Ring (jewellery)

 

 

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.
 

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. 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.  

 

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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.

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.
A championship ring is a ring presented to members of winning teams in professional sports leagues, and, in North America, college tournaments. In recent years, it has become common for American, and Canadian High schools to give out championship rings to teams that win the state, or provincial championship in their given sport, usually football. In professional sports leagues, such as the NFL and MLB, the runner-ups of the league championship game/series is awarded a ring, being the champion of their conference/sub-league.

It is unclear which team officials get championship rings. According to one commentator, Daniel Mahler, rings are distributed to in-house legal counsel. Other commentators, including Richard Luft, suggest rings are distributed to all medical staff including the team doctor. 

Claddagh ring

   The Claddagh ring (Irish: fáinne Chladaigh) is a traditional Irish ring given as a token of love or worn as a wedding ring. The design and customs associated with it originated in the Irish fishing village of Claddagh, located just outside the city of Galway. The ring was first produced in the 17th century during the reign of Queen Mary II, though elements of the design are much older.

 

The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown).

The wearing of a Claddagh ring in modern usage is usually intended to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or lack thereof. The ring is worn on the right hand with the heart oriented away from the wearer, to show that the wearer is not romantically linked. When turned the other way, it shows that the wearer is in a relationship, or their heart has been "captured". When worn on the left hand with the heart oriented again away from the wearer, it implies the wearer is engaged; turned the other way, it indicates the wearer is married.

The Claddagh ring is closely related to a group of European finger rings called “Fede Rings”.The name "fede" comes from the Italian phrase mani in fede ("hands in trust" or "hands in faith"). These rings date from Roman times, when the gesture of clasped right hands (dextrarum iunctio) was a symbol of pledging vows, and they were used as love and marriage rings in medieval and Renaissance Europe.

  

Fede rings are cast in the form of two clasped hands, symbolizing faith, trust or “plighted troth.” Nowadays the Claddagh ring is seen as a distinctively Irish variation on the fede ring,  although the hands, heart and crown motif was once used in other European countries too.

Galway has produced Claddagh rings continuously since at least 1700,but the name "Claddagh ring" was not used before the 1840s.

An early written description of this kind of ring was published in 1843, along with an illustration. Ireland, its Scenery, Character etc. by Mr and Mrs Samuel Carter Hall has a section about the Claddagh fishing community and their wedding rings. In a footnote the Halls mention a "strong analogy" with older gimmal rings, despite the "rudeness of their [the Galway rings'] construction"
In 1996 the Halls' information was examined by Ida Delamer, an expert on antique Irish silver. She is sceptical about the Halls' account, and implies it has been romanticised. Her reasons include:

    * The authors were misled by folklorist Thomas Crofton Croker.
    * "...with a few exceptions, all extant... Claddagh rings made prior to 1840 are male [men's] rings"

Delamer refers to a 1906 account by William Dillon, Dillon, from a family of Galway jewellers in business since c1750, claims that the "Claddagh" ring was worn in the Aran Isles, Connemara, and beyond.

The Claddagh ring was a more or less marginal custom in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Knowledge of it spread within the British Isles during the Victorian period, and this is when its name became established.Galway jewellers began to market it beyond the local area in the 19th century, and presented a ring to Queen Victoria in 1849. Dublin goldsmiths started to make it too, and more "widespread recognition" came in the 20th century.In the early 20th century American mineralogist George Frederick Kunz does not mention the Claddagh ring but shows a photo captioned with its name; Kunz merely addresses the importance of gold wedding rings in Ireland, but it is unclear how and when the ring's popularity spread in the USA.

A "Fenian" Claddagh ring, without the crown, was later designed in Dublin. Claddagh rings, with or without the crown (most commonly with a crown), have come to denote pride in Irish heritage, while continuing to be symbols of love and marriage.  
 

Class ring   

  Worn by students and alumni in commemoration of their graduation.A class ring (also known as a graduate, senior ring, or grad ring) is a ring worn by students and alumni in the United States and Canada to commemorate their graduation, generally for a high school, college, or university.

The tradition of class rings originated with the class of 1835 at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
According to the Complete Book of Etiquette by Amy Vanderbilt, the ring should always be worn so that the insignia faces the wearer when his or her arm is outstretched for as long as the wearer is in school; upon graduation, the ring should be turned around so that the ring faces outward, signifying that the graduate has left school and has entered the wider world.

West Point custom however follows different rules. Until recent decades, Academy graduates wore their rings on the left hand. Prior to graduation, the USMA Class Ring is worn with the Class Crest closest to the heart signifying the bond to the class. After graduation, the ring is worn with the Academy Crest closest to the heart signifying the bond with the Academy.
 

Dinner ring   

  A dinner ring or cocktail ring is a large over sized ring, set with precious or semiprecious stones. Cocktail rings became popular during the 1940s and 1950s. They are generally worn by women and placed on the fourth finger of the right hand. For this reason they are sometimes known as Right Hand Rings.

  

Cocktail rings are also known as statement rings and come in both fine jewelry and costume jewelry variations. They are generally over sized and dramatic. Cocktail rings look best when worn on middle or index finger. Since making their first appearance on the jewelry scene in the 1940s, they have become a jewelry essential. They come in a myriad of styles ranging from whimsical to classic to edgy. Flower and animal themed rings have become especially popular in 2009. Women now look to these pieces for an instant update to their wardrobe and an instant infusion of style.
 

