Men’s rings are a fashion accessories category that creates a lot of debate and that polarizes opinions very strongly. There are many myths, misconceptions and traditions that revolve around rings, and, unless a ring carries a cultural significance with it, it is seen by many as frivolous, pretentious and pompous.

The main reason why rings carry such a weird reputation is because most men (and women alike) don’t have much experience with them nor are they familiar with the proper ring wearing etiquette. Moreover, many rings are made to stand out, so they draw a lot of attention.

Wearing rings is a moral dilemma, if we stretch it a little, and that’s because most men don’t know what to make of the relationship between their fingers and their rings. Most rings are a very obvious statement (“I graduated at…”, “I’m married”, “I’m a rich dude”, etc.), and most people are afraid to capitalize on a cultural value with which they are not accustomed.

In this guide, we will take each finger and discuss why you should and why not should not wear a ring on that particular finger, as well as what type of rings go best with each finger. We will also take a look at how many rings you should wear at the most, but we will start with discussing which hand is better for rings: the left hand or the right one?

In the end, you are the one who will decide what choice you make. Our tips are just general guidelines that will help you make appropriate and correct choices.

 

 

Right Hand or Left Hand

Even though rings are so culturally charged, there are not many rules that are really attached to them. To give you an example, the right-hand-left-hand issue cannot be answered with an irrefutable argument. In short, there are no strict rules about the hand on which you should wear your ring(s).

The only rings that can be subjected to cultural rules are those regarding engagement and wedding rings, but given the large spectrum of traditions, we can say that anything goes. If you want to follow a certain tradition, make sure you check the ring rules and follow them, otherwise, you can wear your rings on either hand.

 

Sometimes, there is (almost) no tradition regarding a certain ring. For example, engagement rings are so rarely seen on men, that there is no rule regarding them.

Sometimes, an organization or school might have some rules about how to wear their rings, but, if this is the case, you will be told. Otherwise, it is all up to the wearer.

Sometimes, the right hand is associated with work and labor, while the left hand is associated with your beliefs and creeds. You can use this information if you want to wear a ring and don’t know on which hand you should wear it. Think of the meaning of your ring and ask yourself with which part of yourself you want to associate it with. Of course, the right hand being the work hand and the left being the mental hand is a view based on a right-handers world view, so you can reverse it. In the end, it’s all up to you.

 

 

The Fingers

The Thumb

In many parts of the world, wearing a ring on your thumb is a sign of wealth and power. This is why most thumb rings are big and chunky. Of course, there is a practical side to this too, as thumb rings need to fit well. In some parts of the world, such as North America, wearing rings on your thumb is something that is not very common, which is why many people feel that doing so is quite weird.

Wearing a ring on your thumb is something many men who wish to wear more than one ring do. This way, they can have more distance between their rings. Thumb rings can be extremely embellished or they can be very simple. Either way, they are most likely to be quite chunky.

Thumb rings can be associated with energy and positivity. Just think of the “thumbs up” expression.

 

The Index Finger

The index finger, also called the pointer finger is not a common place for a ring. The reason for this is because our index fingers are the fingers we use for most activities and therefore, we want to keep them clear.

However, wearing a ring on your pointer finger is just as comfortable as wearing them on any other finger.

Back in the day, index fingers were most popular when it came to rings, probably because they were the most noticeable. It was the index finger on which crest rings were worn. Following this tradition, you can wear class or other membership rings on this finger.

Wearing a ring on an index finger is definitely going to stand out both due to its position, and because it is so often used, if you wear a ring on your second finger, you can make sure people will see it.

 

The Middle Finger

The middle finger is the longest finger of a regular hand. However, due to the obvious hand gesture, this finger is not often used as a ring-carrier.

Wearing a ring on your middle finger will draw attention, as it’s not common for people to wear rings on these fingers, but it will draw attention in a controversial kind of way.

From a practical point of view, we don’t recommend wearing bulky rings on your middle finger, as they might bother your index finger, which, as we said, is used for most activities.

A middle finger ring can be a good idea if you want to stand out, or if you don’t want to wear a pinky finger ring or a ring finger one.

Wearing a ring on your middle finger can be considered quite manly for some, but quite ostentatious for others.

 

The Ring Finger

The ring finger, also called “The Fourth Finger” is associated, in almost all parts of the Western World at least, with a wedding ring. In the US, a ring on the right fourth finger indicates engagement, while a ring worn on the left one indicates marriage.

If you wear a ring on your ring finger, it is most likely that people will associate with a relationship. However, since most guys wear simple silver or gold bands to symbolize this, you can opt for a bigger, bolder and more embroidered ring for this finger. This, however, does not automatically mean it is not a wedding/engagement ring.

 

The Little Finger

The Little or Pinky finger is at many times the choice of many men who want to wear a statement ring.

Pinkies don’t have a big cultural meaning and they pop a little from your hand, which is why they are perfect to carry bold rings. Our tip is to keep it small and proportionate: wearing a ring that is too big on your little finger will look as if the ring is hurting you.

Rings worn on your little finger are also comfortable, as they do not interfere with any of the most common used fingers.

 

 

How Many Rings?

The last topic we need to discuss is how many rings a man should/can wear on one hand.

Of course, this is really up to you, but our recommendation is not so much related to “how many”, but to “how big”. When it comes to accessories, the general rule is that these need to be proportionate to your body. Wearing accessories that are too big or too small in proportion to your body will look weird. Sometimes, you can pull contrasts off, but that is very hard to do.

Wearing rings is noticeable and has a strong visual impact, which is why we don’t recommend wearing too many rings. Maybe three rings on both hands is enough, but in the end, you are the judge of that.

Speaking of accessories, remember that all metals are neutrals, which means they can be worn with anything and with each other. It is not a mistake to wear both a gold and a silver ring.

 

As you can see, there are not many rules regarding how to wear men’s rings. However, it is important to know what impact wearing a ring has both on you and the people around you. A ring can make you feel more or less comfortable and it can convey a wrong message if it is not thought through.

We advise you to try everything you think would work and at least a couple of things you think will not work. You might be surprised with the results.

In the end, it all comes down to your own personal preferences, the type of attention you want to draw and the messages you wish to convey.

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. What do you think of men’s rings? Do you enjoy them? On which finger do you wear them? What rules do you follow? Share your thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!