Ring location[edit]

Each finger had a symbolic association or meaning (most of which were lost in antiquity and
varied with culture) for the placement of a ring, significant to observers.
The fourth digit or ring finger of the left hand has become the customary place to wear betrothal,
engagement and wedding rings in much of the world, though in certain countries the right hand
finger is used.[12] This custom was practically established as norm during World War II.[13]
The use of the fourth finger of the left hand (the 'ring finger') is associated with an old belief that
the left hand's ring finger is connected by a vein directly to the heart: the vena amoris, or vein of
love. This idea was in vogue in the 16th and 17th century England, when Henry
Swinburne referred to it in his book about marriage.[14] It can be traced to ancient Rome,
when Aulus Gellius cited Appianus as saying that the ancient Egyptians had found a fine nerve
linking the fourth finger to the heart. [15]
Occasionally rings have been re-purposed to hang from bracelets or necklaces. [16]
The signet ring is traditionally worn on the left pinky or little finger. [17]
A birthstone ring and/or "birthday" stone ring is customarily worn on the first finger of the right
hand and indicates respectively the month and day of the week in and on which the bearer was
born.
Amulet rings, meaningful for various purposes from protection (pentacle rings) to augmenting
personal attributes (wisdom, confidence, social status etc.), are worn on various fingers, often
depending on the intent of the ring's design or attributes of the stone inset. Although it has been
thought that amulet rings worn on specific fingers for specific purposes enhanced their powers,
most people simply wear them on any finger on which they fit.
Thumb rings were originally worn to protect the thumb from injuries caused by the launching of
arrows and are a sign of an archer.

Size[edit]
Main article: Ring size
While the ISO standard defines ring size in terms of the inner circumference (measured in
millimeters), various countries still use traditional sizing systems. Sizing beads, which functionally
reduce the ring size, are small metal beads added to the inner surface of a ring to hold it in place
against the finger; they have the advantage of being easily added or removed.

Styles[edit]
After several thousand years of ring manufacture, the total number of styles produced is vast.
Even cataloging the rings of a single civilization, such as the Romans, presents a major
challenge. As a result, the following list should be considered to be very limited.

Ring Image Usage

A carnelian or agate ring worn by some Muslims in imitation

Aqiq ring
of Muhammad.

Birthstone ri Usually a slender, simple ring (sometimes consisting of a

ng band), set with the wearer's birthstone or the birthstone of the
 wearer's spouse. Such birthstone rings as the Mother's ring
can be worn set with various birthstones. Some couples wear
birthstones set with a wedding anniversary month birthstone
as well as other commemorative stones.

A plain hoop mounted by a table setting, into which is affixed a

carved cameo. This ring style is exceedingly ancient and was
more commonly worn by men than women. Ancient cameos
Cameo depicted pagan gods, Christian saints and even self-portraits.
(carving) ring Multi-coloured stone and often marble or porphyry was most
desirable, as it produced a striped, layered or three-
dimensional effect. The modern cameo ring usually shows the
profile of a goddess or a Roman soldier.

A ring presented to members of winning teams in professional

sports leagues as well as college tournaments in the
Americas. The best known of these are the Super Bowl
Championshi
ring and World Series ring. Also, in professional American
p ring a.k.a.
sports leagues—such as the National Football League (NFL)
sports ring
and Major League Baseball (MLB)—the runners-up of the
league championship game/series are awarded a ring, being
the champion of their conference (sub-league).

An Irish friendship, courtship or engagement ring. It is

traditionally used to indicate the state of romantic availability.
Claddagh
In recent times it is commonly worn as a wedding ring. In
ring
centuries past, this ring was bequeathed from a mother to
daughter, though men also wore it.

Worn by students and alumni in commemoration of their

Class ring
graduation.

An oversized ladies' ring with a large center stone often

surrounded by tiny stones. Nearly any oversized ladies' ring
Cocktail ring may be termed "cocktail". This is the most common type of
costume jewellery ring and is also known as a cluster
ring, statement ring and/or dinner ring.[18]
 A gold ring worn by a scholar who earns a doctoral degree at
a Danish or Swedish university. In America it is common for
Doctoral ring
priests who have earned their doctorate in theology to wear
such a ring on the ring finger of their right hand.

