HOW TO WEAR RINGS
Which ring, which finger? You're not alone here. It is a common question that gets asked. We will outline below for both men and women, the types of rings to be worn on each finger and the ring symbolism behind having a ring on a particular finger.
Historically, rings have been worn for centuries as a display of wealth and power. Those who could afford to wear precious metals on their fingers, were generally of a higher class; more powerful and respected among the community and also more attractive to the opposite sex. Here at Massimo Martina, there is no judgement on those who don’t wear rings, however, we of course do find you more attractive with our rings on 😉.
There is no real rule as to which hand you should wear your rings on. It can be either. Wedding rings or promise rings are typically the only rings which people believe should be on a particular hand. Wedding bands in some cultures are worn on the left, such as in the USA, UK and Australia. Most of Eastern Europe however, wear theirs on the right hand. So it’s up to you really.
Gents
Pinky Finger - Family & Status
Your pinky is your smallest finger. Any ring worn on this finger sticks out and immediately grabs attention, so it is perfect for sending a statement! It’s good for flashy rings that have a wide head; our 'Balboa' Statement Ring as an example. It's also good for signet rings. Signet rings are rings that allow the wearer to represent oneself or their family. They are usually engraved with initials or the family coat of arms. In older traditions, pinky rings were a tell-tale sign of associations with the Mafia. That being said, some people find it odd to wear rings on this finger. However, it’s up to personal preference. When worn on the active hand, this is a symbol of intellect and an excellent ability to express oneself. When worn on the passive hand, this is symbolic of strong intuition and great listening skills.
Fourth Finger - Marital Status
The fourth finger is also known as the ring finger and has a symbolic link to romantic relationships. Why this finger? This finger was once thought to have an unbroken artery leading straight to the heart, creating a direct connection between the ring and the heart, signifying an eternal bond. The only ring worn here is a wedding ring, which is usually a simple band.
Middle Finger - Balance & Order
The middle finger symbolises balance, structure, conscience and order. Due to it being the longest finger, it can also represent masculinity. Most people leave this finger alone. This is due to it being adjacent to the index finger, so anything bulky here can be quite a hindrance to fine manual tasks. Therefore, it is best to keep it small and simple here, such as a simple band. It may also be more comfortable for first time ring-wears to wear rings on this finger.
Index Finger - Social Status
This finger is all about sending a message and is symbolic of power, confidence, authority and leadership. Perfect for another big statement or signet ring, such as a class ring or family crest. A puzzle ring would be perfect too. This is the finger you would also put your most important ring on. There’s a natural instinct to try not wear a ring on this finger, since it is your most used finger, but it actually doesn’t interfere as much as when wearing a ring on the middle finger.
Thumb - Friendship & Strength
It is uncommon to wear rings on your thumb, however, reasonably common among some cultures. It can be perfect for large bulky rings, but nothing over the top or flash. Bold and simple is best. It works well for men that wear multiple rings on the same hand, as it is distanced from the other fingers. Rings on the thumb are associated with friendship and positivity, and when worn on the active hand, it is generally indicative of an assertive personality and strength of character.
A Couple of Rules:
- Don’t wear more than 1 ring on the same finger – Men’s rings are usually quite wide and so doing this would be uncomfortable and look a bit odd.
- Don’t crowd the rings together – If you are wearing multiple rings on one hand, don’t have rings on every finger. Leave a finger or two alone to break it up.
- Try to maintain a balance – If you have rings and a watch on one hand, try to balance out the other with something like a bracelet.
- Quality over quantity – Usually a safe max ring limit is 2 or 3 rings across both hands. It is common to wear one statement ring on your index finger and nothing else.
- Symbolism is not the truth - While ring symbolism can be interesting, it really is up to you to mix and match to suit your taste. There are no real rules as to which ring goes on which finger, apart from wedding bands. And if you do not display one of the traits that a particular finger is symbolic of, that does not mean you cannot wear a ring there either. As a man, wear it how you want.
