How To Wear Rings
Colin Dempsey
Table of Contents
People are trying to crack the code of how to wear rings as if it’s some da Vincian puzzle that’s linked to aliens and the Vatican. In reality, it’s not that complicated. In fact, it’s rather fun to experiment with them and see which style suits you the best.
However, I recognize that a little insight can go a long way—and luckily, I’ve got lots of it. This article is perfect for you if you want to find out how to wear rings, learn a bit about their history, or if any of these other topics interest you:
- How to wear multiple rings
- How to wear rings men
- How to wear rings on multiple fingers
- How to wear rings women
- How to wear stacking rings
- Men’s rings
- Cool rings
What Is A Ring?
Rings are no longer just for engagements and weddings. They’ve entered modern culture so deeply that even gym bros get ring tattoos so that they can always look like they’re up-to-date on trends without damaging their workouts.
However, you don’t need to go that far. By finding out how to wear rings you can add something to your outfits that can make you stand out, smarten up, or express yourself in ways that traditional clothing can’t help you do.
History Of Rings
You might expect to read a short joke about how rings were first forged by Celebrimbor in the Second Age before Sauron obtained knowledge of how to create his own rings and forged the One Ring in the fires of Mordor.
Well, there are three big reasons why that’s not going to happen:
- You nerds already have two movie trilogies (not to mention the books) about that concept
- Those rings were forged in Middle-earth, which is both fictional and ceased to exist over 6,000 years ago
- Bilbo Baggings had no drip
With that sidebar out of the way, there’s a lot to cover when it comes to the history of rings. They predate most forms of fashion. In fact, their status as symbols of love and devotion goes all the way back to Ancient Egypt.
Anthropologists have found evidence that Egyptians were exchanging bands of love—usually made from leather—over 5,000 years ago.
Funnily enough, they weren’t the only ancient culture to adopt this practice. Rings were viewed as tokens of affection in both Ancient Greece and Rome, though the Greeks likely adopted the practice of exchanging rings from the Romans.
Rings were also seen as status symbols across these three cultures. The Egyptians’ scarab rings usually consisted of an impressive stone and a gold or silver band. This template is still used to this day although we tend to wear a different selection of stones.
But when it comes to ring overload, you can’t get any more indulgent than the Romans. They originally wore rings as a status symbol and only senators could get in on the fun.
However, the floodgates opened up when all civilians were permitted to wear gold rings. From that point on, they became a display of wealth and people jammed them onto as many fingers as they could.
Let’s leap forward to the Middle Ages when men and women commonly wore rings. They were so ubiquitous that laws were instituted to designate which classes could wear certain materials.
Of course, the wealthier and more powerful folk had access to as many materials and rings as they pleased while the commoners were left with little in terms of personal expression.
This is also when wedding bands and rings of friendship were common though they weren’t as ornate as they’d later become. People really indulged in decadence during the Renaissance period when goldsmiths went hog wild.
This era is when the most prized and detailed rings were forged because the goldsmithing craft was arguably at its peak.
For better or worse, that set the standard that many people still hold when it comes to rings. This is especially true when it comes to wedding rings. To this day, people still want to present their loved ones with the most prized, precious, and dazzling rings.
In recent times, rings have re-entered the fashion sphere for both men and women and at all socioeconomic levels.
Even streetwear kids lace their knuckles with silver rings that have skulls and crossbones. In my opinion, we’re living in the best age for rings because there are so many options and so few rules.
However, there are some guidelines that can help you discover the best way to style your rings, and I’ll be covering them in this article.
When To Wear Rings
There’s virtually never a bad time to wear a ring except for in situations when you need to use your hands for an engaging activity. This could be anything like:
- Preparing food
- Swimming
- Going to the beach
- Working out
- Playing a sport
Or in other situations wherein you need to use your fine motor skills. Also, you probably wouldn’t want to wear rings if you’re going to be spending time out in the sun unless you want some ugly tan marks along your fingers.
Despite that, there are some limitations to the rings that you can wear to certain events. For example, you wouldn’t want to wear a studded skull ring to a job interview at a bank, nor would you want to wear a wedding band to a speed dating seminar.
Up next, I’ll cover more of the nuances about how to wear rings.
How To Wear Rings
The great thing about rings is that you don’t need to put too much thought into styling them. A simple band of silver or gold can sometimes be enough to give your outfit that special sauce and turn it from basic to bold.
As such, the question of how to wear rings isn’t so much about your entire outfit—it’s more about how the rings match the vibe of the occasion. Wearing a modest ring will hardly ever look out of place while wearing the wrong ring at the wrong time can be embarrassing.
That means that you want to match your ring to the occasion—formal rings for formal events, casual rings for casual events. Seems easy enough to follow, right?
Here’s a handy rule of thumb (pun intended): if you’re going somewhere and you can’t quite decipher the vibe then stick to basic rings. Even boring rings can add some flair to your outfit and won’t look like they don’t belong.
Another controversial topic is how many rings one should wear. This question is almost more common than wondering how to wear rings in the first place.
There are some diehards who believe that one ring is all you need while other people wear so many rings at once that you’d think they’re trying to give themselves carpal tunnel.
My recommendation is to experiment. You might prefer the look of two or three rings on a hand, but you’ll never know until you try. So, take a gander at some of the outfit ideas below and see which ones speak to you the most.
3 Outfit Ideas With Rings
It can be hard to visualize how to wear rings. So, up next, I’ll show you some outfit ideas which include a variety of ring styles.
