The meaning of rings on men's fingers: from thumb to little finger

I'll tell you a secret - rings give us more information than we used to think. For thousands of years, men have worn them to communicate status, wealth, and membership in a particular society. A man's ring can tell us that you are married or single, that you attended a military academy, or that you are part of a fraternity or culture.

The purpose of this article is to learn how to wear a ring (or multiple rings) with confidence and style. First, we will look at the hidden meaning of a ring placed on a particular finger, and then we will familiarize ourselves with the five rules that every man who wears jewelry on his hands must follow.

Men's rings in history

The tradition of decorating men's fingers with rings originated in Ancient Rome. Basically, the hands of the rich segments of the population were decorated this way. The rings played not only an aesthetic function, but also acted as a seal that was used to seal documents. Naturally, most of them were made in the form of a signet with a carved pattern. The ring was made individually by the jeweler and could be given to another person as a credential.

Middle Ages - rings on the fingers of men indicate membership in one or another secret society or knightly order. There was another meaning - a vessel for carrying poison. The rings were made by jewelers, who could rather be called talented mechanics. One part of the ring was movable, there was a cavity inside. It was not difficult for a man to move this part and pour poison into the enemy’s glass or food.

During the Renaissance, the meaning of rings changed somewhat. During this period, stones were given special significance, and rings became a symbol of mysticism. Their main meaning is a talisman, a talisman.

Currently, rings on the fingers of men are decorations that still play the role of a talisman, a simple decoration. The meaning of belonging to an organization or society (not necessarily secret) is still relevant. For example, the ring that all players who win the Stanley Cup as part of a team receive.

How are rings different from signets?

The former are inlaid with precious stones, and the latter, the frontal part is a kind of platform on which stones, engraving, inscription, coat of arms, etc. may be present.

From the name you can already understand that signets were previously used as personal seals. In past centuries, rings were worn by rulers and persons close to them, representatives of guilds, and artisans (to determine their professional affiliation).

Today everyone can wear rings. The main thing is not to make a mistake with the finger and style.

Meanings of rings on the fingers of men

The main meaning that rings have on the fingers of men can currently be divided into two categories - a symbol of marital status, a psychological aspect. About marital status, more or less everything is clear - in different countries, men wear rings on the ring finger of one hand or another. As for psychology, a person does almost everything, as it seems to him, unconsciously.

It's the same story with rings. A man feels like he is choosing a finger to wear without any hidden meaning. This is wrong. Subconsciously, he chooses a specific finger, wanting to send a request to the Universe. For example - to attract wealth, good luck, to become more self-confident.

What significance can it have for a man to wear a ring on one finger or another?

On the big

This finger has always had a special meaning. The thumb ring was usually worn by very rich men who were confident in themselves and their position in society. The richer the wearer was, the larger and more intricate the ring on the thumb was.

Modern wearers of thumb rings still emphasize their status, originality, and want to stand out among other representatives of the stronger sex. They are sexually active and ready to flirt. Distinctive character traits are narcissism, a tendency to dominate, and impulsiveness.

You need to be careful with such people; sometimes they do not see anything around them and go over their heads towards their intended goal.

Another meaning is that homosexual men can wear a ring on their right hand.

On the index

The main meaning of the ring on the index finger is the thirst for attention from others. It is the index finger that people most often use when speaking and gesturing. This means that the decoration will not go unnoticed. Character traits of such a man:

• determination;
• leadership;
• determination;
• restraint.

Another meaning is betrothal or marriage (for the right hand), if the man in front of you is Jewish. The traditions of Judaism require wearing the symbol of marriage on the index finger.

Interesting fact: for a long time, only those who belonged to a rich aristocratic family were allowed to decorate their index finger with rings. He wore items with the family coat of arms.

On average

The wearer of the jewelry on the middle finger is the owner of all those qualities that are considered masculine. He is firm, ready to take responsibility for the weak, and does not give in to failures. He is straightforward, does not hide anything, and can be read like an open book.

The ring takes on a different meaning if the man has other jewelry on his hand. Perhaps he is rude, does not take into account other people's opinions, is narcissistic and very persistent in his desires.

An interesting meaning - esotericists say that wearers of jewelry on the middle finger of the left hand are afraid of loneliness and secretly signal this to the world.

