Wear Your Engagement Ring with Style:
Find Your Engagement Ring Finger
Amid all the excitement and flutter of an engagement and upcoming wedding, you may wonder, Which finger does the engagement ring go on? You certainly don’t want to get wedding etiquette and traditions wrong.
So, which is the correct finger to slide on an engagement ring?
Well, you might be surprised to learn that there are several different variations of the engagement ring finger around the globe. These traditions, many of which are based on cultural beliefs, can be confusing.
Let’s explore the different variations of the engagement ring finger and the reasons behind them.
But first, let’s talk about the engagement ring itself—what it means and how it differs from a promise ring or a wedding band.
What’s an Engagement Ring?
Historians believe that the idea of engagement rings originated in ancient Rome and was likely borrowed from ancient Egyptians. Women in 200 BCE Rome would wear rings made of flint, bone, iron, or copper to signify mutual love and obedience. It wasn’t until around 850 BCE that Pope Nicholas I proposed that an engagement ring represent a man’s intent to marry.
Today, an engagement ring symbolizes love and the commitment to wed. And it’s a big part of every wedding proposal in most parts of the world.
You can’t propose to your partner empty-handed—you must present them with a symbolic token affirming your love. That token so happens to be an engagement ring.
Engagement Ring vs. Promise Ring vs. Wedding Band
Think of a promise ring as a precursor to an engagement ring. You gift a romantic partner a promise ring to symbolize your fidelity, loyalty, and faithfulness. It says, “I’m not seeing other people, and I’m ready to commit.”
There are really no rules when it comes to promise rings. How you wear one is your personal choice. Most people wear it on the fourth finger on the left hand and move it to the pinky, index finger, or right hand once the engagement ring or wedding band comes along.
The wedding ring is obviously the big one. It symbolizes eternal love and commitment while boldly announcing, “I’m married.”
Which Hand Does the Engagement Ring Go On?
In most European and English-speaking countries, it’s customary to wear the engagement ring on the ring finger. That’s the fourth finger on the left hand.
Why that specific finger, and why is it called the “ring finger” anyway?
Ancient Egyptians believed that the fourth finger on the left hand held special meaning when it came to love. They believed a physical connection existed between the ring finger and the heart. The Greeks later discovered and assimilated this belief after Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 BCE. The Romans would later spread the idea throughout Europe in their quest to conquer the world.
The Greeks and Romans called this purported connection the vena amoris, Latin for “vein of love.”
The existence of any anatomical feature between the ring finger and the heart has long been disproven.
But the tradition still holds strong—the fourth finger of the left hand is closest to the heart.
Naturally, the wedding band is worn on the ring finger as well. So, where does the engagement ring go then?
You have a few options here. Traditionally, most people opt to wear both rings on the same finger. Just before the wedding, take your engagement ring off. During the ceremony, your partner will slide the wedding ring on the ring finger. Then, afterward, you can wear the engagement ring on top of the wedding band. Doing so symbolically seals the wedding band in place.
Better yet, you can solder the engagement ring to the wedding band. Fusing the two rings makes for a special ring, signifying the everlasting bond in your marriage.
Alternatively, you can move the engagement ring to the fourth finger on the right hand or any other finger for that matter. You might find this more practical, especially for rings that don’t pair very well when worn on the same finger.
Rather than decorate another finger with an engagement ring, some people thread it into a necklace or bracelet. That works too.
Variations of Which Hand the Engagement Ring Goes on in Different Cultures
Traditions regarding wearing engagement rings vary among different religions and cultures. Some variations are more peculiar than others and might seem strange to Western norms.
In Russia, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Bulgaria, and India, for example, engagement rings are worn on the right hand. The word “left” in Latin translates to “sinister.” Some cultures regard the left hand as untrustworthy and unreliable and, therefore, unworthy to be bestowed an engagement ring.
Traditionally, Jewish couples wear their engagement and wedding rings on the right hand’s index finger or thumb. Nowadays, however, most Jewish brides move their engagement rings and wedding bands to the conventional left ring finger after the wedding ceremony.
In Hindu cultures, it’s customary for couples to exchange engagement and wedding rings. The groom wears his ring on the right hand, while the bride wears her ring on the left hand.
Does It Really Matter Which Finger Wears the Engagement Ring?
The simple answer is no. Although, that depends on who you ask. If you’re a bit too conservative, religious, or superstitious, you might feel differently about your choice of engagement ring finger. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
It doesn’t matter whether you wear your engagement ring on your right or left hand, thumb, or index finger. You could even wear it around your neck on a necklace. It’s all up to you.
But then again, it depends on whether or not you want to follow tradition. Most couples would not dare break wedding traditions or customs for fear of bad luck in marriage. What do you say to that?
The bottom line is: do whatever feels comfortable. If wearing the engagement ring on the left ring finger builds your confidence as a bride-to-be or newlywed, go for it. And if the ring looks and feels better wrapped around your pinky, index finger, or even thumb, wear it proudly.
At the end of the day, it’s what the ring symbolizes that truly matters. What does it mean to wear that ring—it could be a dream come true, a magical moment in time captured in jewelry, an assurance of true love, or the beginning of your happily ever after.