So you're interested in wearing a ring.
Maybe you're getting married and wonder what your options are.
Maybe you're about to graduate College and you want to know how to
wear a class ring.
Or maybe you're just looking to add a bit of style to your hand.
Whatever the reason, you want to know how to properly wear a ring so you can avoid making
any obvious mistakes as you incorporate this timeless accessory into your wardrobe.
In today's video we're going to discuss ring symbolism and the what wearing a ring on each
finger means.
But before we get into that lets lay out four ground rules on how to wear a ring.
Rule number 1
Pay attention to the traditions of your country or culture.
Some cultures that are more conservative will tell you that a man should only wear a wedding
ring.
Others may find it acceptable to wear as many different rings as you like.
My advice is wear what you want but understand ring sends a signal.
Rule number 2
Pay attention to the proportion.
If you have small hands you'll want to stick with smaller proportioned rings,
such as thinner bands.
If you have larger hands you will find that thick bands with a heavier built
will compliment you best.
Rule number 3
Try to match your metals
Maybe you find that you gravitate towards gold (warm tone individuals), or maybe you
prefer silver (cooler toned individuals).
Whatever the case may be, try to go with one color metal.
Rule number 4
If you're going to wear multiple rings try to create a balance across your hands.
Avoid wearing all your rings (assuming 2 or more) on one hand along with your watch.
It's better to spread your accessories across both hands to create balanced even look.
Now let's talk about the cultural significance of each ring finger.
Let's start with the finger that most of us are familiar with the ring worn on
The ring finger gets its name because across many cultures the wedding ring is worn on
this finger.
In much of the world, the wedding ring is worn on the left hand's ring finger, though in
Eastern European countries such as Ukraine, a wedding ring is worn on the right hand's
ring finger.
Typically a ring worn on the fourth finger will be a simple band made of silver or gold.
When it comes to astrological symbolism, this finger represents romanticism and creativity,
and is associated with the moon.
Now let's move now to the Little Finger aka Pinky Finger.
The pinky finger is historically a favorite finger for men to accessorize.
Because the pinky is on the edge of the hand any ring on this finger is going to ber more prominent
Certain professionals have traditions of ring on this finger
The most notable is The Iron Ring worn by many Canadian engineers.
The Ring is a symbol of both pride and humility for the engineering profession.
When it comes to astrological symbolism, the little finger represents the god Mercury.
And is associated with intelligence and persuasion.
Next up is the Middle Finger (aka long or tall finger)
You won't often see a ring worn on the middle finger for practical reasons; it often gets
in the way of the index finger when performing tasks.
If you do decide to wear a ring on your middle finger it would be wise to wear a relatively
streamlined design; a bulky ring will be more likely to get in the way.
When it comes to astrological symbolism, the middle finger is associated with Saturn
and symbolizes both balance and responsibility.
Next up is the Index Finger (aka pointer or trigger finger)
So if you go back hundreds of years, rings were commonly worn on the pointer finger, especially
when it came to signets or family crests.
For this reason the index finger is a great choice when it comes to class or fraternal
rings.
It's also important to note the index fingers place in culture, religion and historical
teachings.
Just look at the painting.
The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo. It's symbolism as a oneness with God.
When it comes to astrological symbolism, the index finger is associated with Jupiter and
represents power and authority.
Finally let's discuss the Thumb Though uncommon, thumb rings have historically
and still are worn in some cultures around the world.
Thumb rings symbolize wealth and influence, thus a bulkier ring is often used which balances
out nicely with the thumb's larger proportions.
Like the pinky, because the thumb is on the edge of the hand.
So a ring worn on the thumb is going to be more prominent.
If you want to wear multiple rings on the same hand, a thumb ring is a good choice to
help distribute the rings.
This finger does have astrological associations, but they are individual and often interpreted
based off thumb length, feeling (hard or soft) and straightness (or lack of).
So there you have it.
Rings are and have been a classic piece of mens jewelry dating back thousands of years.
So take the information in this video and go buy and wear your ring with confidence.
For a detailed guide on the rules and symbolism of wearing rings, check out the article and
infographic at realmenrealstyle.com