When it comes to rings, we mostly think of a female audience, although this is not entirely fair. After all, rings were originally a men's accessory. In addition to their decorative function (to decorate), men's rings endowed their owner with power and status. Until now, men give this decoration a special meaning, sending an unspoken message to society about who they are and how to treat them.
Unlike women, men rarely collect rings. Most often, they carefully choose one/several that better emphasizes their individuality. And don’t believe it when they say that only ladies have a weakness for jewelry! Men appreciate exquisite products and always notice tasteless jewelry.
How not to make a mistake when choosing a men's ring? When, with what and on which finger is it correct to wear a signet ring? Are there rules and prohibitions, what does fashion advise? Read about this and more in our article.
Signet rings: from history to modern times
Do you think that a man can only wear one ring - a wedding ring? As history shows, this is far from the case. In the primitive era, wooden or bone rings with carvings were worn by the most respected men: leaders, warriors and shamans. But women decorated themselves with wreaths/chains, believing that the rings symbolized masculinity. With the advent of precious metals, rings began to be made from copper, bronze, then silver and gold. In the Middle Ages, gold men's signets with stones were used as personal seals and as identification cards; they confirmed the status of the bearer and served as passes.
By the 19th century, all more or less wealthy individuals had their own signet rings. Practical men's jewelry became a necessity - the ring's imprint was used to certify legal and trade documents, orders and personal letters.
Nowadays, the signet has ceased to be of practical use. The decorative and status function of the central male accessory was assigned to it.
Little finger
Men's steel "Omnipotence Ring":
The little finger is one of the non-trivial places where men wear a gold signet. Most often, bohemians, writers, musicians, and artists resort to this method of wearing jewelry. There is an interesting opinion that if a man rings both his little fingers, in this way he restrains his emotional impulses.
They also wear rings on the little finger as belonging to a certain community, club:
The next two meanings are probably not the most pleasant - these are gambling lovers and men who prefer to constantly receive female attention from different ladies, rather than from just one.
What is a signet and how is it different from a ring?
Often people equate both names. However, their appearance and purpose have several fundamental differences.
The ring has one or several gems, but the signet has no decorative inserts!
Only men wear the signet. On the front of the product there is a special area for an inscription/engraving/drawing.
But rings are available for both men and women. The latter are dominated by soft, round shapes.
About the designation of stones on a man's ring
As you already understand, to obtain a ring you can use a lot of different precious and semi-precious stones, each of which contains its own energy.
Amethyst will help you get rid of annoying and bad habits, and will also lead you to wealth. Ruby is quite a strong stone. It promotes the emergence of power and brings good luck to the home.
Ruby gives the strength of a lion, the fearlessness of an eagle and the wisdom of a snake.
Agate contributes to the acquisition of a family hearth, constant profit, healthy body and spirit. The tiger's eye guarantees financial independence, speeds up your career advancement, and encourages you to start your own business. Jade helps strengthen men's health, will help you gain strength and live your whole life.
How to find out the size of a man's ring: the easiest ways
The pleasant moment of receiving a golden new item can easily be overshadowed if the size is chosen incorrectly. This can be avoided by remembering 4 tips:
- If the ring sits end to end, even with the slightest swelling in the hands, the man will not be able to remove it. When measuring the circumference of a finger, take as a basis not its base, but the widest part;
- Keep in mind that the thickness of the fingers of right-handers and left-handers is different. In the latter, the girth of the fingers is usually smaller (by 1-2 mm);
- Measure your fingers at room temperature and at the end of the day, then the measurements obtained will be the most accurate;
- The size of the product also depends on the weight of the future owner: for 80 kg and above, the size chart starts from 21.5.
There are also home ways to find out the size of a guy’s finger. As improvised tools you will need thread/paper/ruler.
Method number 1. The main parameter is the inner diameter of the ring. Knowing it, you will know your ring size. Take your favorite ring and place it on paper, and then trace it around the inner rim with a pen. The diameter of the resulting circle is your value.
Method number 2. Here you will already need mathematical calculations. Wrap the thread or paper around your finger. Make marks at two points where both ends meet together. Measure the distance between them and divide the result by 3.14.
Advantages
For many years now, silver has not lost its popularity. This metal is an integral part of many jewelry. It is actively used for the manufacture of chains, pendants, and pendants. Fashion rings are no exception.
