Which finger to wear the ring on, and what does it mean?

April 8, 2021

From time immemorial, the meaning of finger rings has concerned humanity no less than the jewelry itself. They demonstrate marital status, belonging to certain circles of society, and often show extraordinary taste. In all cases, the accessory is guaranteed to evoke a lot of emotions among others - from kind envy and joy to silent indignation.

In this material you will learn the correct placement of rings on your fingers, the meaning of each piece of jewelry, as well as how to wear jewelry when traveling to certain countries.

What does a ring on a certain finger mean?

It would be too simple to think that wearing such an important accessory did not affect the cultural traditions of different peoples. Let's look at the most famous and unusual examples.

Big

Jewelry on this finger has been worn since time immemorial, and there is some documented evidence relating to modern times:

Before the invention of firearms, a huge ring on the thumb was the privilege of serving archers. They put it on over a rough leather glove so that the rebounding bowstring would hit the thick layer of metal and would not injure the hand.
Goths, metalheads and other youth subcultures do not shy away from such a non-standard style. True, for them this is, first of all, a part of public shocking, so the ring must correspond to the message - with skulls, snakes or other “devilish things”.
Representatives of the LGBT community wear rings on their thumbs solely to demonstrate their position in same-sex relationships. The right hand - the person chose the role of a woman, the left - a man.
Some religious cults in Latin America adopt this style to distinguish their flock outside the church walls. The difference is that these are specific products decorated with crosses and other Christian symbols.
In Russia, which experienced the gangster nineties, the thumb with a signet is strongly associated with crime bosses or a demonstration of power. Fortunately, the fashion for shaven-headed “bros” has long passed into a marginal status.

Interesting fact: An ardent fan of wearing a ring on the thumb was the great Russian poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. True, in the 19th century it did not carry any secret meaning, except for one thing - in front of you is an eccentric eccentric, greedy for the attention of beautiful ladies.

Pointing

It’s hard to believe this now, but European laws until the 20th century prohibited decorating the index finger unless you were a member of the nobility. Today there are different rules:

Conservative families in Germany, Italy, France or the Netherlands still wear gold signets with the family coat of arms in this way. Most often, the honor of representing the family name goes to men, although in recent years the tradition has often been broken.
In pre-Christian Rus', newlyweds were ringed with their index fingers; with the advent of Orthodoxy, the ritual was forcibly eradicated. Interestingly, a similar ritual was preserved among Orthodox Jews, but exclusively for the bride.

On dating sites, there is often a version according to which a ring on the index finger means that the owner is “actively searching.” It is better not to believe such information; such a style has long been out of date in European culture.

Average

The most underrated finger in terms of jewelry, thanks in part to the famous obscene gesture that came from the English-speaking environment. However, something still appeared within the framework of international etiquette standards with a worthy explanation:

For Orthodox believers, the middle finger can crown any item consecrated in the temple. For example, many clergy recommend putting the Save and Preserve ring on it in order to protect yourself from evil thoughts and evil spirits.
In the West, this is how they wear inherited jewelry. It shouldn't be expensive or too noticeable. In the end, the family amulet is endowed with a deep sacred meaning, even at the level of superstition.

Putting a ring on the second phalanx of the middle finger has become fashionable among representatives of the feminist movement. In this way, girls demonstrate their commitment to the principles of equality, freedom of thought and independence from male opinion.

Nameless

With ring fingers, everything is relatively simple, but in each country or religious culture, wedding and engagement rings are placed on them differently:

Orthodox Slavs, including Russians, Belarusians, Serbs and Bulgarians - strictly on the right hand. This also includes Georgians, Greeks and residents of Jordan.
It is customary to put a wedding ring on the left hand in the Catholic-Protestant world - Poland, the Baltic states, the USA, France, Great Britain, Spain, Italy. From Muslim regions - in Syria and Turkey.
In China the tradition is more interesting. There, before the wedding ceremony, both future spouses wear engagement rings on the ring finger of their right hand. After the wedding, the husband demonstratively changes his jewelry to his left one, making the woman the head of the family.
Divorced people have adopted the “mirror” rule. Once the marriage is dissolved, any jewelry is moved to the opposite hand. Although, in recent years, the best demonstration of freedom from relationships is the absence of rings at all.

All countries are united by a rather gloomy superstition. Unmarried girls and single guys are strictly forbidden to wear rings on those ring fingers, which in their culture are considered “wedding.” Even if you do this as a joke, or to ward off excessive attention from the opposite sex, you risk setting yourself up for failure in a real marriage.

Little finger

Important for everyone who plays music, but deprived of jewelry attention, the little finger played a much larger role in history than it might seem:

By the end of the 19th century, a ring on the little finger meant membership in a Masonic lodge or other secret society. It is believed that the tradition came from Ancient Rome, where Senate informants who had immunity were “marked” in this way.
The sentimental version explains this style with nostalgia for youth - many adult men keep gifts from their parents. When a hand grows out of a piece of jewelry, the only way to remember it is to put it on the smallest finger.

Once in Italy, take a close look at the hands of men who start talking to you. A little finger with a ring - belonging to the legendary Sicilian mafia or any other criminal community. This means one thing - with such a potential interlocutor, you should keep your eyes open so as not to get entangled in the story.

General signs about rings

Many representatives of the fairer sex believe that a ring on a finger is nothing more than a decoration. For some, it is a sign of good taste, some kind of symbol, while others wear it for special purposes, as they believe that it is a way to change fate and attract good luck. But then you need to know the meaning of the rings on different fingers of women. Do not forget that there are many signs associated with such jewelry, so you should choose them very carefully.

