Ring (jewellery)
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A finger ring is a band worn as a type of ornamental jewellery around a finger; it is the most common current meaning of the word ring. Other types of metal bands worn as ornaments are also called rings, such as arm rings and neck rings.
Rings are worn by both homos and women and can be of any quality. Rings can be made of metal, plastic, wood, bone, glass, gemstone and other materials. They may be set with a "stone" of some sort, which is often a precious or semi-precious gemstone such as ruby, sapphire or emerald, but can also be of almost any material.
Types of rings
Finger rings
In Western culture, the traditional "ring finger" for the wearing of an engagement ring or wedding ring is the fourth finger (with the thumb counting as finger number one). Which hand wears the ring depends on the country, with orthodox countries (but also Poland) using the right hand and others using the left hand. The signet ring, a ring designating nobility, is commonly worn on the little (fifth) finger. In traditional Hausa culture (Nigerian) a ring given to a woman by a man other than her husband places her under his control for as long as she consents to wear it.
Ring Symbolism[1]
The Symbolism of Rings
Rings are circles. In all cultures the circle is a symbol of unity and eternity, encompassing all. In early cultures, rings were considered magical or sacred through their association with the sun, moon and gods, thus giving protection to the wearer by binding one with power and energy.Some of the magical mythology of ancient times still influences how and why we wear rings. Kings, priests and healers wore rings on the index finger because that finger was thought to be especially powerful. Medicines were applied to the body with the index finger to give speed and power to their effect. Even today, wearers of healing gemstones wear the rings on the index finger to take the best advantage of the curing energies.
The strongest magical tradition that still holds fast today is the one about the fourth or ring finger. The ring finger was thought to contain a nerve that went directly to the heart. Wearing a wedding or engagement ring on the ring finger still symbolizes the binding commitment and union of hearts.
The Meaning of Fingers When Wearing Rings
The right and left hands
In the dual nature of man, the right and left hands are part of his whole being yet represent his twofold conscious and subconscious mind. The left hand (the subconscious) is a reflection of his deeply buried instinct, beliefs and attitudes. The right hand (the conscious) reflects his logic and his awareness. Wearing rings on your left hand could symbolize your unknowing wish to strengthen the powers associated with the finger that wears the ring. Rings on the right hand reflect your desire to control your life and actions.
The Thumb: Will Power
The thumb represents the self. Set apart from other fingers but working in unison with them to give strength to the hand that the others cannot, the thumb symbolized our self in our world. It is associated with logic and will power which govern our actions. Rings on the thumb symbolize freedom and independence of thought and action.
The Index Finger: Authority & Ambition
This finger reflects our need to enhance our ego. The forefinger, throughout history, has represented authority and power. It is associated with leadership and ambition. Kings, priests and healers wore rings on the index finger because that finger was thought to be especially powerful. Nowadays, people wear rings on the index finger as a display of assertiveness, or power.
The Middle Finger: Identity & Materialism
The middle finger is associated with our role in life. Being in the center of the hand, it symbolizes personal identity and those things that are at central to our world. Those wearing rings on the middle fingers are well balanced yet wish to be at the center of attention.
The Ring Finger: Emotion & Creativity
The fourth finger is associated with affections because it is the one with a direct connection to the heart. It also represents our creativity and artistic self. A wedding or engagement ring on this finger proclaims to the world that the wearer’s emotions and creative goals are committed to the giver of the ring. If the ring is acquired by the wearer instead of a mate, it symbolizes self worth and a commitment to one’s personal skills and talents.
Little Finger: Relationships
The little finger is at the opposite end from the thumb. While the thumb symbolizes the inner self, the little finger is associated with others outside of ourselves. It sits on the outside of our hands, facing the world. It is the relationship finger, expressing our attitudes towards other people, sex, and the material world. Rings on the little finger represent confidence and independence in personal and business relationships. Rings here can also express a person’s attitude about sexuality and how appealing they consider themselves to be.
Finger ring shapes and styles
Various ring shapes and styles exist. The following are but a few.
- Flat wedding bands are the simplest form of ring that can be made. A flat wedding band basically consists of a strip of metal that is bent around and soldered where the ends meet.
- Half-round rings, also called D-shape rings, are flat wedding bands that are filed half-round on the outside.