A religious ring, either of authority for clerics or as some other

Ecclesiastica
special religious symbol. When worn by bishops or higher-
l ring
ranking priests, it is called "Episcopal ring".

Engagement A ring was given to and worn by a woman signifying her

ring engagement to be married.

A ring symbolizing eternity with a partner. These are often

given in lieu of engagement rings, as when former UK Prime
Eternity ring Minister Gordon Brown purchased one for his wife (as a
recompense for not having originally proposed to her with an
engagement ring).[19]

Fede ring A ring style featuring two clasped hands.

A ring style which spans from the base of the finger to just
Finger armor
below the fingernail or middle of the second joint. This type of
ring [fr]
ring includes a bending joint.
 Representing gay pride, a ring which is usually a band, either
Gay Pride set with seven stones or inlaid with seven enamelled lines, in
ring (a.k.a. the seven colours representing the Rainbow flag (LGBT
"Rainbow movement). In decades past, a stone-set ring worn on the
ring") right hand ring finger or the pinky of either hand represented a
call for gay equality.[citation needed]

Italian for 'little garden' a design which features an openwork

Giardinetti
bezel containing multiple small stones.[20] It was most
ring
prominent in the second half of the 18th century.[20]

Ring made of 2 or 3 hoops that are hinged at the back and

Gimmal ring meant to interlock and open; popular for betrothals in 16th-
and 17th-century Europe

Guard ring A slender, slightly tighter-fitting ring designed to be placed on

(a.k.a. ring- the finger after a large/loose ring, to prevent slippage and ring
guard) loss.[citation needed]

Ring worn by American and Canadian engineers, after

swearing the Engineer's Oath. This is often in the form of a
Iron Ring, crudely worked piece of iron; modern rings tend to be sleek
and Enginee steel, some with etched geometric designs. The ring is meant
r's Ring to be worn on the pinky (little) finger of the dominant hand at
all times. This ring has been loosely associated with Rudyard
Kipling.

A ring with a key mounted on the bezel. Used by the Romans

Key ring as both a means of carrying a key to their family valuables
chest and to demonstrate their status within the family. [21]
 Largely dating from the 16th to the 17th centuries, memento
Memento rings featured a skull and the inscription Memento
mori ring Mori (“Remember Death”) sometimes combined with other
features.[22]

A novelty ring which changes colour in response to body

Mood ring
temperature, using a thermochromic liquid crystal.

A ring worn by a mother displaying the birthstone of each of

Mother's ring her children, and sometimes including those of the mother and
father.[citation needed]

A ring worn in memory of someone who has died.[23] Also

Mourning
commonly called a "memorial ring". Use attested from at least
ring
the 14th century AD to the late 19th century.[23]

Multi-finger Two or more laterally conjoined rings, designed to be worn on

ring two, three, or four fingers; popularized by hip-hop culture.[citation
needed]

Found in gold or gilded metal from Bronze Age Britain, these

Penannular small thick incomplete circles are the wrong size and shape to
ring be finger-rings and were probably worn as nose or ear-rings or
attached to the hair or clothing.[24]

A ring consisting of a bezel with a compartment. Despite the

Poison ring name they were probably more commonly used to hold things
like perfume or romantic keepsakes.[25]
 A ring with a lengthy inscription on its outer surface. These
were commonly used as engagement and wedding rings. Also
Posie ring
referred to as "posy" or "poesy" rings in reference to the line of
poetry most commonly used in the inscription.

Ring with a small portrait, most common during the 17th

Portrait ring
century

Pre-
A small, inexpensive ring given to a partner, signifying the
engagement
promise not to court anyone else.[26]
ring

Prison ring A typically plastic ring fashioned by hand in prisons. [27]

A ring worn to remind a person of a promise. These evolved in

Promise ring conjunction with wedding and religious vow rings in the sense
that the ring represented the vow/promise.

A symbol of virginity and a vow to keep virginity in some

Purity ring
religious cultures.

Interlocking rings forming a single band. A famous example is

Puzzle ring
the classic Cartier "Trinity" wedding ring.