Engagement ring 

    Especially in Western cultures, an engagement ring is a ring indicating that the person wearing it is engaged to be married. In the United Kingdom, and North America, engagement rings are traditionally worn only by women, and rings can feature gemstones. In other cultures men and women usually wear matching rings, which can be plain. In some cultures, engagement rings are also used as wedding rings.

Conventionally, the woman's ring is presented as a betrothal gift by a man to his prospective spouse while he proposes marriage or directly after she accepts his marriage proposal. It represents a formal agreement to future marriage. Rings can be bought by the man, the couple together, or by each partner for the other.

In North America and the United Kingdom, it is customarily worn on the left hand ring finger. This custom may have its origins in an ancient Egyptian myth that the finger contained a vein leading directly to the heart, or it may simply be due to the fact that the heart lies slightly to the left side of the body. Conversely, in Poland and Ukraine, it is customary for the ring to be worn on the right hand. In Germany, the ring is worn on the left hand while engaged, but moved to the right hand when married. Similar traditions purportedly date to classical times, dating back from an early usage reportedly referring to the fourth finger of the left hand as containing the vena amoris or "vein of love".

Before agreeing to marry, a couple may choose to buy and wear pre-engagement rings, also called promise rings. After marrying, the couple may wear both engagement rings and wedding rings, or just their wedding rings, as they prefer. Some brides have their engagement and wedding rings permanently soldered together after marriage.
Betrothal rings were used during Roman times, but weren't generally revived in the Western world until the 13th century.The first well-documented use of a diamond ring to signify engagement was by the Archduke Maximilian of Austria in imperial court of Vienna in 1477, upon his betrothal to Mary of Burgundy.
Before the 20th century, other types of betrothal gifts were common. Before the end of the 19th century, the bride-to-be frequently received a sewing thimble rather than a engagement ring. This practice was particularly common among religious groups that shunned jewelry. Engagement rings didn't become standard in the West until the end of the 19th century, and diamond rings didn't become common until the 1930s. Now, 80% of American women are offered a diamond ring to signify engagement.
  In the 20th century, if he could afford it, the typical Western groom privately selected and purchased an engagement ring, which he then presented to his desired bride when he proposed marriage. More recently, couples frequently select an engagement ring together. In countries where both partners wear engagement rings, matching rings may be selected and purchased together. In the United States and Canada, where only women commonly wear engagement rings, women sometimes present their partners with an engagement ring.
Like all jewelry, the price for an engagement ring can vary considerably depending on the materials used, the design of the ring, whether it includes a gemstone, the value of any gemstone, and the seller. The idea that a man should spend two to three months' personal wages for an engagement ring originated from De Beers marketing materials in the early 20th century, in an effort to increase the sale of diamonds. In 2007, the average cost of an engagement ring in USA as reported by the industry was US$2,100.
The price of the gemstones, if any, in the ring depends on the type and quality of the gem. Diamonds have a standardized description that values them according to their carat weight, color, clarity and cut. Other gemstones, such as sapphires, rubies, moissanite, emeralds, have different systems. These may be chosen to honor a family tradition, to use family heirlooms, to be unique, to be socially responsible, to fit the individual's stylistic preferences, or to manage cost. Synthetic stones and diamond substitutes such as cubic zirconias are also popular choices that reduce cost while maintaining the desired appearance.
  In some states of the United States, engagement rings are considered "conditional gifts" under the legal rules of property. This is an exception to the general rule that gifts cannot be revoked once properly given. See, for example, the case of Meyer v. Mitnick, 625 N.W.2d 136 (Michigan, 2001), whose ruling found the following reasoning persuasive: "the so-called 'modern trend' holds that because an engagement ring is an inherently conditional gift, once the engagement has been broken, the ring should be returned to the donor. Thus, the question of who broke the engagement and why, or who was 'at fault,' is irrelevant. This is the no-fault line of cases."
One case in New South Wales, Australia ended in the man suing his former fiancée because she threw the ring in the trash after he told her she could keep it, despite the marriage proposal failing. The Supreme Court of New South Wales held that despite what the man said, the ring remained a conditional gift (partly because his saying that she could keep it was partly due to his desire to salvage the relationship) and she was ordered to pay him its AUD$15,250 cost.
Tradition generally holds that if the betrothal fails because the man himself breaks off the engagement, the woman is not obliged to return the ring. Legally, this condition can be subject to either a modified or a strict fault rule. Under the former, the fiancé can demand the return of the ring unless he breaks the engagement. Under the latter, the fiancé is entitled to the return unless his actions caused the breakup of the relationship, the same as the traditional approach. However, a no-fault rule is being advanced in some jurisdictions, under which the fiancé is always entitled to the return of the ring. The ring only becomes the property of the woman when marriage occurs. An unconditional gift approach is another possibility, wherein the ring is always treated as a gift, to be kept by the fiancée whether or not the relationship progresses to marriage. Recent court rulings have determined that the date in which the ring was offered can determine the condition of the gift. e.g. Valentine's Day and Christmas are nationally recognized as gift giving holidays. A ring offered in the form of a Christmas present will likely remain the personal property of the recipient in the event of a breakup.
In the United Kingdom, the gift of an engagement ring is presumed to be an absolute gift to the fiancée. This presumption may be rebutted however by proving that the ring was given on condition (express or implied) that it must be returned if the marriage did not take place, for whatever reason. This was decided in the case Jacobs v Davis [1917]  . 

