Finger armor ring
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A finger armor ring is a piece of jewelry worn on the finger. 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. It typically takes on the appearance of a finger-piece from a midieval gauntlet, but is typically smaller and more delicate. Finger armor rings are often associated with goth or rennaissance fashion style.
Finger armor rings differ in design and material. They are usually made of either pewter or sterling silver. The pewter finger armor rings are ofen less easy to articulate, and far more brittle. Silver ensures comfort and durability, though it is inevitably more expensive. Finger armor rings come in many different designs, ranging from simple claws to and often sports heavily detailed sculpting. Other names for them include full finger rings and claw rings. Some forms of finger armor rings can have clawed tips, span only one knuckle, and can also be a small fingernail or clawtip that only covers the fingernail.
Finger armor rings are considered unique jewelry and thus are hard to find and hard to fit properly to the finger. Recent fashion trends have moved towards a more gothic or romantic rennaissance, or perhaps even Victorian trend. However, this fashion has not proven revisited in jewelry.
It is speculated that this style of finger armor started in the Rennaissance era with the Medici family, being a display of wealth and power over the lower or warrior classes. Many prime examples of finger armor or warrior rings would include scrollwork, precious stones, and inlaid silver or gold. Obviously, the more ornate finger rings or finger armor displayed more wealth.