The key advantages of such products include the following::
- They go well with different skin colors. However, yellow gold is not suitable for all men.
- Such rings are considered universal accessories. They fit perfectly into any bow. Such decorations do not attract too much attention. This makes it possible to combine them with other accessories.
- Silver jewelry is very affordable. There are different types of rings on sale. Thanks to this, every man will be able to choose the best option.
- Similar rings differ in design. There are not only ordinary flat products on sale, but also more fancy options. Thanks to this, even the most demanding men will be able to choose the best option.
- Silver never goes out of style. Today it is becoming more and more popular. Antique men's rings look especially relevant.
Men's silver rings have many advantages. However, it is important to remember the disadvantages. This metal may become darker over time. This will lead to the need to clean the products. In addition, the material is quite soft. Under severe mechanical stress, silver items can quickly lose their shape.
General recommendations for choosing a men's ring
In men's jewelry, as in women's jewelry, every detail matters. The shape, metal, and decor of the ring will determine its comfort and durability when worn.
Metal
The general rule that applies to all rings is that the material of the product should be in harmony with other details of the image. For example, a ring and cufflinks should be made of the same metal color and with a similar precious stone.
Products made from yellow/red aurum have already become classics. They are wear-resistant and can be combined with any gems.
Silver does not oblige you to wear expensive suits, but it does require special care (it darkens when worn).
The same ring in gold and silver looks completely different. Yellow metal will effectively complement an evening suit/tailcoat, but silver can cheapen the look. When choosing a material, consider the occasions for which the accessory is intended.
Form
- Square rings are preferred by lovers of a discreet business style. Most often they are diluted with stone inserts.
- The rectangular shape is chosen by young guys who prefer a free style of clothing. It is decorated with engraving and enamel elements.
- Round-shaped products are more suitable for women's jewelry, but they are also found in men's jewelry.
Designations and symbolism of signets
On store windows you can find signets in different styles: laconic monochrome, two-color with generous inlay, with brutal symbols (for men who are far from conventions).
The symbolism of signets can tell a lot about its owner. For example, the coat of arms symbolizes the family, deep feelings in the homeland; heads of predators and weapons - power; crown - dominion and strength.
Geometric signs and hieroglyphs are preferred by connoisseurs of stylish brevity. But the Celtic symbolism with the image of swords and shields will certainly be of interest to those who are fond of myths.
Status and profession
Traditionally, the ring finger is evidence of a person's marital status. But this is not necessarily the finger of the right hand. For example, Catholics use the hand that is closest to the heart, that is, the left.
A ring on the little finger can indicate a profession. This finger is usually decorated with representatives of creative professions - musicians, poets, writers. Some place an engraved hint on the surface of the product indicating what type of occupation they belong to.
It is believed that confident people wear rings on the index finger of their right hand, and those who want to emphasize their powers of power wear rings on their left hand. For example, this is how Julius Caesar wore his ring.
Modern rings for men - steel, titanium, ceramic and even tungsten
As for metal, today's jewelry industry offers a huge selection of men's rings from different jewelry alloys. Therefore, it is not necessary to follow the classics of the Soviet genre and choose a massive red gold ring. A steel-colored ring, for example made of platinum, looks more elegant and at the same time more masculine on a man’s hand. And the real genius of design, presented in modern men's rings, will help emphasize your status, taste and style.
Steel rings for men
are considered a classic of the genre and the most democratic option today (by the way, this metal is also the most popular for men’s bracelets).
The stainless steel on men's fingers looks impressive in itself, reminiscent of edged weapons. And in combination with stylish decor (inserts of semi-precious stones, rubber, engraving, etc.) you can achieve almost any effect. A relatively recent trend is men's titanium rings , which have a muted matte finish. In titanium, representatives of the stronger sex are impressed by the higher hardness of this metal compared to steel - it is what spaceships are made of, and that means something! However, the latest fashion advancement to come from the West is tungsten carbide (a compound of tungsten and carbon) rings for men. Tungsten carbide is 5 times harder than steel and 4 times harder than titanium. This metal cannot be bent or scratched - it can only break from excessive stress. A polished tungsten carbide ring will retain its mirror-like surface - after all, only diamond is harder than it. And that is why the size of such a ring cannot be changed.