    

Engagement rings, like any other kind of jewelry, come in many different styles.
In the United States, where engagement rings have been traditionally worn only by women, diamonds have widely featured in engagement rings since the middle of the 20th century.
 Solitaire rings have one single diamond.
 These traditional engagement rings may have different prong settings and bands.
 Another major category is engagement rings with side stones.
. Rings with a larger diamond set in the middle and smaller diamonds on the side fit under this category. Three-stone diamond engagement rings, sometimes called trinity rings or trilogy rings, are rings with three matching diamonds set horizontally in a row with the bigger stone in the center. The three diamonds on the ring are typically said to represent the couple's past, present, and future, but other people give religious significance to the arrangement.
A wedding set, or bridal set, includes an engagement ring and a wedding band that match as a set. In some cases, the engagement ring looks "incomplete"; it is only when the two halves are assembled that the ring looks whole. In other cases, a wedding set consists of two rings that match stylistically and are worn stacked, although either piece would look appropriate as a separate ring. Although the wedding band is not to be worn until the wedding day, the two rings are usually sold together as a wedding set. After the wedding, the bride may choose to have the two pieces welded together, to increase convenience and reduce the likelihood of losing one ring. A trio ring set includes a ladies engagement ring, ladies wedding band and a men's wedding band. These sets often have matching rings and are lower in price.
In Nordic countries, engagement rings are worn by both men and women. Traditionally they are plain gold bands, although more ornate designs and other materials are gaining popularity. The engagement rings resemble the wedding bands sold in the United States, whereas womens wedding rings often resemble US engagement rings.
In some countries (but not most of the Western world), both men and women wear engagement rings. The rings are often in the form of a plain band of a precious metal. Sometimes, the engagement ring eventually serves as the wedding ring for the man. In Brazil, for example, the groom- and bride-to-be wear a plain wedding band on the right hand while engaged. After the wedding the band moves to the left hand.

Eternity ring  

   A ring symbolizing eternity with a partner.
 

Finger armor ring   

  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 medieval gauntlet, but is typically smaller and more delicate.
Finger armor rings differ in design and material. They are usually made of either pewter or sterling silver. The pewter finger armor rings are often 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, 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 usually associated with and are often considered popular in the Goth subculture.

  

Friendship ring 

    Friendship rings are used to symbolize a close relationship that has no romantic undertone.
 

Gimmal ring    

A gimmal ring, or gimmel ring, is a ring with two or three hoops or links that fit together to form one complete ring. The name gimmal comes from Latin gemellus, twin, via Old French.
In the 16th and 17th centuries such rings were fashionable in England, Germany, and other countries, and were often used as betrothal rings. The engaged couple would wear one hoop each and rejoin them to use as a wedding ring. With triple link rings, a third person could witness the couple's vows and hold the third part of the ring until the marriage.
An early gimmal band, consisting of two interlocked rings sculpted to form a single ring is to be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum dated to 1350. Henry III of England met the Count of Gynes in 1202 and gave him a gimmal ring set with a ruby and two emeralds. Martin Luther wed Catherine Bora in 1525 with a gimmal ring enscribed "Whom God has joined together, Let no man put asunder".

Around 1600 the gimmal ring began to sometimes incorporate the clasped hands of the fede ring and a third symbol, a heart, was added, sometimes with a third shank. Designs involving clasped hands, and sometimes a heart, remained popular after the Renaissance. Similar imagery is found on other love rings, including claddagh rings.
The Benjamin Zucker collection in the Walters Museum in Baltimore contains two elaborate gimmal rings incorporating small hidden enameled sculptural details visible only when the bands are separated. By the late 18th century multiple shanks of 5 or more were made, sometimes collected at the back by a pivot, so they hinged like a fan.
Joint ring was a name used in Elizabethan England. There are several references to gimmal rings in Shakespeare's plays, including a joint-ring mentioned in Othello. Robert Herrick's poem The Jimmall Ring or True-Love Knot (1648) is founded on a gimmal (jimmall) ring.
A gimmal ring is important to characters in Dryden's Don Sebastian (1690). See the passage starting:

        A curious artist wrought 'em,
        With joynts so close as not to be perceiv'd;
        Yet are they both each other's counterpart.
 

Iron Ring  

   The Iron Ring may be made from either wrought iron or stainless steel. The rings are given in ceremonies held at individuals universities, each assigned one of 25 camps of the Corporation of the Seven Wardens. Today, ceremonies at all camps across Canada, except the Toronto camp, have completely stopped conferring rings made of iron and have switched to stainless steel rings. At the Toronto camp, the individual ceremonies held at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, York University and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology continue to provide recipients with a choice of rings made of wrought iron or stainless steel.
Many believe, incorrectly, that the rings are made from the steel of a beam from the Quebec Bridge, which collapsed during construction in 1907 killing 75 construction workers, due to poor planning and design by the overseeing engineers. This misunderstanding may have its roots in a common practice of attaching a symbol of an engineering failure, such as a bolt from that bridge, to the chain that is held by participants in the ritual. Rudyard Kipling, who wrote the ritual obligation, indicated that the Ring as an allegory in itself be rough, not smoothed, and hammered and as a ring have no beginning or end. There is no evidence that there is any particular history in the source of Cold Iron[clarification needed] for the Ring, nor any intention that there should have been, although remnants of the Quebec Bridge "legend" still exist in Canada.

