Ring (jewellery)
Finger rings worn by Mary Nevill, Baroness Dacre, 1559.
A finger ring is a circular 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 men 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.
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History of rings
The custom of giving and receiving rings dates back over 4,800 years. The fourth digit or ring finger of the hand has become the customary place to wear a wedding ring in much of the world, a practice that appears to be spreading. It stems from a 16th-century Tudor belief that the left-handed ring finger was connected by a vein directly to the heart; thus, wearing a ring on the third finger demonstrated that the wearer was in a relationship. [1]However, there are many traditions in which the ring is now worn on the right hand.
Finger rings
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 into a loop and joined 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 as a centrepiece, usually a diamond.
- 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.
- Trinity rings or Trilogy Rings are three rings to be worn at one time.
- 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.
Usage
| Ring | Usage |
|---|---|
| Aqiq ring | A carnelian or Agate 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. |
| Eclarian ring | A ring worn by gay men to represent their beliefs. This ring has a separate centre which rotates. |
| Engagement ring | A traditional ring worn by a woman to indicate her engagement to be married. |
| Eternity ring | A ring symbolizing 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. |
| Friendship ring | Friendship rings are used to symbolize a close relationship that has no romantic undertone. |
| Gimmal ring | Ring made of 2 or 3 linking hoops, popular for betrothals in 16th and 17th century Europe |
| Iron ring | Ring worn by Canadian engineers. |
| 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. |
| Pre-engagement ring | A small, inexpensive ring given to a partner, to promise not to court a rival. |
| Promise ring | A ring worn to remind oneself of a promise one has made. |
| 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. |
| Poison ring or Pillbox 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. |
| Ring of O | 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. |
| 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. |
| Thumb ring | This largest of finger rings is worn on the thumb primarily for fashion, but is also worn as a symbol of will power or internal energy, sexuality, and other beliefs or attitudes. |
| Watch ring | A small analogue or digital 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.
Other types
- Arm rings.
- Neck rings.
- Toe rings are smaller rings worn on any of the toes.
See also
- Ring size
- ring finger
- Iron Ring
- torc, or neck ring
- bangle
- Titanium ring
- Jewellery cleaning
Notes and references
External links
- "Ring". Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories. Victoria and Albert Museum. http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/design-a-ring/. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
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