There are many versions regarding the first appearance of myths, according to which the world's first ring was forged by Prometheus in memory of liberation from the shackles of Zeus, and ancient Chinese legends, according to which the goddess of the sky created a ring from a star and presented it to Emperor Ming Tang. Perhaps the prototype of the first ring was a blade of grass that the shepherdess Amilla tied on her lover’s little finger so that he would not forget it. But this is all at the level of folklore.
Ring culture
The first historical mentions send us back to the third millennium BC to the civilization of the ancient Sumerians. They made them from metal and used them as a personal seal. According to archaeological excavations, rings were used in approximately the same way by the ancient Egyptians. However, the ancient Greeks can rightfully be considered the real connoisseurs and lovers of rings, who wore them in large quantities precisely as decoration, both men and women.
From the Greeks, the love of decoration was passed on to the Romans, and from there throughout Europe. They became a kind of symbol, emphasizing the status, wealth and position in society of their wearer; rings were often given mystical meaning. Later, wearing them on certain fingers began to be given special significance.
In modern times, these jewelry are mainly made from various alloys. While steel rings are usually worn by young guys, girls prefer elegant jewelry made from precious metals and their alloys. With age, both of them change their preferences - ladies choose more expensive, massive jewelry with precious stones, and men settle on gold and platinum jewelry that emphasizes their status.
White and blackened silver also takes its rightful place. They are chosen by people of creative professions. Moreover, the finger does not matter. They wear jewelry on any of the five fingers, as long as it brings aesthetic pleasure.
Signet design
The first rings of this type had a rather laconic design. They consisted of a rim and a seal, an upper platform on which a design was mirrored, similar to a seal. When pressed into the sealing wax or other substance used to seal the letter, an impression remained .
Modern signets look completely different from their distant ancestors. This is due to the change in functions. All that remains of the real signets is the shape. Drawings and decorations on the printing area can be varied . Moreover, they do not always indicate the owner. Another innovation in wearing signets was that previously it was an item that only belonged to men. Now it has harmoniously and firmly fit into the wardrobe of modern fashionistas.
What types of jewelry are there?
Men's rings are distinguished by their simplicity and conciseness. Unless the signets may have ornaments or precious and semi-precious stones of dim shades such as carnelian, citrine, amber, topaz, emerald, chrysoprase and peridot. By the way, it is believed that chrysoprase in silver helps with the implementation of new projects and brings good luck at a business meeting. Jade in any metal supports kidney health and will help you make a decision in a doubtful situation.
Wearing a pinky ring
Little finger (from Old Russian “little finger”) means the youngest, fifth. The finger practically does not bear a functional load. Rather, it is responsible for communication and will tell a lot about the character of its owner.
Psychologists say that a person wearing a ring on a small finger:
- resourceful;
- two-faced;
- prone to adventure.
If you meet such a person on your way, you should be on your guard with him. Such people, as a rule, like to fool everyone else, and are also prone to lies and coquetry. However, it's not all bad. It is possible that we are simply looking at a creative person, or that the jewelry was a gift from a dear person, has special value for him, but is not the right size for other fingers. Or maybe this is just a tribute to fashion, regardless of anything.
The little finger and the energy of Mercury
In esotericism, the smallest finger of the palm is considered a symbol of connection with the world and the planet Mercury. Wearing a ring helps:
- trade and haggle;
- build a career;
- develop imagination;
- maintain hope even when there are no prospects in sight.
A thin ring will contribute to the development of positive personality traits, while a wide one can lead to negative changes - the appearance of hypocrisy in character, deceit, and duplicity. There are, of course, always exceptions to the rule. To control the energy of Mercury, to build your destiny at your own discretion, you need to carefully consider the choice of materials, inlay, and engraving.
Dependence of character on the little finger
There is an opinion that the character and preferences of people also depend on the length of the finger:
- Medium length - fully socially adapted, courageous individuals.
- Long - very talented, charismatic, endlessly hardworking.
- Short - those with short fingers are diplomats. But if it is much shorter than the average length, then this is a sign of unbridledness, impulsiveness, and readiness to take rash risks. The owner of such a finger is cunning and resourceful. Internally free and liberated. With high self-esteem. At the same time, in his behavior he remains a teenager for the rest of his life.
All this with only one ring on a small finger. If there are rings on others, the characteristics change. A more complete description of a person is given by other features of the fifth finger. This includes the thickness of the joints, the degree of sharpness of the finger, its fit, the ratio of the lengths of the phalanges, etc.
In this regard, it can be said that it is more likely that men with a very short fifth finger wear rings on the right or left little finger. People with a long little finger have this tendency to a lesser extent. Creative people have their own opinions about beauty.
Interesting historical facts
Rings were worn on the smallest finger:
- Gender fluid people.
- Criminal personalities.
- Representatives of subcultures.
- Clergy.
The ring, by the way, is placed on the little finger of the right hand by every Pope, with the obligation to wear it for life. The name of the clergyman is minted on the signet. But monks wear it on their left little finger as a sign that they give their destiny to the Lord. They have their own rules in this matter.