 

The Iron Ring is worn on the little finger ("pinky") of the working (dominant) hand; this would be the left hand for a left-handed person.[4] There the facets act as a sharp reminder of obligation while the engineer works, since it would drag on the writing surface while the engineer is drawing or writing. This is particularly true of recently obligated engineers, whose rings bear sharp, unworn, facets. Protocol dictates that the rings should be returned by retired engineers or by the families of deceased engineers. Some camps offer previously obligated or "experienced" rings, but they are now rare due to medical and practical complications.
The Ring itself is small and understated, designed as a constant reminder rather than a piece of jewellery. The Rings were originally hammered manually with a rough outer surface. The modern machined ring design emulates this manual process with a unique pattern. Twelve half-circle facets are carved into the top and bottom of the outer surface, with the two halves offset by one facet radius.
  The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer is the ceremony where Iron Rings are given to graduating engineers who choose to obligate themselves to the highest professionalism and humility of their profession. It is a symbol that reflects the moral, ethical and professional commitment made by the engineer who wears the ring. The ceremonies are private affairs with no publicity. Invitations to attend are extended to local engineering alumni and professional engineers by those who are scheduled to participate. For some schools, the invitation to witness the ceremony is open to anyone in the engineering profession, and non-obligated engineers may not participate in the ritual. For other schools, the invitation to witness the ceremony is open to everyone. Some graduating engineers choose to receive a ring passed on from a relative or mentor, giving the ceremony a personal touch.
  Based upon the success of the Iron Ring in Canada, similar programs have started in the United States, where the Order of the Engineer was founded in 1970, and conducts similar ring ceremonies at a number of U.S. colleges, in which the recipient signs an "Obligation of the Engineer" and receives a stainless steel Engineer's Ring (which, unlike the Canadian Iron Ring, can be smooth and not faceted). 

Magic ring   

  A magic ring is a ring, usually a finger ring, that has magical properties. It appears frequently in fantasy and fairy tale. Magic rings are found in the folklore of every country where rings are worn, and they endow the wearer with a variety of abilities, including invisibility, the granting of wishes and immortality. Sometimes, they can be cursed, as in the fictional ring that was recovered by Sigurd from the hoard of the dragon Fafnir in Norse mythologyor the fictional ring that featutres in J R R Tolkien's modern saga The Lord of the Rings. More often, however, they are featured as forces for good, or as a neutral tool whose value is dependent upon the wearer.
A finger ring is a convenient choice for a (fictional) magic item: it is ornamental, distinctive and often unique, natural to wear, of a shape that is often endowed with mystical properties (circular), it can carry an enchanted stone and is usually worn on a finger that can be easily pointed at a target.
Images of Celtic gods have been found wearing a torc or a neck ring, and torcs are on rare occasions mentioned as decoration in early Irish and medieval Welsh literature, but none are described as magical. Seventy-five complete neck torcs and fragments of many more, in twelve or fourteen separate hoards dating to the first century BC, were found at Snettisham, in Norfolk, England, in the twentieth century and had been buried deliberately; it is not known why.

  

J G Frazer, in his study of magic and superstition in The Golden Bough, has pointed to evidence that rings can serve, in the primitive mind, as devices to prevent the soul from leaving the body and to prevent demons from gaining entry.A magic ring, therefore, might confer immortality by preventing the soul's departure and thwart the penetration of any harmful magic that might be directed against the wearer. These magical properties inhibiting access to the soul may explain "an ancient Greek maxim, attributed to [the ancient philosopher and mystic] Pythagoras, which forbade people to wear rings" in ancient Greece. Muslim pilgrims in Mecca may not wear rings.
Ancient drawings of Mesopotamian gods sometimes include one or several rings attached to staffs or poles, but no reference has been found in writings recovered from that time to show whether they were magical or merely decorative. Generally, however, the two most common types of magical rings in mythology and fiction are arm rings and finger rings.
Magical rings can be magical for a variety of reasons and their magical properties may be either very specific or of a more general nature. A folk tale or story may give no reason for a ring being magical, or it may have become magical through being enchanted by a magician or touched by a god. A ring may also be magical because of the material of which it is made; often a ring is a mere carrier for a special jewel, which itself is the source of the magic. Other rings are magical because they are inhabited by a spirit. 

Mood ring  

  A mood ring is a ring which contains a thermochromic element, such as liquid crystal. The ring changes color in response to the body temperature of its wearer. The color is said, by some proponents, to indicate the emotional state of the wearer.

While the technical discovery of the mood ring was made by Marvin Wernick, credit is most often given to Joshua Reynolds for what became one of the biggest fads of the 1970s. Reynolds was the first to popularize the rings in 1975 and even though they were a fad in the 70’s, they continually resurface for periods of time throughout the years. It was invented in 1975 by Marvin Wernick when he accompanied a physician to a nearby emergency. When the physician pulled out a strip of thermotropic material to gauge the child's temperature by applying the strip directly to her forehead, jewelry designer Wernick knew he had the makings of a winning item. Wernick encapsulated ovals of the material within clear glass cameos and glass domes set in brushed gold and silver ring settings. His signature "hang-tag" contained claims for the ring's properties.
A mood ring is a specialized liquid crystal thermometer, wearable on the finger. The ring is typically ornamented with a faux gemstone (usually made of quartz or glass) which is either a clear capsule filled with thermochromic liquid crystal, or has a thin sheet of liquid crystal sealed underneath. Changes in temperature cause the crystal to reflect different wavelengths of light which changes the color of the stone. The liquid crystal used in mood rings is usually set up to display a "neutral" color at the average human skin temperature, which is approximately 98.6 °F (37.0 °C).
The theory behind the idea that the ring indicates the wearers' mood is based on a claim that body heat fluctuates with the emotional state of the wearer. Human body temperatures are known to vary by small amounts (less than 1°C) over the circadian and menstrual cycles and when the body is fighting an infection. Variations in ambient air temperature appear to have a larger effect on the temperature of the ring than changes in the body temperature of the wearer. It appears that no direct correspondence between a particular mood and a specific color has ever been substantiated.
 

