What Is A Right Hand Ring? - All About This New Diamond Jewellery Idea
When you look around you, there is something that you might have noticed – women, and occasionally men, wearing right hand diamond rings. This is a new trend in the United Kingdom but is nothing new in many parts of the world, as we will see later.
This trend for diamond rings on the right hand arose because increasing numbers of women are buying diamond jewellery for themselves. Diamond jewellery is, at least, becoming something that women might buy for themselves rather than as gifts from a lover or husband and I, for one, can only applaud the idea! Why should it be that the only diamond rings a woman wears will be something that a man buys for her and indicates her relationship status?
Only a few years ago, it was almost unheard of for a woman to buy a diamond ring for her own pleasure and for no reason other than her desire to adorn herself. Let us forget for a moment that by placing the ring on her right hand, she is not exactly subverting the gender roles assigned to women and marriage. But this is another small step forward and indicates more than anything else the degree to which women have become equal to men in earning power.
As we know, in the United Kingdom, wearing a ring on the left hand usually signifies a woman’s relationship status with a traditional diamond enjoyment ring worn on the 4th finger of the left hand for ancient superstitious reasons. A little later, the engagement ring would be joined by a wedding band. That tradition is going nowhere, but a right hand diamond ring shows that the woman is making her own way.
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The idea of right hand diamond rings is aimed by marketers toward financially independent women who want to display their success, freedom, and self-assertiveness. We could reasonably think of this as the exact opposite of what a ring on the left hand symbolizes. To be fair, though, I believe that most women buying a right hand diamond ring are not suggesting that an engagement ring stands for oppression and inequality. Most women still associate a wedding and engagement ring with commitment, love and lifelong union.
What Do Right Hand Diamond Rings Look Like?
Although any ring can be worn on the right hand, the designs most women choose would not usually be mistaken for diamond engagement rings. In general, diamond rings worn on the right hand tend to have smaller diamonds and are rarely a solitaire design, with clusters and pave styles being popular.
In part, at least, the designs that women choose to wear on their right hand tend to reflect the practicality of wearing a piece of jewellery on their right, dominant, hand where it may well be at more risk from knocks and damage.
Where Did Right Hand Rings Come From?
The idea of right hand diamond rings in modern times came from the United States, becoming popular from around 2003. The concept sprang from a desire of many women to show that they could be independent and successful without needing a male partner or a need to show that they have one.
As women worked to distance themselves from the old fashioned housewife role in the 20th century, they sought a symbol to show that independence.
However, right hand rings have been, and still are common in many parts of the world, but for different reasons. In many European countries such as Norway, Denmark, Austria, Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Portugal and others, engagement and wedding rings are worn on the right hand. This tradition is believed to date back to Roman times. In Roman culture, the left hand was seen as being unreliable and untrustworthy. The right hand was seen, in contrast, as being reliable and signified trust and honour.
When a woman is divorced in some eastern European countries, she may move her wedding and engagement rings to her right hand from the left, showing her new status.
Still, no matter the cultural or social reasons for choosing the hand on which to wear a diamond rings, there is little doubt that a well-chosen diamond ring can look great on any hand and finger.
Who Might Choose To Wear A Right Hand Diamond Ring?
Since the right hand ring became popular in the United States and, to a lesser degree, in Britain, the marketing possibilities have broadened. Today they are marketed toward men as well as women. However, most marketing concentrates upon how women perceive themselves, making a right hand diamond ring an expression of self-worth.
A right hand diamond ring can be worn just as well by married or single women. Self-empowerment is not just for single women! Married women and single women can enjoy showing the world their strength of spirit, their independence. But sometimes women want to wear a beautiful diamond ring because it looks pretty! There’s nothing wrong with that!
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Who Can Buy A Right Hand Diamond Ring?
Of course, a right hand ring can make an ideal gift for any strong spirited person in your life. Increasingly men are starting to wear them! But you might want to ask a subtle question or two to make sure that such a gift will not be taken the wrong way – or be mistaken for an engagement ring!
Because most diamond rings are perfect on either hand, the range of rings is as huge as your taste and budget will allow. At All Diamond, we have many collections of rings that will make a perfect gift but remember our suggestion to choose a ring that will be able to stand up to the more challenging life that a right hand ring is likely to have. All our diamond rings have a lifetime workmanship and materials guarantee, so take a look at our collections of diamond rings, be inspired to make the perfect choice for yourself or your strong-spirited special person!
Right hand rings can also make the perfect gift for any strong spirited woman in your life, so browse through the different designs and find one that matches her personality.