Ladies
Pinky Finger - Family & Status
Your pinky is your smallest finger. Any ring worn on this finger sticks out and immediately grabs attention, so it is perfect for sending a statement! It’s a good fit for sophisticated, classy, luxurious dress rings or solitaires. It's also suited for signet rings, which are rings to represent yourself or your family and are usually engraved with initials. The pinky can be perfect for stylish anniversary bands or fashion rings too. When worn on the active hand, this is a symbol of professional status, intellect and an excellent ability to express oneself. When worn on the passive hand, this is symbolic of strong intuition and great listening skills.
Fourth Finger - Marital Status
The fourth finger is also known as the ring finger and has a symbolic link to romantic relationships. Why this finger? This finger was once thought to have an unbroken artery leading straight to the heart, creating a direct connection between the ring and the heart, signifying an eternal bond. The only rings worn here are promise rings, and engagement rings, which are usually ultra-modern, classy solitaires, as well as anniversary bands or an eternity ring, Anniversary bands can be worn on the same finger as a promise ring, so long as it does not over power the solitaire. This usually sits under the promise ring, so that it is closer to your heart. Same goes with the eternity ring, symbolic of eternal love. Alternatively, anniversary bands and eternity rings can be worn separately on the opposite ring finger, on the other hand. For an even greater impact, you can stack your anniversary band, promise ring and eternity ring together.
Middle Finger - Balance & Order
The middle finger symbolises balance, structure, conscience and order. Due to it being the longest finger, it can also represent responsibility. Because of the central location of the finger, it is perfect for an eye-catching ring. A stylish dress ring, trilogy ring, solitaire, halo ring, fashion ring or eternity ring would be the perfect fashion statement. This finger is quite versatile. Despite this, it would be preferable to go for something smaller on the middle finger, otherwise it could be quite a hindrance to fine manual tasks. Especially if you are wearing a larger ring on your index finger. It may also be more comfortable for first time ring-wears to start with this finger, wearing simple anniversary bands or thinner fashion rings. Stacking rings are great for this finger too.
Index Finger - Social Status
This finger is all about sending a message and is symbolic of power, confidence, authority and leadership. Perfect for another big high impact statement ring, such as a cluster ring, a dress ring, or a combination of stacking rings. This is the finger you would also put your most valued ring on, disregarding that special ring on your ring finger of course. This all being said, there is no solid rule to wearing a ring on this finger; any ring is suitable. Perhaps big statement rings for those formal, luxurious nights out and something a little bit subtler for the day-to-day.
Thumb
It is uncommon to wear rings on your thumb, however, reasonably common among some cultures. For this reason, rings on the thumb are symbolic of uniqueness. They are also symbolic of friendship and positivity, The thumb is well suited to a large, bulky ring. A chunky fashion statement. It also works well with thin rings. Rings on the thumb should be nothing over the top or flash. Bold and simple is best.
A Couple of Rules:
- Don’t crowd the rings together – If you are wearing multiple rings on one hand, don’t have rings on every finger. Leave a finger or two alone to break it up. Don't stack multiple rings on multiple fingers next to each other. Spread your rings evenly across your fingers and hands for a more balanced look.
- Try to maintain a balance – As above, a balance can be created by spreading the number of rings evenly across both hands. A balance can also be achieved by combining your silver and gold plated rings on the same hand, rather than having each on separate hands. When wearing rings and a watch on one hand, you can also try to balance out the other with something like a bangle or bracelet. If you wear your promise ring and wedding band on one hand, the next finger to wear a ring on should be the opposite hand index finger, so that not only are the hands balanced but they are on opposing sides of the hand as well.
- Choose your style - Don’t combine too many exactly matching rings, but also try to avoid a chaotic mix of style. Try to combine different rings with some common characteristics. Our rings at Massimo Martina are all unique and with their own style, yet all are modern, classy and luxurious.
- Symbolism is not the truth - While ring symbolism can be interesting, it really is up to you to mix and match to suit your taste. There are no real rules as to which ring goes on which finger, apart from wedding bands. And if you do not display one of the traits that a particular finger is symbolic of, that does not mean you cannot wear a ring there either. As a woman, you do you.