Mother's ring

    A mother's ring is a type of memorial jewelry. It has a birthstone for each of the children of a woman, either living or dead. They can represent a mother or grandmother's family, can include birthstones for other family members, and can be given upon
the birth of a new child or grandchild.
It started as two wedding bands joined together by the birthstones of the sons of the couple, which sold very well during the Mother's Day season as a present to your own mother or to your wife.
Standard birthstone rings feature the birthstone of the ring's wearer, but mother's rings include the birthstones of all of her children. In some cases the birthstones of the parents are also set in the ring. Some are also personalized with the names of family members, or the family name.

 

Similar rings, often featuring the birthstones of both her children and grandchildren, are sometimes given to grandmothers as well. These rings are popular Mother's Day gifts, and are often given to a mother or grandmother upon the birth of a new child or grandchild, both as a new ring or to replace an old one.

Mourning ring 

    A mourning ring is a finger ring worn in memory of someone who has died. It often bears the name and date of death of the person, and possibly an image of them, or a motto. They were usually paid for by the person commemorated, or their heirs, and often specified, along with the list of intended recipients, in wills.

 

Any stone is usually in black, typically jet stone. They were popular in Victorian times, and earlier; such as this example of a ring commemorating Jeremy Bentham. In many cases, there is a lock of hair of the deceased placed under the crystal stone.
 

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 pinky ring is a ring worn on the pinky finger. Pinky rings are not gender-specific, and are commonly found on both men and women. Often there is no special significance associated with wearing a pinky ring, other than the typical motivations for wearing jewellery. There are a few exceptions, however: Engineers in Canada, participants in The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer and members of the Order of the Engineer wear a steel or iron ring on the pinky finger on the "strong" hand, and a signet ring is often traditionally worn on the pinky finger.

 

That is a pinky ring. Also, if someone is wearing a pinky ring, that does not mean they belong to the mafia. A lot of people wear pinky ring, and they are not members of the American mafia.
 

 Posie ring   

Posie rings (sometimes spelled "posy ", "posey" or "poesy rings") are finger rings with short inscriptions on their outer surfaces. More rarely the inscription is on the inner surface.
A posey ring or love ring, is a simple gold band engraved with a brief sentiment or poem on the outside. They were used as a lover's token, a wedding ring, or simply as a means of showing regard or giving a gift.
Popular during the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries in England and France as lovers' gifts, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England has an outstanding collection. The Victoria and Albert museum in London also has a good collection bequeathed by Joan Evans, daughter of a famous 19th century collector. She compiled a list of more than 3000 posies for her book 'English Posies and Posy Rings' (oxford Press 1931, out of print)
The language used in many early posy rings was Norman French, with French, Latin and English used in later times. The posies were originally written on the outside, moving to the hidden inside of the ring in later (mid 16th Century onwards) times.
Here is a list of poesy phrases used in past centuries and the museums where the original rings can be found. These are accurate to the original spellings.
 

Pre-engagement ring   

  A pre-engagement ring (also known as a promise ring) is a ring given to a romantic partner to signify a commitment to a monogamous relationship, often as a precursor to an engagement ring. Promise rings can be worn on any finger, but those symbolizing pre-engagement are generally worn on the left ring finger; sometimes, the left middle finger or right ring finger is used instead to prevent confusion with an actual engagement ring.
Promise rings date back to the 16th century. Traditionally, the ring is called a "friendship ring" when there is no promise to marry and a "promise ring" when there is a promise. An illustration, dating from AD 1576, shows a promise ring being given, demonstrating that the tradition existed at that early date. In those days, when a man could not afford to get married, he would often give his intended bride a promise ring as a placeholder until marriage became possible.
During Shakespeare’s time, poesy rings were popular among young couples. Each band was engraved with romantic sayings such as “vous et nul autre” (you and no other) or “a ma vie de coeur entier” (my whole heart for my whole life), binding the lover’s words to the beloved’s body.

During the 20th century, in some instances women would offer men's promise rings to their man because, at the time, he was unable to commission to be wed. It was generally a surprise offering and was something the man could accept or deny. Tradition generally holds that these rings were given by younger couples. This was usually the case because it was normal for the young couple not to have a wealth position that would allow for marriage and children
 

Promise ring   

  A ring worn to remind oneself of a promise one has made.

  

Purity ring    

Purity rings (also known as chastity rings, or abstinence rings) originated in the United States in the 1990s among Christian-affiliated sexual abstinence groups.Wearing a purity ring is typically accompanied by a religious vow to practice abstinence until marriage.
David Bario, a reporter in the Chicago Tribune, Rutland Herald, and several other news websites wrote:
    "Under the Bush administration, organizations that promote abstinence and encourage teens to sign virginity pledges or wear purity rings have received federal grants. The Silver Ring Thing, a subsidiary of a Pennsylvania Evangelical Church, has received more than $1 million from the government to promote abstinence and to sell its rings in the United States and abroad."
The ACLU of Massachusetts brought charges against this decision, because the Silver Ring program did not ensure its secularity and hence was ineligible for federal funding due to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The settlement between the ACLU and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says that any further similar applications of Silver Ring Thing must be reported to ACLU and closely scrutinized for separation of church and state.