Now all this is nothing more than history, but if you approach this question from a psychological point of view, it means the following:
- A person who wears jewelry on the fifth finger wants to attract good luck, success in business, wealth and recognition. And it indicates weakly expressed character traits, such as cunning, narcissism, coquetry and a penchant for adventure. However, despite this, such people are quite original and interesting.
- Man by nature is a rebel, going against social norms. This is a creative person who strives to express himself in art.
- People want to emphasize their high social status and well-being in this way. According to psychologists, such people are very mercantile and selfish.
Many celebrities do the same thing. It is believed that the habit speaks of fortitude, sophistication of the mind and the desire to stop at nothing to achieve one’s goal. According to astrologers, in order to become more sociable and move more confidently towards your goal, it is better to choose a small gold ring with a red stone.
Another meaning of such decoration is to convey to society about your reluctance to tie yourself to marriage.
Women's signets
A signet ring can only compete with an engagement ring.
The decoration is always noticeable on the hand due to its large size
Even women's models that are not massive will still be more noticeable compared to other rings. This, in part, explains their popularity.
Various precious metals are used as materials for making women's accessories . Their choice depends on the tastes and preferences of the owners. Yellow gold signets are considered traditional . Designer collections rarely follow traditions, so rings are made from:
- silver;
- gold;
- platinum.
Often metals of different colors . The platform is given different shapes : rectangular, square, round. It can be made with inserts or without stones.
Women's jewelry is a flight of fantasy, sophistication, and tenderness. Here there can be no talk of restraint of form. The intricately patterned bezel and smooth platform completely contradict the idea of a ring, but that's where the beauty lies. The ornament may be decorated with enamel . The openwork pattern is combined with small diamond inserts.
The platform can be decorated with a monogram, initials, a zodiac sign, a relief design depicting a woman’s face, a cross, animals, birds, flowers. Manufacturers create a relief image on a plain surface ; in other cases, a flat design is placed on a contrasting area.
It can also be decorated with stone inserts. Featuring a single large insert, this women's ring has a sleek design to focus attention on the sparkling jewel. Smaller inserts can be shaped like a snake and placed around a large solitaire, forming a single ornament with it. Usually onyx and ruby are chosen as an insert.
Of particular interest is a seal with a secret, which consists in the fact that the platform folds back and a small container opens
There are original models consisting of two rings , one of which slides over the other. The box is revealed only when the rings are removed and one of them is moved to the side. The next variation involves changing the pattern on the site after pressing a small button on the side.
Motives for wearing by women and men
Very often we see a ring on the right little finger of men. What could this mean? For thousands of years, men have worn them to emphasize their status and wealth. A ring on the little finger of a man's right hand can indicate social affiliation. A man also wears it because he likes it. After all, the decoration on this finger looks quite stylish and unusual, attracting the eye. Therefore, many men put it on their little finger to draw attention to their extraordinary personality.
Sometimes this fact can still indicate the unconventional orientation of its owner. And, according to psychologists, such decoration may indicate the immaturity of its owner and his reluctance to commit himself to marriage.
The meaning of the sign by the type of ring
Determining the material from which it is made will help you better understand the priorities of the owner of the ring. The type of decoration is also important.
Silver
It is best not to mess with people wearing a silver ring on their little finger. Psychologists have come to the conclusion that people who wear a silver ring on their little finger are capable of morally suppressing anyone. They are snobs, proud of their income, noble birth and unearthly beauty. It is not possible to bring them down to earth and show that they are the same as everyone else.
Golden
By putting a gold ring on the little finger, it is easier for a person to achieve his goals. Astrologers think so. For example, young people easily achieve the goal of attracting attention with the help of such rings.
Engagement
A wedding ring on the little finger demonstrates the extravagance of its owners. Most likely, the ring no longer fits the ring finger and was moved to the little finger.
Examples from the lives of specific people
Real life examples are important to understand the reasons why people wear pinky rings.
Many celebrities wear them on their right little finger. Such as Johnny Depp, Jennifer Lopez, Vera Brezhneva, Olga Shelest, Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian. As you can see, all these people are, to one degree or another, shocking and, of course, bright creative personalities.
My grandmother, may she rest in heaven, wore a simple silver ring on the little finger of her right hand. She said so that the cow would have milk. She lived a long, happy life, keeping cows until her death. Indeed, her cows were distinguished by excellent milk yield. Under no circumstances did she let anyone try on the ring. Or rather, I never took it off. We didn’t start filming after death either.
Nowadays there are no restrictions on wearing jewelry. We can wear whatever we like and what we have enough money for. No one will judge, no one will look for hidden meaning. The main thing is that the decoration brings pleasure. But there is no doubt that some objects influence our lives. You just need to be able to notice it.
History of the signet
Signet rings have a long history. The name “signet” is a diminutive of the word “seal” ; the shape of such rings also resembles this office attribute. At the beginning of their existence, they performed a practical function and did not represent artistic value.
They were worn by nobility and persons of state importance, with the help of the ring they certified documents and sealed envelopes
The ring depicted the family coat of arms, monogram or other design by which the owner could be identified. It was worn on the little finger of the left hand. Signets were often passed down by inheritance . They were part of culture and history.
The popularity of signets grew, and their appearance also changed. Currently, they have lost their original function . Now it is only a status, stylish accessory.