The meaning of rings on fingers

There are especially many beliefs about wedding rings. It is believed that only the groom should buy them. Such a ring should not be tried on by anyone other than future spouses, as this can lead to discord in the marriage.

Any rings, regardless of their purpose on the hand, should not be allowed to be removed by another person. This is how he takes his life energy.

A correctly selected ring with good energy can be a symbol of boundless happiness. You should be careful with the jewelry you find, as it may carry negativity. Here it is better to consult with professionals or sell the product and buy a new one for yourself.

Losing rings is strongly discouraged - this is a very bad omen. Some even believe that this can lead to death. In fact, such an outcome of events should not be expected, but certain negativity may appear in a person’s life. This is especially true for wedding rings. If they are lost, the family will face disintegration or strong quarrels.

Expectant mothers need to be very careful about wearing rings and other round objects on their bodies. Since ancient times, it was believed that rings protect mother and child from all problems and bad energy. Therefore, you should not remove jewelry before the onset of childbirth. But during the birth of a child, you need to remove everything round and “closed” on the body. This applies to rings, chains, bracelets, etc. It is believed that such items complicate the birth process.

Which fingers should you not wear rings on?

Here you need to remember the cultural traditions of the countries where you plan to travel:

Among Hindus, regardless of region of residence and religion, the left hand is definitely considered “unclean”, so it is forbidden to decorate it in any way.
Southeast Buddhist Asia gives a special mystical meaning to the little fingers - there should be no jewelry on them, especially for older people.

In radical Muslim countries, the wearing of rings by anyone is still not encouraged. A man, a woman, a teenager - everyone can expect a lot of condemning glances for demonstrating wealth, which in Islam is allowed only to rulers.

Little finger

In esotericism, the smallest finger of the hand is responsible for harmony in family ties, creativity, success in business, as well as wealth and well-being.

Astrologers believe that the little finger is the personification of Mercury, a symbol of intelligence and knowledge. It is recommended for artisans and people involved in trade and entrepreneurship to wear rings on this finger.

What does the position of the rings on the fingers mean? How to wear multiple jewelry?

Many stylists and designers continue to debate the topic - how many rings can you put on one hand or even one finger at the same time? Some quite rightly consider this style to be a sign of bad taste, while others allow for very original combinations.

The result is largely determined by the etiquette norms of a particular society, but there are basic rules that will help you form the desired image:

The rings should be combined with each other - openwork, strict geometry, inlaid with precious stones. It’s good if there is no contrast of color and shape.
Married women often wear a colorful diamond engagement ring over a plain wedding band. This can be done, as long as the color of the metals matches.
The supposedly “sports” style that came from black basketball players, when they wear several rings at once, does not suit everyone. Including the athletes themselves.

A close to ideal style standard is no more than one ring on each hand at a time. There are no restrictions on specific fingers, unless your marital status requires it. But it’s still much better to choose a jewelry set - with earrings, a bracelet or a neck pendant, so the image will be more harmonious and natural.

Ring combinations

Important! An interesting combination is several rings of different sizes and shapes, connected by a chain.

A safe maximum can be considered two or three rings scattered on both hands. We need to try not to make it look like a caricature overall.

The shape of the ring is a sign of infinity, increasing the strength of the one who wears it. The symbol is associated with ancient witchcraft and family origins. It matters a lot which finger the ring is on.

How to wear rings with stones correctly?

This is where superstitions and ideas about the energy of each crystal come into force:

Diamond rings, in addition to the ring finger, can be worn on the middle finger, where they will best attract admiring glances.
The same rule applies to jewelry with amethyst or topaz. Both minerals have positive charges for communicating with others.
According to the advice of astrologers, products with emeralds are worn on the little finger to attract good luck in financial matters or in negotiations with partners.
Bright sapphire rings are considered a symbol of power in most cultures, which means their place is on the index fingers.

A couple of practical tips at the end. Firstly, always make sure that the color of the insert in your ring is harmoniously combined with the image and the rest of the jewelry. Secondly, remember about personal comfort - do not wear products with the wrong size. An unsuccessful selection can provoke the loss of an item dear to the heart (and wallet), not to mention how the sharp edges of the stones can scratch delicate skin with prolonged contact.

Forefinger

Symbolizes fire, power, power, leadership. To advance your career, become a leader, achieve influence and fame, you should wear jewelry on your index finger.

Esotericists recommend wearing gold rings on the index finger only for men: leaders, managers, ambitious individuals. It is better for women to refrain from such decoration, as it can become an obstacle to achieving family happiness and harmony.

On the fingers of which hand is it correct to wear rings - left or right?

The answer to such a tricky question is not clear-cut. You always have to look at etiquette, marital status and other factors that can cause negativity from others.

If you are free from prejudice, public discussion and other obstacles, wear jewelry as you please, looking only at your own ideas about beauty. And the Line of Love online store will help you choose and buy rings made of gold or silver with any suitable style, inlay for all occasions.

Thumb

Symbolizes strength of spirit, inner state. Wearing a ring on the thumb leads to changes in life and will help develop strong-willed character traits. The Druids associated this finger with a tree, the life cycle, energy, self-development, logic, and balance.

On the big one, you should wear gold jewelry with stones in “sunny” shades. And to develop intuition, give preference to silver items with blue-colored stones.