  

Puzzle ring    

A traditional puzzle ring is a type of finger ring made up of four, six, eight, or twelve interconnected rings. Contemporary designs include rings of three, five or seven bands. Puzzle rings often appear to be endless knots. Many think this points to Celtic heritage. Reassembly is a form of mechanical puzzle. Many are Italian or English from the Renaissance period, although they are becoming more common in North America.
They were developed from gimmal rings, which derive their name from the Latin gemelli, meaning "twins." Gimmal rings were mainly used as wedding rings, because the wearer could not cheat on their spouse without taking it off first and then putting it back together afterward.
They are also sometimes called Turkish Wedding Rings or Harem Rings.
In 'The Puzzle Ring', a children's time travel adventure written by the Australian author Kate Forsyth, the heroine Hannah must search for the four lost loops of a puzzle ring in order to break an ancient fairy curse upon her family. The puzzle ring in the book is forged in the shape of a rose. 

 

Poison ring 

A poison ring or pillbox ring is a type of ring with a container under the bezel or inside the bezel itself that could be used to hold poison or another substance. They became popular in Europe during the sixteenth century.  The poison ring was used either to slip poison into an enemy's food or drink, or to facilitate the suicide of the wearer in order to escape capture or torture.

 

Regards ring  

    A Victorian engagement ring with an implicit acrostic: Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond, Sapphire.
 

Ring of O 

   The Ring of O is a specially designed ring which has been worn as a distinctive mark among BDSM practitioners, mainly in continental Europe — and especially the German-speaking countries — since the 1990s. Its use is relatively widespread within this subculture. Its name derives from the name of the central female character in the classic BDSM novel Story of O (written by Pauline Réage), who wore an analogous ring.
The ring mentioned in the original novel was quite different from what is most commonly known as the "Ring of O" today. The novel describes the ring as shaped similarly to a signet ring (with a seal disk on top which was relatively large for a woman's ring), made out of dull-gray polished iron, lined with gold on the inside, and with a golden Triskelion on its top area.
The ring's symbolic meaning in the novel differs quite a bit from the one commonly used among BDSM practitioners today. In the book, such a ring is worn by a female "slave" after she has finished her training at Roissy. Those wearing the ring are obliged to be obedient to any man who belongs to the secret society of Roissy (whose emblem is the triskelion), and must allow him to do absolutely everything with them that he pleases.
This stands in strong contrast to the ring's meaning today. People indicate by wearing such rings that they are interested in BDSM, and sometimes by the hand they wear it on whether they are a Top or a Bottom.
The first film adaptation of the novel Story of O showed a design consisting of a cylindrical steel ring with an attached ball holding an even smaller toroidal ring (which could swivel in one dimension). Thus it showed similarities to types of collars which in former times were used in order to chain animals or prisoners (see the collar in the image at right) and are still common in the BDSM scene today. Inspired by this movie, such small rings became quite popular among BDSM practitioners in German-speaking countries.
The first image of this jewellery design was published in the September issue  of the German BDSM magazine Schlagzeilen in 1989. Its development is commonly credited to German jewellery designers Jörg Hampel and Jan Scheu.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, the ring's design has been increasingly found outside of BDSM contexts as well. Similar jewellery designs were published in continental Europe, for example by Calvin Klein, and are often offered in shops specializing in selling to young people.
After the ring's most common design started increasingly circulating outside of the BDSM subculture, new design variants developed. These new designs are often incorporate foldaway elements and a more complex structure. This allowed a higher exclusivity and unambiguousness while at the same time the discretion with respect to "vanillas" was significantly increased.

 

Rosary ring 

   The Rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden") or "garland of roses" is a popular and traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary. The prayers consist of repeated sequences of the Lord's Prayer followed by ten prayings of the Hail Mary and a single praying of "Glory Be to the Father" and is sometimes accompanied by the Fatima Prayer; each of these sequences is known as a decade. The praying of each decade is accompanied by meditation on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, which recall the life of Jesus Christ.
The traditional 15 Mysteries of the Rosary were standardized, based on the long-standing custom, by Pope St. Pius V in the 16th century. The mysteries are grouped into three sets: the joyful mysteries, the sorrowful mysteries, and the glorious mysteries. In 2002, Pope John Paul II announced five new optional mysteries, the luminous mysteries, bringing the total number of mysteries to 20.
The term has come to be used to refer to similar beads in other religions.
 The rosary is part of the Catholic veneration of Mary, which has been promoted by numerous popes, especially Leo XIII, known as "The Rosary Pope", who issued twelve encyclicals and five apostolic letters on the rosary and added the invocation Queen of the most Holy Rosary to the Litany of Loreto. Pope Pius V introduced the rosary into the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar as the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, celebrated on October 7. Most recently, on May 3, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI stated that the Rosary is experiencing a new springtime: "It is one of the most eloquent signs of love that the young generation nourish for Jesus and his Mother." To Benedict XVI, the rosary is a meditation on all important moments of salvation history.Before him, Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae built on the "total Marian devotion" pioneered by Saint Louis de Montfort. Pope Pius XII and his successors actively promoted the veneration of the Virgin in Lourdes and Fatima, which is credited with a new resurgence of the rosary within the Catholic Church.