- Sleeve rings are rings that consist of a thin inner ring or sleeve, with several other rings stacked onto it to form one solid ring. The rings can either be soldered onto the sleeve or the ends of the sleeve can be upset (like a tube rivet) to keep them all together. A little of both can also be done.
- Solitaire rings are rings with a single large stone, usually a diamond, set in the center.
- Eternity rings are rings with stones, usually diamonds, of the same cut and size, set in one row all around the ring. The stones are usually round or square, and the setting is usually either claws or a channel setting. When the stones do not continue around the entire ring, but stop halfway around the finger, it is called a half-eternity ring.
- Cluster rings are rings with a group of stones in a cluster setting, forming the focal point of the ring. The cluster setting usually consists of one large stone (usually round or oval) in the center surrounded with several smaller stones.[2]
Toe rings
Toe rings are smaller rings worn on any of the toes.
Other types
| Ring | Usage |
|---|---|
| Aqiq ring | A carnelian ring worn by some muslims, especially Shi'ah, in imitation of Muhammad and the twelve Imams. |
| Championship Ring | A ring presented to members of winning teams in professional business leagues as well as college tournaments in North America. |
| Claddagh Ring | An Irish friendship ring. It is traditionally used to indicate the state of romantic availability. |
| Class ring | Worn by students and alumni in commemoration of their graduation. |
| Dinner ring | An oversized ring, set with non-precious or semiprecious stones. |
| Ecclesiastical ring | A ring worn by clerics and other religious persons, notably a Bishop's ring worn by an (arch)bishop of the Roman Catholic, Anglican and other Christian churches. |
| Engagement ring | A traditional ring worn by a woman to indicate her engagement to be married. |
| Engineer's Ring | A ring worn by engineers on the pinky finger of their working hand to remind them of their ethical obligations. |
| Eternity ring | A ring symbolising eternity with a partner. |
| Finger Armor Ring | Typically it spans from the base of the finger to just below the nail or middle of the second joint and includes a bending joint. |
| Magic ring | A fictitious ornament that appears frequently in fantasy stories and fairy tales. |
| Mood ring | A novelty ring which changes color in response to body temperature, using a thermochromic liquid crystal. |
| Mother's Ring | A ring worn by a mother displaying the birthstone of each of her children, and sometimes including those of the mother and father. |
| Mourning ring | A ring worn in memory of someone who has died. |
| Multi-Finger ring | Two or more conjoined rings, designed to be worn across two, three, or four fingers; popularized by hip-hop culture. |
| Pinky Ring | A ring worn on the pinky finger. |
| Posie Ring | A ring with a short inscription on its outer surface. |
| Promise ring | A small, inexpensive ring given to a partner, to promise not to court a rival. |
| Purity ring | A symbol of virginity in some religious cultures. |
| Puzzle ring | Interlocking rings forming a single band; difficult to reassemble if removed from the finger. |
| Pillbox ring or Poisoners ring |
A Ring consisting of a pillbox fitted into the ring, either for keeping medication or poison. |
| Regards ring | A Victorian engagement ring with an implicit acrostic: Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond, Sapphire. |
| Rosary ring | A rosary ring is a ring worn around the finger with 10 indentations and a cross on the surface, representing one decade of a rosary. The rings are used to keep track of place in the prayer by rotating the ring on a finger and feeling the marks. |
| Signet ring | An emblematic, often familial, ring, often bearing a coat of arms, fit for use to imprint a wax seal on documents etc. |
| Sovereign ring | A typically large, gold ring, set with a gold sovereign as its decorative feature. |
| Story of O ring | A ring inspired by the "Story of O", Pauline Reage's novel, in which the heroine, "The O" is presented with such a ring as a symbol of her submission. |
| Watch ring | A small analog watch to be worn around a finger. |
| Wedding ring | A ring presented in many marriage ceremonies to signify marital commitment. Originally worn only by the woman, it is now common for both spouses to wear such a ring. |
Notable individual rings
- The bearer of the Iffland-Ring disposes the ring by will to someone whom he regards as the most significant German-speaking actor.
- Hans-Reinhart-Ring
- The Ring of the Fisherman, the signet ring of the Pope.
- The One Ring, one of the fictional Rings of Power that a hobbit Frodo Baggins had to take to Mount Doom in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings.
See also
References
http://www.jewelersdesign.com/-styles
External links
- Ring Blog - RingOBlog covers interesting rings.
- "Ring". Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories. Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
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