Do you know which finger you should wear your engagement ring on? Why is it worn on that finger? What happens with the wedding band?
The engagement ring, and by extension, the wedding ring, is an age-old promise of commitment to a lifelong relationship. So, when that special day arrives, it’s essential to know how to wear your engagement and wedding rings!
Depending on where you live, engagement rings can be worn on different fingers. If you’re in Australia, America, or most European countries, traditionally you wear your engagement ring on the fourth finger on the left hand. This can be traced back to the Ancient Romans, who believed that this finger had a vein that ran directly to the heart.
Since the heart is the centre of your emotions, it’s only appropriate for the engagement ring to be here. As we now know there is no such vein, however, it’s the sentiment that was proven truly special.
However, in some parts of Russia, Germany, Norway, and India, the engagement ring is worn on the right hand. Since the left hand is considered unlucky, some cultures believe the right hand should wear the engagement ring, rather than the left.
In Sweden and Chile, it's also not uncommon for the groom-to-be to wear an engagement ring too. In Chile specifically, the men wear their engagement ring on the right hand until marriage, at which point, it is then moved to the left.
Traditionally, the wedding ring belongs on the same finger as your engagement ring. In Australia, this is usually the left-hand ring finger.
Many women wear their engagement ring ‘on top’ of their wedding ring, meaning the wedding band is placed on the finger first. But why? One reason is the old British superstition, which says that a wedding ring must never be taken off. A more romantic take is that the wedding ring sits closest to your heart, in a symbolic gesture to your true love.
During the wedding ceremony, it is normal for a bride to put her engagement ring temporarily on their right hand - leaving the left hand free for the wedding ring. Once the nuptials are over, the bride slides her engagement ring ‘on top’ of the new wedding band to ‘seal it’ in place.
Ready to tie the knot? Come into one of our Adelaide boutiques or visit our website, and browse our engagement and wedding ring designs!