 

The theologian Romano Guardini defined the Roman Catholic emphasis on the rosary as "participation in the life of Mary, whose focus was Christ". His statement echoed the view that in Roman Catholic Mariology the path to Christ is through Mary, with Mariology being inherent in Christology; a sentiment also expressed by saints such as Louis de Montfort who was a strong rosary advocate. Pope Leo XIII also viewed the rosary as a vital means to participate in the life of Mary and to find the way to Christ (see the section on Rosary Pope below).
Many similar prayer practices exist in other Christian communities, each with its own set of prescribed prayers and its own form of prayer beads, such as the prayer rope in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. These other devotions and their associated beads are usually referred to as "chaplets". The rosary is sometimes used by other Christians, especially in Lutheranism, the Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Church. Other Protestants, however, such as Baptists and Presbyterians, do not use it and actively discourage their members from using this method of prayer.
 

Signet ring   

A seal can be a wax seal bearing an impressed figure, or an embossed figure in paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document, but the term can also mean any device for making such impressions or embossments, essentially being a mould that has the mirror image of the figure in counter-relief, such as mounted on rings known as signet rings. This article is concerned with devices and methods for making such imprints.
If the imprint is made as a relief resulting from the greater pressure on the paper where the high parts of the seal touch, the seal is known as a dry seal; in all other cases a liquid or liquified medium (such as ink or wax) is used, usually in another color than the paper's.

 
For legal purposes, the definition of seal may be extended to include rubber stamps, or writing specified words ("seal" or "L.S.").
Sigillography is the term used for the study of seals.
Seals are used to authenticate documents, applied directly to the face of the document, or attached to the document by cords or ribbons (often in the owner's liveries), or to a narrow strip of the document, sliced and folded down, as a tail but not detached from the document. This helped maintain authenticity by not allowing the reuse of the seal. If a forger tried to remove the seal in the first case, it would break. In the other cases, although the forger could remove the seal intact by ripping the cords from the paper, he would still have to separate the cords to attach it to another document, which would destroy the seal as well because the cords had knots tied in them inside the wax seal. Most governments still attach seals to letters patent. While many instruments required seals for validity (i.e. the deed or covenant) it is rather uncommon for private citizens to use seals anymore, although in some parts of the world it remains common in private and public sector business.
A seal on a letter from Loudoun Castle, Galston, Scotland.

 

Seals were applied to letters and parcels to indicate whether or not the item had been opened since the seal was applied. Seals were used both to seal the item to prevent tampering, as well as to provide proof that the item was actually from the sender and was not a forgery. To seal a letter, for example, a letter writer would compose the letter, fold it over, pour wax over the joint formed by the top of the page of paper, and then impress a ring, metal stamp, or other device. Governments would often send letters to citizens under the governmental seal for their eyes only. These were called letters secret. Seals are no longer commonly used in this way, except for ceremonial purposes.
Notaries still use seals on a daily basis. At least in Britain, each registered notary has an individual personal seal, registered with the authorities, which includes his or her name and a pictorial emblem, often an animal - the same combination found in many seals from Ancient Greece.
In Central and Eastern Europe, as in East Asia, a signature alone is considered insufficient to authenticate a document of any kind in business, and all managers, as well as many book-keepers and other employees, have personal seals, normally just containing text, with their name and their position. These are applied to all letters, invoices issued, and similar documents. In Europe these are today plastic self-inking stamps.
Seals are also affixed on architectural or engineering construction documents, or land survey drawings, to certify the identity of the licensed professional who supervised the development. Depending on the authority having jurisdiction for the project, these seals may be embossed and signed, stamped and signed, or in certain situations a computer generated facsimile of the original seal validated by a digital certificate owned by the professional may be attached to a security protected computer file. The identities on the professional seals determine legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, and in some cases financial responsibility for their correction.
Seals were used in the earliest civilizations and are of considerable interest in archaeology. In ancient Mesopotamia seals were engraved on cylinders, which could be rolled to create an impression on clay e.g., as a label on a consignment of trade goods. From Ancient Egypt seals in the form of signet-rings of kings have been found.
Recently, seals have come to light in South Arabia datable to the Himyarite age. One example shows a name written in Aramaic (Yitsḥaq bar Ḥanina) and engraved in reverse so as to be visible in the impression.
In the Indus Valley Civilization, rectangular seals were used to label trade goods and also had other purposes.
 Signet rings, in recent times generally bearing a coat of arms, are made by intaglio engraving, either in metal or engraved gems (generally semiprecious). Agate is a frequent material, especially carnelian or banded agate like sardonyx; the banding make the impression contrast with the ground. Most classical engraved gems were originally worn as signet rings.

  

Metal signet rings can also be cast, which is cheaper but yields a weaker material.

The wearing of signet rings (from Latin "signum" meaning sign) goes back to ancient Egypt; the distinctive personal signature was not developed in antiquity and most documents needed a seal. The tradition continues, especially among the armigerous, in European and some other cultures.

Because it is used to attest the authority of its bearer, the ring has also been seen as a symbol of his power, which is one explanation for its inclusion in the regalia of certain monarchies. After the death of a Pope, the destruction of his signet ring is a prescribed act clearing the way for the sedevacancy and subsequent election of a new Pope.