On the nameless

A ring on the ring finger indicates the presence of a life partner. But we’ll talk more about this below. Here we will talk about the psychological significance of such a choice.

If the wearer is not married or engaged, the meaning of the ring on the ring finger is:

• creativity of character;
• romantic nature;
• energy;
• daydreaming;
• loyalty.

Interesting : men often put rings on both hands at once. You can safely double all the listed character qualities.

From an esoteric point of view, men are encouraged to put any jewelry on their middle finger if they want to find a soul mate or become more balanced.

On the little finger

Men rarely wear a ring on their little finger. The banal meaning is that the decoration has become small, but its owner likes it, and he considers making changes to it a bad omen. The main meaning is that your interlocutor with a ring on his little finger is an excellent listener. He is looking for companionship because he is quite lonely in life. He may have problems in the family, relationships with the opposite sex may not go well. Another meaning is a strong desire to stand out among other men, belonging to a creative profession, a tribute to fashion.

Often a ring on a man’s little finger indicates membership in a certain group:

• in the early 70s it was a secret sign of homosexuals. Nowadays such a symbol is not used, although older men may retain this habit;
• in Italy and the USA - men associated with crime and occupying high positions in the group can wear a ring on their little finger;
• aristocrats - echoes of the long-standing tradition of wearing a signet on the little finger (its name came from its special purpose - the ability to put an imprint on a piece of wax or sealing wax to authenticate a document). Now this is how the descendants of aristocrats wear the ring.

Thumb

It is believed that rings on the thumb are worn by bright personalities with a twist, strong and self-confident men.

On the one hand, a thumbs up is an expression of approval. On the other hand, it was with this finger that emperors once gave the sign to execute or pardon, and it is not very convenient to wear rings on it.

Of course, the symbolic meaning of the thumb ring is not the last resort. But it is quite possible that a man subconsciously strives to show just such qualities. And of course, attract more female attention.

Which finger should a man wear a ring on?

Skeptics, of course, will say that there is no special significance in choosing a finger. You need to wear it where a man likes it, where it is comfortable and acceptable for his lifestyle. But an interesting fact is that every man chooses a finger based on the feeling of inner comfort. Esotericists have come to the conclusion that this is how the subconscious works. It signals what the wearer lacks in life.

Therefore, it is worth finding out the possible meanings of jewelry on a particular finger, so that wearing it will bring an additional effect:

• strengthening character qualities that are associated with a specific finger;
• limitation of certain inclinations that have a negative connotation.

The meaning of a ring on a man's finger is a loud statement without words. We can highlight some rules to make such a “statement” sound louder and be clear to others:

• choose jewelry according to the size of your hands. Those with large sizes should wear massive options;
• The thickness of the fingers is also important - you need to find a balance;
• Do not overload one hand with rings, bracelets, watches, and leave the other clean;
• There is no clear requirement regarding the metals from which jewelry must be worn. However, for fair-skinned men, silver is suitable, and for darker-skinned men, gold;
• The optimal safe set is two or three items distributed among the hands.

Forefinger

A man's ring on the index finger clearly declares the ambition of its owner, his desire to rule.

Especially if it is a finger on the right hand. Such people prefer to give orders rather than carry them out; they strive to lead everywhere, even if it is a friendly company. It can be difficult to find compromise solutions with such people.

And sometimes a ring on this finger is worn simply because the shape of the hand does not allow rings on other fingers to look stylish. Or if the owner of the jewelry does not have very large hands. A ring on the index finger visually changes the impression.

What types of men's rings are there?

An interesting fact is that representatives of the stronger sex are more prone to symbolism in jewelry than women. Therefore, almost everything that they carry on their hands matters in one way or another.

Types of men's rings

Main options:

• ring - a decoration with a surface that is the same across the entire width. Traditional - wedding. Their meaning is known to everyone;
• signet - decoration with a flat platform on which a design or engraving is located;
• ring - a product with a stone.

In first place in terms of prevalence, of course, are wedding items. On the second there are signets and rings. But third place was confidently taken by amulets rings. This is a product with printed drawings, symbols or inscriptions. It is important for a man, protecting him on a spiritual level.

Materials

And here the representatives of the stronger sex bypassed women who adore jewelry. The range of materials that craftsmen use is indeed very wide. In addition to traditional gold, silver and platinum, tungsten, ceramics, steel, titanium, and new alloys are used.

