"What finger does the wedding ring go on?" We're willing to bet you've known the answer to this question since you were a child, as it's pretty common for most people—particularly in the United States—to sport their wedding ring on the left ring finger. What you may not know the answer to, though, is why this piece of jewelry is worn on the "wedding ring finger" in the first place. To get the answer to that burning question, we talked to jewelry expert Stephanie Selle to find out everything we need to know.
Meet the Expert
Stephanie Selle is a jeweler and jewelry history aficionado with over 20 years of experience in the industry. She is also the owner of Washington-based With These Rings, a workshop the specializes in helping couples forge their own rings.
Ahead, Selle helps us delve into the intriguing history behind traditional ring finger placement. We also explain whether or not you have to wear your marital jewelry this way and answer other commonly asked questions surrounding these important pieces of jewelry.
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What Is the Wedding Ring Finger?
In many Western cultures, the wedding ring finger is designated as the fourth finger on the left hand. This originated from the belief that this digit had a vein running directly to the heart. "The early Romans called this the Vena Amoris, or vein of love," explains jeweler Stephanie Selle. To solidify a union founded in love, a ring was placed on that specific finger to signify the romance that the newly wedded couple shared, essentially connecting their two hearts.
Sadly, our modern-day understanding of anatomy shows that all fingers have venous connections to the heart and no such singular vein exists, shattering the adorable symbolism. Despite the fact that this romantic notion has been debunked, tradition holds true for many couples, and newlyweds across the country (and world, for that matter) continue to designate the fourth finger of their left hand as a space to signify their commitment to each other.
With all this in mind, it's important to note that cultural traditions and trends set the standard for this custom, and wedding ring placement does vary today. According to Selle, "Historically, wedding rings have been documented to be worn on every finger, even the thumb. Today, wedding rings are most commonly worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, but some countries, including India, Germany, Spain, Norway, and Russia, traditionally wear their wedding rings on their right hand."
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How to Follow the Ring Finger Tradition
From wedding rings to finger tattoos, there are many ways to express your commitment of love to your partner and stick with tradition, as highlighted below.
The Wedding Ring
Wedding rings are most often worn on the fourth finger from the right, on the left hand, particularly in the West, but you're also welcome to wear your wedding ring on the right-hand ring finger. In doing so, you'd be following the example of many central and northern European couples—like Norway, Austria, Denmark, Poland, Belgium (some areas), Germany, Russia, Latvia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Ukraine—in addition to Orthodox Christians and many couples in India.
The wedding ring tradition is also one that holds great meaning to same-sex couples. "I remember before individualstates passed same-sex marriage, many LGBTQ+ couples would wear 'commitment' rings, sometimes on their right hand," says Selle."But since the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage aconstitutionalright, just about all of the LGBTQ+ couples I know and have worked with choose the traditional ring finger for their wedding rings."
The Engagement Ring
True to tradition, the newly engaged have taken to wearing the engagement ring on the left wedding ring finger. Interestingly, some of the people in Europe who choose to wear their wedding rings on their right hand will still wear their engagement ring on the left and then transfer it over once they're married. (Again, your engagement ring placement will always come down to your personal or cultural preferences.)
If you do decide to wear your engagement and wedding rings on the same finger, though, you may be wondering about stacking. Married duos conventionally wear their wedding bands closest to their hearts, meaning they're at the bottom of the stack, below the engagement ring. For added pragmatism, some brides even opt to have their wedding and engagement rings soldered together into one unified piece. We love how this introduces an entirely new "marital bond" metaphor, but whether you choose to uphold a time-old tradition or create your very own is entirely up to you.
The Promise Ring
The tradition of promise rings can arguably be traced back to the rise of "posy rings" in England and France during the Middle Ages. These were tokens exchanged between lovers and often inscribed with short love poems.
Today, they are predominantly gifted in the same fashion, but the actual "promises" behind a promise ring can have different meanings to different people. Commitment is the general idea here, but whether that commitment is to an upcoming engagement, abstinence until marriage, the idea of forever, or just the immediate future, varies. In terms of placement, no particular rule exists, though many believe whichever finger you've designated as your "engagement and/or wedding ring finger" holds the greatest significance.
An old wives' taledenotes that wearing a non-committal ring on your left-hand ring finger could be bad luck. Not the superstitious type? If the ring fits, wear it!
No Ring
Rings are a nice way to symbolize your union—and they've got those endless, infinite circle metaphors making a solid case for them—but you certainly don't have to wear one if that's your preference. Or, if you're seriously committed to an expression of permanence and self-sacrifice, nontraditional couples may opt to get a tattoo on their ring fingers to signify their marriage. In this particular instance, you should be very confident in your designation of the finger and hand that will display your commitment, as it's no longer a simple slip-on, slip-off kind of thing.
FAQ
Is it okay to wear wedding rings all the time?
While it might be tempting to keep those rings on at all times (read: one last step to think about), you'll want to avoid any potential damage to the rings like scratching the metal, harming the stones, or disfiguring the setting. Therefore, you'll definitely want to remove the rings when cleaning (especially if you're using chemicals), going to the gym or participating in other physical activities, and even before bed.
How do I measure the size of my ring finger?
A surprising amount of factors go intosizing up a ring finger. In addition to the shape and size of your finger, you'll also need to consider your lifestyle and the actual ring you have in mind. Climate is an additional factor as hands and fingers may be more likely to swell in the summer and less likely to swell in the winter due to the cold.The width of the band will also impact the sizing, as thicker bands tend to have a tighter fit.
To ensure the perfect fit, the best time to measure is when your body feels at its most normal—so at room temperature during the middle of the day (fingers might swell overnight or after eating), preferably not after hitting the gym or post hot meal.Ring guards or beadscan help offset slight fluctuations in finger size if they arise. If you feel unsure about your ring size, consider getting professionally measured.
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