Whether you’re looking for rings for men or women you can emulate these looks or use them for inspiration
The first idea I want to bring up is probably the simplest I’ll include. It’s a single ring with a minimal design and easy–to–style color. However, it’s a thumb ring and the thumbs aren’t usually the main finger people use for their rings. But this idea shows how narrow-minded that approach can be.
Thumb rings work best when they have a reserved design. Why? Because it’s easy to add these rings to your wardrobe since they’ll match almost any attire. Plus, they’re comfy without being too jarring.
Secondly, thumbs are super mobile, so you’ll want a ring that will preserve as much of the digit’s flexibility as possible. A big bulky ring could be cumbersome while a sleek one like the ring in the photo won’t alter your dexterity too much.
Now let’s go in a completely opposite direction. If you want to see how to wear rings—emphasis on the plural nature of that noun—then this is the way to do it. Don’t go for subtlety. I mean, you’re already wearing multiple accessories, so why hold back?
The takeaway from this outfit is that there’s harmony between each of the rings. They’re all sparkly and bejeweled, but they feature the same color and stone. That makes them look like a team rather than individual pieces vying for dominance on your hands.
Speaking of hands, I have to mention the model’s fingernails because they add so much to the look.
They work well with the already over-indulgent nature of the rings but also provide some contrast. Also, their soft pink color breaks up the silver from the rings so that there’s a sense of balance.
Many people like the idea of multiple rings but don’t like the glitzy nature of most designer rings.
If you’d like to learn how to wear rings, here’s another great idea: style plenty of low-key rings. Not only will this be easier on your wallet but it’ll give off a modest vibe.
This is a better option if you like the style of rings that are currently in vogue. You can usually find these rings at pop-up shops as they’re easy to assemble yet full of personality.
The model in this photo paired these rings with several bracelets that have similar designs. Thin bands and delicate charms are the names of the game here, and wearing both rings and bracelets in this style makes everything appear cohesive.
What Type Of Rings Can You Get?
Rings are highly versatile accessories. And knowing how to wear them can become somewhat complicated depending on which style you pick.
Of course, there are different classifications of rings—such as promise rings, engagement rings, wedding rings, and other celebratory rings.
In terms of materials, there are rings made from sterling silver and some made from gold. These rings can sometimes contain gemstones or diamonds. You can also purchase rings with leather bands if you want a ring that’s more functional.
How To Choose The Best Rings
I won’t be telling you how to pick the best ring if you’re trying to decide on an engagement ring because it’s best to leave that topic for another article.
But, I can tell you that the three most important factors when choosing a ring are its price, its material, and its quality. Rings can get outrageously expensive, and sometimes their price seems justified due to their quality.
However, you might not be able to justify paying that much when you can get a ring in a similar style for much less.
That leads us to the next consideration, material. Never skimp out on price if it means you need to buy a ring made from fake gold or silver. You always want to buy real metal, especially if you’re allergic to fake varieties.
Finally, the ring’s quality is vital. That’s also why I recommend buying only real gold or silver because these elements are tough and of uniform quality. Buying lesser materials will only result in subpar rings.
How To Style Rings
Though I’ve already included various examples to show you how to style rings, I want to drive an important point home.
Rings, more than any other accessory, are open to experimentation. Personally, I never thought I’d look good wearing a ring, but after playing around with select styles, I realized that’s not true.
I learned that rings are a great way to give your outfit a bit of edge, a touch of glamor, or some personality.
Fashion Tips To Avoid With Rings
Knowing how to wear rings is just as much about knowing what looks good as it is about knowing what looks bad. So, here are some tips to help you avoid any improper ring etiquette.
- Don’t wear rings of different colors on the same hand: You might like gold and silver, but wearing a gold ring and a silver ring on the same hand will definitely clash.
- Don’t stack multiple rings on a single finger: Not only will this look tacky but it’ll limit the mobility of the digit. Think about it, you have several fingers for a reason.
- Don’t purchase rings that are made from faux silver or gold: You may think that you’re saving money but you’re compromising on more than just quality. The paint on these rings can fade quickly, leaving an unpleasant residue on your skin, and, most importantly, can cause allergic reactions.
How To Take Care Of Rings
If you buy rings that are actually made of gold or silver, which you should if you read the last piece of advice I just gave you, then taking care of them isn’t too hard.
So long as you wash them regularly and don’t wear them in situations where they may be accidentally damaged then you should be fine.
This changes when you buy rings that have particular stones. These stones are more delicate and their bindings may require specific cleaning practices.
The best way to care for these rings is to wear them modestly and to ask the retailer for their recommendations.
Best Places To Buy Rings
The most common place to buy rings would of course be jewelry stores, but that’s not the first place I’d recommend you shop for them, especially if you’re purchasing your first one.
Yes, they often have some of the best rings available but they’re much more expensive than other options.
As with many accessories, vintage stores and thrift shops are your two best friends here. Oftentimes, people don’t know the value of what they’re giving away.
You’d be surprised at the quality of rings that you can find in places like these for reasonable prices.
If you’re looking for rings that have been crafted with a bit more care and intentionality then you’ll want to hit up some local pop–up shops and markets.
Independent creators are all about low-key rings with slim bands these days, and you’ll find plenty of those if you visit their stalls.
Final Thoughts
Once you learn how to wear rings you may feel like Neo when he sees the Matrix code. New style avenues will crop up and you’ll begin appreciating the finer details of fashion. So, I recommend that you try out some ring styles for yourself as soon as possible.
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