Meet the Expert. Stephanie Selle is a jeweler and jewelry history aficionado with over 20 years of experience in the industry. She is the owner of Washington-based With These Rings , a workshop specialized in helping couples forge their own rings.
Below, we delve into the intriguing story behind traditional ring finger placement and why you might choose or not choose to follow this custom. Plus, uncover other commonly asked questions and traditions behind engagement and promise rings. The tradition and symbolism of the ring finger can be traced back to ancient times. Sadly, our modern-day understanding of anatomy shows that all fingers have venous connections to the heart and no such singular vein exists, shattering the adorable symbolism.
Yet tradition still holds true for many couples who designate their left-hand ring finger to signify their commitment to each other. If you've decided to wear your engagement and wedding rings on the same finger, you may be wondering about stacking.
Married duos conventionally wear their wedding bands closest to their hearts, meaning they're at the bottom of the stack, below the engagement ring and pushed towards the base of the knuckle.
If you want to honor this on your wedding day, the most popular strategy is to switch over your engagement ring to your right hand just before you walk down the aisle. Now your spouse-to-be can slide the band right up your left finger. It can be topped off with the engagement ring during the ceremony, or later on.
For added pragmatism, some brides opt to have their wedding and engagement rings soldered together into one unified piece. We love how this introduces an entirely new "marital bond" metaphor. The choice often comes down to personal or cultural preference. Some women opt to wear their wedding ring on the left ring finger and their engagement ring on the right ring finger.
Whether you choose to uphold a time-old tradition or create your very own is entirely up to you. An old wives' tale denotes that wearing a non-committal ring on your left-hand ring finger could be bad luck.
Not the superstitious type? If the ring fits, wear it! That being said, wearing a ring on that finger could signify to others that you are in a committed relationship, which might not be ideal if you're out on the dating scene.
While it might be tempting to keep those rings on at all times read: one last step to think about , you'll want to avoid any potential damage to the rings like scratching the metal, harming the stones, or disfiguring the setting. You'll definitely want to remove the the rings when cleaning especially if you're using chemicals , going to the gym or participating in other physical activities, and even before bed. Removing your rings at night will not only protect your rings and thwart swelling, but it will also keep you or your spouse from waking up with scratches.
Have your engagement ring professionally cleaned and checked twice a year. This will not only maintain its brilliance and shine, but also ensure the ring hasn't been damaged from wear. A surprising amount of factors go into sizing up a ring finger.
In addition to the shape and size of your finger, you'll also need to consider your lifestyle and the actual ring you have in mind. If you're frequently partaking in activities that may cause your finger to swell like physical exertion or flying, you'll need to keep that in mind.
They don't have religious or cultural associations in most cultures unlike the ring finger. It also isolates the ring from your body a bit, making it more of an eye-popping statement. It's where you wear things when you want attention paid to them. People who like astrological or palmistry-related symbolism will associate the little finger with intelligence and persuasion.
It represents Mercury, which was for obvious reasons related to the element of mercury. So you're not going to have a ring made of the relevant metal here. Mercury is liquid at room temperature and highly toxic to humans. A band on the right fourth finger indicates engagement, while a band on the left fourth finger indicates marriage.
A large ring with a jewel or a three-dimensional design on it is less likely to represent your marital status.
That's not to say that people don't wear some bizarre and artistic things as wedding bands. A distinctively decorative ring on the fourth finger probably won't be assumed to be a wedding or engagement ring. While a plain metal band or one with minor, same-tone etchings or designs probably will be.
Symbolically, the ring finger is associated with Earth's moon, creativity, and beauty. As well as its apparent associations with romantic relationships. The moon's metal is silver, making silver rings a natural choice for non-wedding-related rings worn on the fourth finger. Apart from the obvious hand gesture, the middle finger is your largest, boldest finger. Rings worn on the middle finger are surprisingly uncommon. In part, because it's adjacent to the index finger, and anything bulky can be a hindrance to delicate manual tasks.
It's best to keep things small and simple if you're wearing them on your middle finger. That said, a lot of first-time ring-wearers might feel more comfortable with the middle finger.
Because of its central location, the middle finger symbolizes balance and responsibility and is associated with Saturn. Since Saturn's metal is lead, simple gray metals like steel are typical to middle finger choices. There's an instinct to keep this finger clear since we use it more than any other digit except the thumb. But a ring on the finger doesn't interfere with it as much as one on the finger next to it. If you go back hundreds of years, the index finger was the most common location for a man's ring.
Generally a signet or a crest; in some parts of Europe, people below a certain rank were forbidden from wearing rings. They denoted specific family status and were reserved for the elite.
Traditionally in China, money and other goods are exchanged instead of engagement rings. In Northern Kenya, the Samburu warriors wear ornate beadings around their neck, with certain colours used to indicate engagement.
With no beginning or end, the circle of a wedding ring is considered a symbol of eternity and dedication to a lifetime partnership. In Western cultures, traditionally wedding rings are exchanged during a couple's wedding ceremony, on the engagement ring finger.
With this, you may wonder what happens to your engagement ring? Just before the wedding ceremony, the engagement ring is exchanged onto the right hand so the wedding ring can be placed onto the left hand, to be worn closest to the heart. After the ceremony, the engagement ring is then placed on top of the new wedding band. Although this is the traditional way of pairing rings , couples are now choosing different ways to style them. From wearing the wedding ring on top of the engagement ring, to joining the two rings together so they become one.
Regardless of how you choose to wear them, you should always ensure that both your rings are comfortable and sized properly. Around the world, it is not just wedding bands that are exchanged at ceremonies. This is to show the bride has accepted the groom as her husband. It is not just fingers that wedding rings are worn on. In traditional Hindu cultures women wear toe rings, known as bichiya. Ring finger guide A love to last a lifetime Whether you wear your diamond engagement ring and wedding band on your right hand or left, your index finger or thumb, your ring finger is not what matters.
More than just beautiful pieces of jewellery, your engagement and wedding rings symbolise a promise of your commitment to one another, your future experiences and your union together.
They are an unwavering symbol of your love, now and Forever. From choosing the right ring size, to the perfect diamond engagement ring, or just simply how to care for your diamond; be inspired. Take or upload a picture See how it works. Store Locator. Email Updates.
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