Signet rings are also used as souvenir or membership attribute, e.g. class ring (typically bear the coat of arms or crest of the school), as an alternative to one with a stone.

The wearing of a signet ring is declining as the European aristocracy diminishes, however noble families have upheld long standing traditions of wearing signet rings for centuries. Sometimes the initials of the individual are engraved into the ring if the person is not of noble descent and does not have the right to bear arms.

 

Sovereign ring  

   A sovereign ring is a ring which typically has a gold sovereign as a primary decorative feature, with the obverse face as the visible detail. The coin may be either genuine or replica tender, and may be either a sovereign or half sovereign. In the United Kingdom it is also common to use custom coinage bearing such motifs as the 'Three Lions', or other similar imagery as Saint George, or a Welsh Dragon.

English female rapper Lady Sovereign is known for wearing a sovereign ring, which is why she adopted the name Lady Sovereign.

 

 

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 wedding ring or wedding band is a metal ring indicating the wearer is married. Depending on the local culture, it is worn on the base of the right or the left ring finger. The custom of wearing such a ring has spread widely beyond its origin in Europe. Originally worn by wives only, wedding rings became customary for both husbands and wives during the 20th century. Unlike other jewelry the wedding ring is worn day and night and rarely removed.
According to some customs, the wedding ring forms the last in a series of gifts, which also may include the engagement ring, traditionally given as a betrothal present. This tradition was already in use in Ancient Rome and is possibly much older. Other more recent traditions, encouraged by the jewelry trade, seek to expand the idea of a series of ring-gifts with the pre-engagement ring, often given when serious courting begins, and the eternity ring, which symbolizes the renewal or ongoing nature of a lasting marriage, sometimes given after the birth of a first child; and a trilogy ring, usually displaying three brilliant-cut round diamonds each, in turn, representing the past, present and future of a relationship.

 

A European tradition encourages the engraving of the name of one's intended spouse and the date of one's intended marriage on the inside surface of wedding rings, thus strengthening the symbolism and sentimentality of the rings as they become family heirlooms.

Among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians, the exchange of rings is not technically part of the wedding service, but rather are exchanged at the betrothal. It is always a two-ring her by the priest or by the best man. The orthodox Christian Church of Greece has recently stopped performing betrothal blessings separately, as these were often non-committing, and a betrothal ceremony is the initial part of the wedding service anyway. In many families an informal blessing is now performed by the betrothed ones' parents in a family dinner that formalises the betrothal. The ceremony of betrothal is now possibly performed immediately before the wedding (or "crowning" as it is more properly called), and the actual symbolic act of marriage is not the exchange of rings, but the public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or leader.
A ubiquitous custom, the future bridegroom gives his future bride a jewelled ring (most commonly set with a diamond) upon proposing to her. After the wedding the wedding band is worn on the ring finger, closest to the hand, and the engagement ring is worn in front of it. The rings usually match and sometimes interlock or are fused together to form one ring. In some cultures, or among those committed to not supporting the violence surrounding the diamond trade, some other piece or set of jewellery, such as a bracelet, brooch, earrings, necklace, tiara or, rarely, a whole parure, may be used.
To make wedding rings, jewellers most commonly use a precious yellow alloy of gold, hardened with copper and Silver or tin and bismuth. Platinum and white alloys of gold are also used, although the slightly yellow "white" gold alloys of the past have been largely replaced by a cheaper nickel-gold alloy, covered with a thin plating of rhodium which must be reapplied after some years of wear. Titanium has recently become a popular material for wedding bands, due to its durability, affordability, and gunmetal grey colour. Tungsten carbide, often with gold or platinum inlays, is recently being used as well. The least expensive material in common use is nickel silver for those who prefer its appearance or cost. Marrying couples are also beginning to use stainless steel, which has the same durability as platinum or titanium, and can accept a finer finish than the latter. Silver, copper, brass and other cheaper metals do not occur as frequently because they corrode over time and thus do not convey a sense of permanence. Wood, Stone and Organic materials can also be used but are more decorative and much less durable than metal.
A plain gold band is the most popular pattern. Medical personnel commonly wear it because it can be kept very clean. Women usually wear narrow bands, while men wear broader bands. Some couples choose to design their own wedding rings. In France and French-speaking countries, a common pattern consists of three interwoven rings. They stand for the Christian virtues of "faith, hope and love", where "love" equates to that particular type of perfect disinterested love indicated by the ancient Greek word agape. Provocatively, this pattern slides off quickly, because the rings flow over each other.

Women in Greek and Anatolian (comprising most of modern Turkey) cultures sometimes receive and wear puzzle rings – sets of interlocking metal bands that one must arrange just so in order to form a single ring. Traditionally, men wryly gave them as a test of their wive's monogamy.

 

In North America and some European countries, many married women wear two rings on the same finger: an engagement ring and a plain wedding band. Couples often purchase such rings as a pair of bands designed to fit together. In addition, some women who have been married a long time wear three rings on their finger (from hand to tip): a wedding band, an engagement ring, and an eternity ring. This three-ring combination is especially common in the UK.

Celtic-style wedding bands are used by some people claiming Irish or Scottish descent. This style of wedding band will often be engraved or embossed with a Celtic knot design, which is meant to symbolize oneness and continuity. Sometimes a Claddagh design is also used to symbolize fidelity.

  

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)