Of course, most men prefer traditional materials, but they rarely refuse experiments in this sense. Especially if the product itself is interesting and beautiful.

Ancient beliefs and teachings

The tradition of decorating hands dates back to the ancient Romans. Only noble men could wear them as a symbol of supreme power, wealth and honor. Gradually the custom spread to other countries. The shape of rings and decorating stones were often given magical meaning. Let's look at the main folk beliefs:

• Protection. The circle was considered a symbol that protects a person from the attacks of evil mystical elements. A person wearing a metal circle on his hand was considered invulnerable to the forces of evil. If the ring cracked after wearing for a long time, it meant that it protected its owner from evil forces and needed to be replaced.
• Help from ancestors. Family jewelry preserves the energy of previous generations, helps a man prolong his life and attract good luck. The loss of family jewelry symbolized future troubles.
• Symbol of power and prosperity. Representatives of the upper classes decorated themselves with rings, preferring massive accessories made of precious metals with large stones. Today, this tradition has been partially preserved, but men prefer moderate-sized rings with inserts of precious stones to indicate their wealth.
• Status in society. Previously, the location of the rings was prescribed by the status of a man and carried information about his position in society.

Some peoples selected a ring according to their zodiac signs. It was believed that an astrological accessory, selected taking into account the influence of the stars, helps the owner in life’s endeavors and protects from troubles.

There are many factors that matter when choosing a ring.

Despite the tempting nature of the “language of rings,” you should not 100% trust what you see. Perhaps the guy chose an accessory and a place on his finger, guided not by personal preferences, but by following fashion or imitating an idol. In this case, the information about the person will be incorrect. In addition to the manner of wearing rings, other external manifestations of character must be taken into account.

How to wear?

In addition to symbolism, the appropriateness of the choice is also important. For example, adding an abundance of rings to a formal business suit is inappropriate, but relaxing on vacation is quite possible. Of course, there are companies that allow their employees some liberties. It is believed that work qualities are more important, but this practice is not in all organizations.

It's not just the office or business meeting that imposes restrictions. It is inappropriate for a man to show up on a date with his hands full of jewelry. Wait until you get to know each other better. Otherwise, your partner may have the wrong opinion about your character.

Little finger

The pinky ring for men has a long history of symbolism. For example, in Victorian times, men, including Prince Albert, wore their wedding rings on their little finger. Sometimes paired with a ring or signet.

On the other hand, in the USA (and not only) pinky rings were associated with the criminal world. For example, in the film “The Godfather” almost every hero has such a ring.

Johnny Depp, Prince Charles, Elvis Presley and many other famous and influential personalities prefer to wear rings and large signets on their right little finger.

Such people show their fortitude, sophistication of mind and desire to go ahead to achieve their goal. If we go back a few centuries, men's signets on the little finger of the right hand were worn only by the rich nobility, who emphasized their wealth with such decoration.

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They also wear rings on the little finger as a sign of belonging to a certain community or club. For example, this is common among bikers. Members of one club wear signets with the coat of arms or symbol of their small society.

In prestigious European educational institutions, pinky rings were worn by students belonging to closed elite clubs. This is how they showed others their exclusivity.

Representatives of mafia organizations often show off rings on their little fingers in movies. And if a man has several tattoos in addition to his ring...

Interesting questions

Let's look at a number of questions that are related to non-standard situations and are asked most often.

On which finger do men wear the Ring of Solomon?

The Ring of Solomon is a powerful male talisman. Legend has it that the Jewish king was very wise, but loved women. To please them, he abandoned state affairs, from which he himself suffered. Solomon turned to the elder for help. He gave me a ring with an inscription. It can be translated as “everything passes and this will pass.” As soon as the sovereign fell into a state that interfered with his work, he looked at the decoration and calmed down.

The magical meaning of Solomon’s amulet depends on which finger the man wears it on:

• large - from damage and competitors;
• index - increasing self-esteem;
• medium - calming a violent temper;
• nameless - activation of creative abilities;
• little finger - to protect the entire family of the wearer.

But the metal doesn't really matter. Although gold is more suitable for purposeful people, silver is more suitable for melancholic people.

On which finger should a man wear a silver ring?