A Victorian engagement ring with an implicit

Regards ring acrostic: Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond, S
apphire.
 Also known as a Decade ring.[28] Ring worn around the finger
with 10 indentations (or protrusions) and a cross as a bezel,
Rosary ring representing one decade of a rosary. The rings are used to
keep track of place in the prayer by rotating the ring on a
finger and feeling the marks.

Sewing ring An early form of thimble

An emblematic ring, often bearing a family coat of arms, some

of which are fit for use to imprint a wax seal. In the event a
seal or at least a representation of a seal is on the ring, it is
Signet ring
called a "seal ring". The signet may bear anything from a
custom-designed escutcheon to simple initials, in which case it
is known as an initial ring.

Sovereign
A large solid gold ring set with a gold sovereign.[citation needed]
ring

Nazi "honor ring" or "ring of honor". A plain silver band

decorated with a death's head. Awarded to members of the
Nazi SS (Schutzstaffel). A similar ring (in the form of a death's
SS-
head) was also favored by the SS-SD (Schutzstaffel-
Ehrenring
Sicherheitsdienst) and was very secretive in design. There
were in fact several different award rings during the Third
Reich.[29]

The Technology ring is worn in Canada by certified

Technology engineering and applied science technologists and
ring technicians.[30] Like an Iron Ring, it is worn on the little finger of
the working (dominant) hand.
 Originally thumb rings were used as an archery implement,
Thumb ring mainly in eastern styles of archery. Thumb rings are an
ancient custom.

Toe rings have a particular function in India. They are

Toe ring considered a customary ornament to be worn by married
women.[31]

Watch ring A small watch fashioned to be worn as a ring.[citation needed]

A ring presented at the time of marriage to signify espousal

Wedding
and marital commitment. Originally worn only by women, it is
ring
now common for both spouses to wear such a ring.

A ring worn above the knuckle. It was popular in fashion

Midi ring
around 2012.[citation needed]

Notable individual rings[edit]

 Iffland-Ring, held by a series of German-language actors since the 18th century,
presently held by German actor Jens Harzer
 Hans-Reinhart-Ring, a Swiss theatre award
 Ring of the Fisherman, the signet ring of the Pope
 Chequers Ring – a ring that belonged to Elizabeth I of England
In myth and fiction[edit]

 Ring of Gyges, a legendary ring of invisibility, mentioned by Plato

 Andvaranaut, in Norse mythology, a cursed ring that can make gold
 Magic ring, a ring that has magical properties
 Draupnir, a self-multiplying gold ring depicted in Norse mythology
 The One Ring, from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit

Safety[edit]
Wearing a ring can in some cases be a safety concern, when the ring is made of a material
stronger than the hand, fully encircles the digit, and catches onto an immovable object. This can
result in serious injury (degloving), amputation, or Ring avulsion.[32][33] Some recommend
specifically not to use a ring while operating machinery or playing sports. [34]
If a ring catches on rotating machinery, or the ring of a falling person catches on a stationary
object, the wearer may suffer injury. For these reasons, some workplaces require employees to
remove their rings temporarily while performing certain tasks or when in certain areas of a
workplace. Despite the ring's symbolic appeal as a solid band around the finger, modern jewelers
are sometimes known to modify rings such that, at worst, they only tear the flesh of the wearer's
finger in cases like those above-mentioned.[citation needed] Such "breakaway" modifications have not yet
achieved popularity as standard designs. [citation needed]

Other types[edit]
 Arm rings
 Earring
 Neck rings
 Pinky ring
 Toe ring

See also[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has
media related to Finger
rings.

 Birthstones
 Jewellery cleaning
 Metal casting
 Ring of O
 Seal of Solomon (Solomon's ring, a.k.a. ring of Solomon)
 Smart ring
 Titanium ring

