On which finger should you wear your engagement ring?
If you're wondering which finger to wear your engagement ringhere are some answers...
A very romantic origin
Wearing your engagement ring on your left ring finger is a custom that dates back to... the 5th century! A Roman writer, Macrobius, attests to this in his writings. So why precisely on this finger? It was believed that a vein(vena amoris in Latin) directly connected the left ring finger to the heart. This belief was even said to date back to Ancient Egypt. The tradition that, in France at least, the engagement ring is worn on this finger and on the left hand therefore has a very distant and romantic origin.
By offering a promise ring, the fiancé or fiancée would be symbolically connected to the heart of his or her future.
Even today, the vast majority of engaged couples wear their engagement ring on the ring finger of their left hand. It's a powerful gesture, formalizing the engagement and the commitment to love.
Medicine has taught us that all our veins are connected to our heart. So you can wear your engagement ring on your right hand, or even on another finger, while staying true to the original symbolism.
The wedding day
What happens on the wedding day? In some circles, it' s customary to put the engagement ring on the right hand on the big day, reserving the left hand for the wedding ring.
Alternatively, your betrothed can place your engagement ring on your right hand, before slipping the wedding band onto your left ring finger.
Most people simply add the wedding ring to the engagement ring, on the left ring finger.
Which way or which order should you wear your wedding ring and engagement ring?
If you choose to keep the 2 jewels on the same finger, the question arises.
What does tradition say? Symbolism still plays an important role, as it's generally advisable to place the wedding ring first, so that it's closest to the heart. But you're free to do as you please.
At Paulette à Bicyclette, we advise our customers according to their jewelry. If the engagement ring is imposing, then it will overshadow the wedding band if worn at the base of the finger. If the engagement ring is very thin and/or fragile, wearing it at the base of the finger will protect it more from the vagaries of everyday life. In both cases, it's best to wear the wedding band in front of the engagement ring.
Special cases
You've received an engagement ring that can't be worn with a wedding band because its shape isn't right for it. This is the case with many antique rings, where the basket (the part of the ring that holds the stones) can be wide.
You then have several options:
- Wear this engagement ring on your right hand, and choose a wedding ring you like without being constrained by the shape of the first one.
- Make a made-to-measure wedding band that matches the shape of your engagement ring, and wear both on the left hand. Our jewelers can make such a wedding band for you, taking the impression of your engagement ring for a perfect fit. This is a good option if the engagement ring cannot be cut to size.
- Keep your engagement ring on your left hand, and wear your wedding ring on your right. And why not?
In short, follow traditions if they speak to you, and free yourself from them if you feel like it. At Paulette à Bicyclette, our teams of advisors are on hand to help you find the best solution for you.