The general rule applies to all rings. If the man is right-handed:

• the fingers of the right hand display an internal picture of a person’s state in real time;
• the fingers of the left hand are what a man would like to receive in the future.

Important : if a man is left-handed, the rule applies the other way around.

It all depends on what qualities a man wants to “improve”:

• thumb - will, logic, thinking;
• index - creativity, emotions, happiness;
• medium - wisdom, learning ability, harmony;
• unnamed - personal life, family, romance;
• little finger - creativity, luck, excitement.

Why do men wear a wedding ring on their left hand?

In our country, married men wear a wedding ring on the ring finger of their right hand. If you see a man who has a standard wedding ring on his left hand, this means:

• the man is Catholic or Muslim;
• he is divorced or widowed;
• engaged - such jewelry can be worn for years until the couple enters into an official marriage.

On which finger do men wear a church ring?

Many people wear rings for men with the inscription “Save and Preserve.” This is a powerful amulet against all the negative influences that the modern world has on humans. Protection from temptations and help in maintaining spiritual bonds.

If a man does not consider himself a believer and considers a church ring as a simple decoration, it is permissible to wear it on any finger of any hand. For believers who attach special significance to such a symbol, the following rules are established:

• right hand - thumb, index, middle finger. This is easy to explain - in Orthodoxy one makes the sign of the cross with the right hand, placing these fingers together;
• the ring finger of the right hand is for a married man.

The clergy note that the choice of finger does not matter, the main thing is faith.

What does a toe ring mean?

Wearing toe rings is not new - people decorated themselves this way back in the 3rd century. In India, women emphasized family wealth or married status in this way. Gradually, fashion took over all countries, but lost its symbolism. Nowadays, the toe ring can be seen on very extravagant men. As a rule, these are representatives of creative professions.

Middle finger

Most often, men wear the ring on their middle finger. In principle, there is no special sacred meaning in this option, so we can say that it is completely safe. The main thing is that the ring is not decorated with a very large stone.

Family heirlooms are also worn on the middle finger - rings that are passed down in the family from generation to generation.

Types of men's accessories

Of course, men cannot boast of the rich variety of this jewelry, like women’s. But there is so much to choose from.

What groups are divided into?

• Engagement . Perhaps this is the only type of jewelry that any married man will wear, even if he is not a supporter of this kind of thing. Nowadays they are made from different metals and shapes. Some people prefer a discreet style and wear a traditional yellow gold band, some like it adorned with precious stones, while others get it engraved or simply add decorative elements.
• Signets . Previously, signets were not just decoration, but were seals for various kinds of documents. The top part was engraved with personal initials or family coat of arms. Nowadays they make different patterns and ornaments on signets, more for beauty.
• Massive ring with a large precious stone . Rich and influential people could afford such an accessory. This decoration instantly attracts attention, and by it one can determine the status of a man. However, these days the significance of such jewelry has not been lost, and rich people can afford such rings.

Material of manufacture

• Iron jewelry is most often preferred by men with creative thinking. Such decoration will symbolize a masculine character with iron nerves, a kind of “steel rod” in the body.
• The most popular jewelry at the moment are rings made of silver. They are affordable and can be purchased at any jewelry store. Silver jewelry comes with or without stones, with decorative inserts, as well as various types of signets. Young men opt for a discreet style, but older men wear massive rings.
• Gold jewelry has long meant that a person has a lot of money and high status. Wedding rings, by the way, are often made of gold to give significance to this decoration.
• You can often find jewelry with mixed metals, that is, they are made of yellow gold with white accents. Such jewelry is preferred by men with an excellent sense of style.

Pay attention to the precious stones. Diamonds in gold are a sure sign that a man wants to demonstrate his wealth and high status in society.

Designer models

Not every man will wear a ring just like that. Except for the engagement party, of course. The desire to wear a ring on your hand arises in the following cases:

• Such a man loves to attract attention to himself. Usually, these are people with creative potential or those who are not confident in themselves. In this way, they increase their self-esteem and challenge the world.
• In the second case, the young man will wear a ring if he wants to communicate his wealth.
• And the last meaning is found most often in men. Wearing this jewelry symbolizes some kind of distinctive sign. By it they identify “their own,” that is, representatives of a particular group.