References[edit]
1. ^ Studies in the Development of Ornaments and Jewellery in Proto-historic India, Volume
41. p.  130. Finger rings and ring stones have been found at practically all levels of the Indus
Valley Civilization
2. ^ Williams, Brian (2016). Daily Life in the Indus Valley Civilization. Raintree.
p. 27.  ISBN  9781406298574.
3. ^ Tait, Hugh, ed. (2006). 7000 Years of Jewellery. British Museum Press. pp. 23–
24.  ISBN  9780714150321.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Taylor, Gerald; Scarisbrick, Diana (1978). Finger Rings From Ancient Egypt
to the Present Day. Ashmolean Museum. p.  31. ISBN 0-900090-54-5.
5. ^ Ogden, Jack (1992).  Ancient jewellery Interpreting the past. University of California
Press. p.  60. ISBN 0520080300.
6. ^ Jump up to:a b Taylor, Gerald; Scarisbrick, Diana (1978).  Finger Rings From Ancient Egypt to
the Present Day. Ashmolean Museum. p.  33. ISBN 0-900090-54-5.
7. ^ Jump up to:a b Taylor, Gerald; Scarisbrick, Diana (1978).  Finger Rings From Ancient Egypt to
the Present Day. Ashmolean Museum. p.  34. ISBN 0-900090-54-5.
8. ^ Jump up to:a b c Johns, Catherine (1996). The Jewellery of Roman Britain Celtic and classical
Traditions. Routledge. p.  42. ISBN 9780415516129.
9. ^ Johns, Catherine (1996).  The Jewellery of Roman Britain Celtic and classical
Traditions. Routledge. p.  48. ISBN 9780415516129.
10. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e Campbell, Marian (2009).  Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100–1500. V&A
Publishing. pp.  72–79.  ISBN  9781851775828.
11. ^ Jump up to:a b Campbell, Marian (2009).  Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100–1500. V&A
Publishing. pp.  92–94.  ISBN  9781851775828.
12. ^ Kunz, George Frederick, (1911) Rings for the Finger.
13. ^ McCarthy, James Remington, (1945) Rings Through The Ages.
14. ^ Swinburne, "Treatise of Spousal", 1680
15. ^ Gellius, Attic Nights, X, 10
16. ^ Church, Rachel (2014). Rings. V&A Publishing. p. 55.  ISBN  9781851777853.
17. ^ Henderson, Jeffrey.  "PLINY THE ELDER, Natural History". Loeb Classical Library.
Retrieved 2019-11-09.
18. ^ "The History of Statement Rings".  FWCJ. Retrieved 26 October  2020.
19. ^ Rosanna Greenstreet (24 April 2010). "Election Q&A: Gordon Brown | Politics". London:
The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
20. ^ Jump up to:a b "Giardinetti ring".  ashmus.ox.ac.uk. University of Oxford – Ashmolean
Museum. Retrieved  17 March 2015.
21. ^ "Ring". V&A Images. Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 12 January  2013.
22. ^ Taylor, Gerald; Scarisbrick, Diana (1978).  Finger Rings from Ancient Egypt to the
Present Day. Ashmolean Museum. p. 76.  ISBN  0-900090-54-5.
23. ^ Jump up to:a b Tait, Hugh, ed. (2006). 7000 Years of Jewellery. British Museum Press.
p. 239.  ISBN  9780714150321.
24. ^ Megalithic Portal, 2007, quoting British Museum curator. Hull Museums
25. ^ Hix, Lisa (22 January 2014). "From Hummingbird Heads to Poison Rings: Indulging Our
Antique Jewelry Obsession".  Collectors Weekly. Market Street Media. Retrieved 7 March2014.
26. ^ Coghlan, Claire.  "What Is a Promise Ring? The Real Meaning and Purpose".  The Knot.
Retrieved 26 October  2020.
27. ^ Grasso, Tony (1996).  Bakelite Jewellery A Collector's guide. The Apple Press. pp. 94–
98.  ISBN  1850766134.
28. ^ "Decade ring". ashmus.ox.ac.uk. University of Oxford – Ashmolean Museum.
Retrieved 16 March  2015.
29. ^ JAV Designs.  "Schutzstaffel: The SS". Germaniainternational.com. Retrieved 2012-08-
13.
30. ^ "Technology Ring | Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists". www.cctt.ca.
Retrieved 2017-07-24.
31. ^ Garcia, Carol Henderson; Henderson, Carol E. (2002).  Culture and Customs of India –
Carol Henderson Garcia, Carol E. Henderson – Google Books. ISBN 9780313305139.
Retrieved 2012-08-13.
32. ^ Article on finger safety while wearing rings in the workplace
33. ^ Ring Avulsion: Causes, Prevention, and More
34. ^ Article with recommendations on when not to use a ring