring finger of the left hand.
If you aren’t engaged or married, there’s no reason why you can’t wear rings on your ring finger; it lends itself well to either single rings or stacks, but do bear in mind that people may make assumptions.
The middle finger
Wearing a ring on the middle finger and not on the ring finger is a clear way for a woman to communicate to the world that she is not engaged or married.
Arguably the most noticeable of the fingers, rings worn on this finger are highly noticeable and can be said to symbolise power, balance and stability.
Often the largest finger on the hand, rings worn on this finger can easily get caught and damaged, so, for this reason, we’d recommend slim bands.
If your style is more outlandish, opt for an occasional cocktail ring.
The index finger
The index finger is an excellent choice for showing off your favourite high-impact ring; in fact, kings and queens used to do so, and visitors would bow down and kiss these rings as a sign of respect!
This finger is said to symbolise self-confidence, spirituality and ambition.
The thumb
While less conventional, thumb rings can be surprisingly comfortable to wear .
Traditionally, a ring worn on a thumb is a symbol of wealth, as it costs more to make a ring large enough to fit on a thumb.
The Ancient Greeks believed that a ring worn on the thumb represented power and masculinity.
Due to the thumbs-up gesture, a more modern take is that a thumb ring represents friendship and positivity.
I hope this article has helped you in deciding where to wear your rings and understand what message you might be sending out to the world. You can browse our wide collection of rings in our online shop.
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