Most often, the design of the accessory determines the environment to which the young man belongs. For example, bank workers will not wear massive iron rings, or a rock musician will not wear elegant gold rings with precious stones. The design of your jewelry is chosen taking into account your passion in a particular area.

Patron

Astrologers believe that each finger on the hand is responsible for its own area and, like an antenna, receives cosmic energy, distributing it throughout the body. To enhance the influence of the patron planet, you can use a ring. And it’s not just a matter of choosing the right finger to wear, the right choice of shape and material of the patron is important.

Jewelry with natural stones can enhance the cosmic influence several times. But modern stones created using nanotechnology are perceived by astrologers as dead. In their opinion, they cannot bring any benefit.

Energetic men prone to aggression who place the accessory on the thumb enhance the influence of Mars. It helps to be the center of attention and reflects negative energy.

For business women and men

Another popular semi-precious stone is malachite. Its energy is also feminine, however it is different from the characteristics of Amazonite. If you are a self-sufficient person with ambitious aspirations, malachite will help you. Its impact will help distribute your energy between personal and professional spheres.

As often happens, it is difficult for a woman to decide on her priorities, which makes her extremely nervous. Malachite helps bring clarity to this issue, and you will pay tribute to both the work and the revelation of female sexuality. In addition, this stone has a beneficial effect on the health of the reproductive sphere, and is also a talisman for children. It goes well with silver and steel and should be worn on the middle finger. As for the choice of hand, it depends on the area that you want to strengthen: if career growth, then the right one, and if home, then the left one.

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This gem is also suitable for men, especially if they work in a team of women: it allows you to better understand female psychology. For those who are interested in esotericism and paranormal phenomena, malachite will help in controlling primitive otherworldly forces (elementals).

Rule #2 - pay attention to proportions

If you have large hands, feel free to wear larger rings. Men with smaller hands should maintain proportion by wearing smaller rings.

Likewise, if you have thin fingers, keep your bracelets thin and compact. Wide stripes will look better on men with large fingers. Just make sure you choose one that is proportional to your hands.

Simple rule: small hands, smaller rings. Big hands, big rings. Quite simple.

Apollo symbol

Palmistry states that the sun god Apollo rules the ring finger. If you are choosing a piece of jewelry in a jewelry store, then, most likely, the first fitting will be on this finger.

Apollo's metal is gold, which goes well with precious stones: diamond and ruby.

The patronage of the sun god is very important for the successful outcome of any undertaking. Therefore, to the question of which finger the good luck ring is worn on, the answer is obvious. Apollo's influence is expressed in an optimistic mood and a surge of energy, and this is the key to success.

Let's list which rings are worn on the ring finger and with which semiprecious minerals:

• tourmaline of different shades;
• red jasper, which has the property of protecting against troubles;
• carnelian, which is a “healer” for many diseases;
• a pomegranate that can give its owner courage and energy;
• topaz, used for meditative practices;
• amber, which cures thyroid diseases and gives optimism;
• citrine, popular among merchants of the Middle Ages for its ability to bestow insight.

Important warning: It is not recommended to lend rings from your ring finger to anyone. In this way, you can attract deception and even the destruction of your marriage into your life.

Gems energy

Rings are created from a setting and a precious or semi-precious stone. And few people know that they also have a certain energy. You should know that some gems are combined only with silver or only with gold. Dao metals can serve as a setting for any stone.

Let's take a closer look at which fingers women wear rings on and how harmoniously it combines with the energy of their body.

Most often, the ring can be seen on the ring, middle, and less often the index finger of any hand. This means that the yang energy of Jupiter (or yin of Neptune), yin of Saturn or yang of the Sun is activated.

It was discussed above what the body’s reaction (taking into account the side of the body) to a particular metal may be. Let's now look at some of the features of gems.

What is a signet?

A signet ring is a type of ring, that is, a finger decoration with a clearly defined central element. But if a classic ring bears a large stone in a setting, then the central element of the signet is a platform on which all kinds of symbols are depicted.

Modern signets are sometimes produced with blank shields. It is assumed that the owner himself will put the desired symbol on it. Well, not exactly himself, of course, but he will order it from an engraver or jeweler.

