What hand does an engagement ring go on? Bulwik diamond jewellery

What hand does an engagement ring go on?

- What does History teach us about wearing rings on the left or right hand?
- Does Religion decide on wich hand you should wear your weddingring?
- Are ring traditions location based?
- What is our conclusion?

Your first task is to find the perfect engagement or wedding ring. If you can't find anything just contact us and we'll be happy to help you. But on wich finger will you put the diamond ring?

The 3 important rings will be an engagement ring, a ladies’ wedding ring, and men’s wedding ring. Most modern-day couples are buying all three rings at the same place, to make sure their rings match.

Religion, traditions, location and culture all have an impact on the choice between putting your engagement-ring on your left or right hand. Some people even make a choice in function of being left or right handed.

On which hand will you wear your rings?

In Belgium, and most Western countries, the tradition is to wear wedding rings on the 4th finger of the left hand, also known as the ringfinger. But this is not the case in all countries, sometimes the tradition is to place wedding rings on the right hand instead. But why is there a difference? Let’s take a look at the history and origin of wedding and engagement ring traditions.

What does History teach us about wearing rings on the left or right hand?

In ancient Egypt, about 4,800 years ago, people wove grasses into circles to symbolise eternity, with no beginning or end. They wore the rings on the 4th finger of the left hand because they believed there was a vain in that finger went straight to the heart. The Romans even gave this vein a name ‘vena amoris’. Today, we know there's no such vein, yet the tradition of wearing the engagement and wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand continues.

Before World War II, men were not wearing wedding rings. This changed because they had to go to war and wanted to bring a reminder of their love with them.

Wedding rings are the symbol of eternal love all throughout history.

What most people don't know is that the hole in the center of the ring also has a reason, it's not just ampty space to put your finger, but rather a door to the next chapter in your life. When you give somebody a ring, it signifies eternal love.

Does Religion decide on wich hand you should wear your weddingring?

If you wish to follow religion, you should wear your engagement ring on your right hand if you are catholic and on your left hand if you are protestant. In the Islamic world, there is not such a strong tradition regarding engagement rings as in the West.

In Jewish religion, the bride wears her wedding ring during the wedding on her right index finger, because it is the most prominent finger. After the wedding ceremony, the bride moves the band to her left ring finger.

Are ring traditions location based?

In most parts of Europe, North America, South America and Asia, people wear both engagement rings and wedding bands on the left ring finger. How the rings are stacked is the personal choice and preference of the bride.

India has the tradition of placing the wedding ring on the right hand ring finger, because the left hand is unclean.
Many Northern and Eastern European countries, including Denmark, Norway, Russia, Poland, and Bulgaria, have the tradition of wearing the wedding ring on the 4th finger of the right hand.
In Portugal, Spain, and Greece, the right hand is also customary.

In Brazil, the bride and groom both wear engagement rings on their right hands, but after saying their vows, they switch the rings to the left hand. Couples in Germany and the Netherlands often do the opposite: wearing engagement rings on the left hand and wedding rings on the right hand.

Today, practical considerations are more important than tradions. Left handed people or people who work with their hands, often prefer to wear their rings on the right hand or around a different finger, to prevent damaging it.

Some brides even have the wedding band soldered to the engagement ring, so it becomes one piece of jewelry, and represents the marital bond.

Our Conclusion?

After the wedding day, wear your engagement and wedding rings however you like. Again, the most popular way in Belgium is to have them both on the ring finger of the left hand with your wedding ring first, but you can separate them and wear them on opposite hands, or you can wear your wedding ring solo.

Wearing your wedding ring solo is a good excuse to start a collection of bands that you can stack together (stacking rings). Another trend is requesting a diamond eternity band as an engagement ring.

There may be many traditions, but there are no fixed rules to follow.

Wear your rings however you like it!

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