And another unexpected material for making rings was ceramics. It is also an amazingly hard and durable material, which is extremely light (you can hardly feel it on your hand), and can be decorated in a variety of ways. Ceramic rings are one of the most spectacular jewelery finds in recent years. Various combinations of ceramics and tungsten carbide, also with the addition of other materials (rubber, titanium, etc.) are also fashionable.
Buying a gold signet as a gift: all the subtleties of choice
The process of choosing signet rings does not tolerate hasty decisions. Here every detail, starting from the metal and the method of decoration, matters.
To choose the right gift, take into account your man’s lifestyle, style, and favorite colors. Does he have more casual clothes and silverware in his wardrobe? Then choose a white aurum signet. Does he wear a red metal ring on his little finger? Then the signet adjacent to it should be of a similar color.
Remember: the signet should complement, and not overwhelm, the created image!
Most often, inset stones of muted colors are used in men's jewelry. Rings with light colored gemstones (for example, opals, quartz) look aristocratic.
Massive signets with diamonds/emeralds are preferred by middle-aged men. Thus, they demonstrate their status and standard of living. Creative young people pay attention to the texture and symbolism of the product, rather than to the high cost of the insert.
Exquisite gold signets or rings with cubic zirconia and diamond inserts are appropriate for business suits. But with everyday casual clothes they will look too provocative.
General rules
All jewelry has its own set of “immutable rules.” Even though modern fashion has made such canons illusory and it is not necessary to follow them, they still have the right to exist.
Each ring “sends” its signal
Each educational institution has a ring with its own symbols. The decoration can show the graduate's connection with any hero of history. And this should not be forgotten when putting on a ring.
A large ring made of gold with precious stones in some countries speaks of the owner as a person of considerable wealth. The ring allows you to scan your hand after just a few moments of acquaintance.
Confidence is always needed
Do “extra” rings cause discomfort? Without confidence in the correct choice and wearing, there is no point in wearing an accessory. You should get used to the new ring in advance. Only after getting used to the new sensations can you wear it constantly.
But here, too, it makes sense to initially show the new product only to trusted people, looking at their reaction. And before showing it in public, you should get used to comments addressed to you.
It is advisable to familiarize yourself with the history of decoration in order to be able to answer all questions. It's probably a family heirloom, a gift from vacation. Every product has potential. It is he who is able to act as the initiator of an interesting conversation.
The proportionality of the rings and fingers is important
Massive, large rings look good on large hands. Those with small hands should wear smaller rings to balance their proportions.
Thin fingers benefit from thin rings, while wider ones are preferred by those with fuller fingers.
It is necessary to maintain a balance between the product and other jewelry.
It is pointless and inappropriate to put all existing rings on one hand. Jewelry should be in harmony with other accessories. A watch with a ring on one hand is balanced by a bracelet on the other.
Law of Unity of Materials
There are no hard and fast rules in metal harmony. But to simplify life, it makes sense to follow the rule of choosing one of the metals. All accessories should be worn from the same metal or must be compatible.
If you have no preference between silver and gold, you need to start from your skin tone. Cool, with noticeable blue veins - silver, warm shade without visible wreaths - gold.
The maximum that there is no point in exceeding is three rings. Optimally, you should wear no more than a couple of jewelry. And the main role is given not to quantity, but to the quality of accessories.
Rings have been symbols of wealth, power and upper class status for thousands of years. The accessory has its own history and its own symbolism.
How to wear a signet correctly?
The signet ring is usually worn on the index finger. But there is also a special type of ring for men with stones (“attacks”) that decorate the thumb.
If the owner of the signet is the head of the clan, he wears the item on the ring finger of his left hand. In all other cases, on the ring or little finger of the right hand. Signets with engraving are worn both with the inscription outside and inside the palm.
There are also some “age-related” features of rings. Of course, this is not a law, but there are some unspoken rules:
- Gold rings with large stones are more suitable for middle-aged men with a certain social status and official position. The presence of the family coat of arms on the signet proves the aristocracy of its owner;
- On the hand of a young man, rings with an abundance of stones will look ridiculous and defiant;
- Silver rings with bright symbols are suitable for men whose work is not office-related.
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 a sign of approval. On the other hand, it was with this finger that emperors once executed or pardoned people, and it is not very convenient to wear rings on this finger. But what sacrifices will you make to demonstrate to others your pronounced masculinity?
Of course, the symbolic meaning of the ring on the thumb 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.