The etymology of the word “signet” is clearly visible even to a non-specialist - it goes back to the word “seal”. And this is not a coincidence, but a reflection of the essence of the subject. Signet rings were once used to certify documents and seal letters with impressions on wax or sealing wax.

Men's steel ring (go to SUNLIGHT catalogue)

Signet rings were known in Ancient China, Greece, the Roman Empire, and during the heyday of Byzantium they became widespread. Later they came to Europe, and in the Middle Ages, almost every noble family acquired rings that were worn by all men of a noble family.

The image on the signet could display:

• noble coat of arms;
• owner's monogram;
• merchant's mark;
• professional guild badge;
• a symbol of a community (often secret) to which the owner belonged.

Such decorations never went beyond the family and were passed on from generation to generation.

Previously, a man with a signet on his finger was instantly associated with a certain privilege: power, wealth and strength. As a rule, this was a representative of an aristocratic family (possibly the head of the clan), a wealthy merchant or a member of an influential guild.

Rings with recognizable symbols were worn by members of secret societies (for example, the same Freemasons) and students of prestigious European universities. Signets of clergy can be included in a separate group.

Unfortunately, at some point in time (especially in the dashing nineties), these stylish jewelry for the powers that be began to be associated with criminal structures. However, now signets are gradually regaining their aristocratic flair and are once again becoming symbols of real men with a high position in society. And each of us determines this place for ourselves!

Why and how to take care of rings?

Any foreign objects on the thumb can interfere with the normal functions of the hand. Depending on their size, they create an obstacle to bending and make it necessary to take various objects more carefully. That is, they require the formation of special habits.

It is very important to avoid scratches on visible jewelry. After all, it attracts a lot of attention. Also, items made from soft material are subject to deformation. To protect your ring while wearing and storing it, coat it with a layer of clear nail enamel.

You shouldn’t do dirty work with jewelry, much less do anything involving the use of aggressive chemicals. To keep your thumb ring looking attractive longer, keep it separate from other items. When metal objects rub against each other, they leave mutual scratches.

You need to clean the rings with an eye to the material they are made of. Most products can simply be washed with soapy water and polished with a soft cloth.

Several examples of caring for jewelry depending on the material it is made of.

Silver

Regular toothpaste works great. Use a product with a soft consistency, without noticeable abrasive particles, without dyes.

Gold

This metal can be cleaned with an aqueous solution of dishwashing gel.

Copper

Lemon or tomato juice will cope with plaque on copper products.

Ivory

Provide the ring with enough sunlight, because without light such things will darken. Clean the ring from plaque with an aqueous solution of lemon juice (citric acid).

Don't forget to take care of your decorations. After all, they help you emphasize your uniqueness. Use caution when putting on your thumb ring. Consider the place where you are going, the worldview of the people you are going to communicate with, and your style. You must clearly understand the purpose of such decoration and the possible consequences of showing your originality. If a piece of jewelry given by someone is too big for all your other phalanges, do not rush to “fit” it onto your thumb.

Energy of jewelry

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Before you put a ring on your finger, you should know that energy in a person’s body is distributed according to his gender. That is, the bottom to the solar plexus is yin, and the top is yang. This is horizontal.

Vertically, the female side is on the left, and the male side is on the right. However, this does not apply to the head area - here everything is the other way around. It is known that right-hemisphere individuals are pure humanists, while left-hemisphere individuals gravitate toward the exact sciences.

This information is important to understand which rings to wear on which finger. The meaning of jewelry is determined not only by its price, but also by the energy it carries. All metals are divided into three types: yin, yang, dao. Accordingly, a ring made of gold will enhance the “yang” energy of its owner. Silver jewelry will enhance the “yin”; and iron, stainless steel or white gold are universal metals of the “tao” - they combine feminine and masculine energies.

Rule 4 - choose metals

Most men are content with choosing between silver or gold. The choice should be determined by what your skin tone is. Is it cold or warm?

• Wear silver if you have a cool tone. Your skin has a cool tone if veins are visible.
• Wear gold if you have warmer skin tones. In this case, your veins will not be visible.

Does your belt buckle match your jewelry?
Yes, to look as harmonious as possible, try to combine as many accessories as possible. Everything from the metal on your belt buckle, watch, and rings should be the same tone. It is not necessary to select metals precisely. Stainless steel and white gold go well together. However, try to maintain as much uniformity as possible.