# rings on ring finger - meaning?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 25, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964 "2005-04-25T02:42:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@empty\_filing\_cabinet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/empty_filing_cabinet)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/1 "2005-04-25T02:42:31Z")
Dumb general question:
What are the general rules of ring-wearing etiquette?
For example, if a woman is wearing a ring on her ring finger, does it necessarily mean anything? More specifically, what if it’s kind of fancy looking, but you don’t know if it’s a fancy-looking wedding ring, or just a normal ring?
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### Author:  [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/2 "2005-04-25T03:29:47Z")
In my circles (or, more accurately, the adult circles with whom I occasionally converse), having a ring on the ring finger is always assumed to mean that the person in married. Unless, of course, he or she is quite young. In that case, it’s usually passed off as “being cute.”
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### Author:  [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/3 "2005-04-25T03:35:59Z")
Same here. Ring finger, left hand means married no matter what it looks like. I have a beautiful custom-made rhodolite garnet for my wedding ring that looks nothing like the traditional solitaire.
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/4 "2005-04-25T03:44:25Z")
In the olden days they thought there was a vein that ran straight from the ring finger to the heart.
So if the woman believes in tradition…
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### Author:  [@empty\_filing\_cabinet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/empty_filing_cabinet)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/5 "2005-04-25T03:54:47Z")
Thanks; that should keep me out of trouble.
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### Author:  [@MaceMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaceMan)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/6 "2005-04-25T03:58:13Z")
I thought that a ring on the left-hand ring finger could signify either engagement or marriage. A ring on the right hand, however, doesn’t mean anything.
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### Author:  [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/7 "2005-04-25T04:09:31Z")
> [@MaceMan](#):
>
> I thought that a ring on the left-hand ring finger could signify either engagement or marriage. A ring on the right hand, however, doesn’t mean anything.
I wasn’t sure what hand, so I didn’t specify.
Also, I just sort of lumped “engagement” and “marriage” together, since I wouldn’t hit on a woman with a fiance any more than I’d hit on one with a husband ;).
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### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/8 "2005-04-25T04:50:06Z")
> [@MaceMan](#):
>
> I thought that a ring on the left-hand ring finger could signify either engagement or marriage. A ring on the right hand, however, doesn’t mean anything.
Well, not entirely true. I have some polish friends, and a woman that is widowed will move the ring from left to right hand. I also know some german people, and they wear the wedding ring on the right hand. And yes, theya re all in this country…
Though I do have german living in germany friends who wear teh wedding stuff on teh right hand=)
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### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/9 "2005-04-25T06:32:12Z")
_Generally_ the left ring finger is for engagement and marriage, although as others have said not always. The new thing the diamond people are trying to sell is the “right hand ring”, which you wear on your right ring finger and you buy it yourself as some sort of “you go girl” gesture or something.
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### Author:  [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/10 "2005-04-25T09:17:07Z")
A plain gold or silver coloured band is ALMOST ALWAYS a wedding band, worn on the left hand if British or American, and on the right if from certain parts of Europe.
Two rings, one with a stone or stones, the other plain, worn on top of each other on the ring finger would almost always be an engagement ring and a wedding band. However, the lady may be divorced or widowed.
One ring with a stone or stones, worn on it’s own on the ring finger is either an engagement ring, a wedding ring or rarely just a pretty ring worn on the finger it best fits.
If in doubt, something like “I love that ring, it’s so elegant, how did you come by it?” will usually give you the information you’re after.
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### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/11 "2005-04-25T11:12:02Z")
> [@empty filing cabinet](#):
>
> Thanks; that should keep me out of trouble.
Exactly, I propose we should all start shaking with our _left_ hands. It would make it alot easier to tell if a woman was married or not.
So who’s with me?
Guys?..
uh, guys?..
_crickets_
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### Author:  [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/12 "2005-04-25T13:42:53Z")
I always thought that that meant married.
Apparently it does for most people, but I remember having a conversation with a co-worker who I assumed was married due to the ring.
Turns out she just freaking liked the ring, so she bought it and started wearing it.
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/13 "2005-04-25T13:49:13Z")
I wear a plain silver band on the ring finger of my left hand. I’m single. I’ve had a lot of people tell me I should wear a fancier ring if I’m bound and determined to wear a ring on that finger. I know they’re right, but haven’t done anything about it yet.
OTOH, my sister, who’s been very happily married for 35 years (omigod, is that right? **does mental math** yikes!), doesn’t wear a ring at all; nor does her husband.
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### Author:  [@Ragiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ragiel)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/14 "2005-04-25T15:31:26Z")
O boy! A chance for me to be an expert! I collect rings, and also have 33 books devoted to them in my library.
The definitive book on the subject is _Rings for the Finger_ by George F. Kunz. It has more than most people ever wanted to know about their history and symbolism to cultures all over the world. Chief problem: It was published in 1917, so obviously can’t speak to customs that evolved since then. There’s a Dover reprint, 1973, which can generally be picked up in used condition for a couple of dollars.
A shorter but really informative book is _Rings through the Ages_ by James R. McCarthy. It takes the history up to 1945. Most of the customs from 1945 are still observed now, 60 years later.
Books published over the last 15-20 years really are not as helpful. They repeat a few of the old legends, but often inaccurately.
Emerging customs, and revivals of old ones, are invented by (who else?) jewelers. The recent designation of the triple-diamond band as “Past, Present, Future” by DeBeers is a good example. They would like to see it become traditional as an anniversary gift. This a very old, classic design, but the symbolism would be new. If enough people like the idea, it will be a genuine 20th-21st century custom.
My very own opinion is that a plain band or solitaire on the left ring finger is a pretty clear sign the wearer is not interested in other suitors, unless you’re in Germany or another country with the tradition of right-hand rings. Any other ring or combination really has no universal significance.
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### Author:  [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rings-on-ring-finger-meaning/300964/15 "2005-04-25T15:55:29Z")
I have my great-grandmother’s original wedding ring (she got a fancy one on their 50th), and I wear it on the ring finger of my right hand. I think it’s adorable, it’s tiny, gold with a little pattern stamped into it all the way around.
In an emergency situation, I could switch it to my left. Voila! – suddenly, I look married! Back off, you. (If I ever, though the chances are very small, run into a certain ex again and am NOT married I am doing that. Ha ha, look what you missed out on…)
I would normally assume a left ring finger ring was a wedding or engagement ring.