The meaning of men's rings on each finger
Some cultures divide hands into female and male. It is not too surprising that the right is the masculine one, as it is the one used to do things, while the left has a more passive role or is dedicated to more delicate things. There is a grain of wisdom in this, although the gender assignment is completely arbitrary and leaves lefties completely out.
Even ambidextrous men have a dominant hand. Ambidexterity is a learned skill and a pure mix of hands is rarely found. The vast majority of us have a dominant hand, which is the one we move while we talk, gesture, and point at things. Our dominant hand receives attention and that is why it is perfect to use while expressing ourselves. This is very convenient as most people wear the watch on their non-dominant hand, so the ornaments can be placed on the other hand to create balance.
A good rule of thumb is to consider your non-dominant hand as a long-term home for accessories and your dominant hand as a short-term home. If you want your wedding band to last forever, it is best to wear it on the ring finger of your non-dominant hand. Anything you put on the right is more at risk of damage because it is what is used the most. Have you received a signet ring as a family inheritance? Put it on the index or ring finger of your non-dominant hand.
THE LITTLE FINGER (SMALLEST FINGER)
In Hinduism the little finger is usually used with the jala or the element of water. Western culture tends to associate the little finger with Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, financial gain, communication, and eloquence. Rings on the little finger are believed to indicate intellect and cunning. High-powered businessmen, politicians and other influential men who speak very fluently often wear rings on their little fingers.
Pinky rings attract a lot of attention. Its position exposes more of the ring's surface area than if it were on the middle finger, and if you only wear one ring, it's far enough away from the body to speak for itself. Simple almond designs look good on the pinky finger, but there's nothing more eye-catching than a signet ring. Since the little finger is the least used part of the hand, complex designs and surfaces don't bother you as much throughout the day.
RING FINGER
The ring finger is related to Prithvi, the goddess of the earth in Hinduism, while in Western culture it is linked to Apollo, the god of music, truth, healing and poetry, among other matters. This finger is known to be the one used to wear engagement or wedding rings once you have decided to settle down. That is why today it is related to devotion of all kinds.
Married couples wear their rings on it, as do many engaged men. It is also the place chosen by people who are in serious relationships to wear their promise rings before taking the leap or by practitioners of certain religions in the case of purity rings.
The type of ring you choose to wear on your finger will depend on your romantic situation. Check out our complete guide to men's engagement rings for a detailed explanation on the topic. We also have an article about wedding rings.
If you're trying to communicate that you're off the market, a simple almond ring conveys the message clearly. We are not used to seeing large or intricately decorated signet rings as a symbol of commitment, which could muddy the message. However, if what you mean is "it's complicated," perhaps that could be exactly what you're looking for.
MIDDLE OR HEART FINGER (LONGEST)
There is no cultural tradition of wearing rings on the middle finger, so it is perfect to dedicate it to expression. There is no preconceived message around it that you should take into account when putting a ring on your middle finger. Hinduism relates this finger to the ākāśa, which is the space or ether element, while in the West it belongs to Saturn.
The absence of a traditional meaning has not been able to prevent people from assigning all kinds of messages to it in recent years. Due to its location, many consider it to mean balance, order and purpose, while others focus on its size and prominence to give it meaning, and therefore relate it to individuality, personal identity and self-analysis.
Most men who wear wedding or engagement rings choose not to wear another ring on the middle finger of the same hand as rubbing between the two could damage them. Also, keep in mind that the ring finger is one of the most active parts of the hand, so wearing a large, bulky ring next to it could become annoying over time.
Note that wearing a black ring on the middle finger of the right hand is used as a form of identification among members of the ace or asexual culture.
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Traditionally it was reserved for wearing signet rings with the family crest. In some European monarchies, peasants were prohibited from wearing this type of ring on their index fingers so as not to be confused with important people. A ring on the index finger conveys leadership, authority, ambition, self-esteem and security.
Related to Vāyu, the god of wind in Hinduism and Jupiter, the Roman god of sky and thunder and king of the gods in the West. Wearing a ring on the index finger means loyalty. Class rings, fraternity rings, club rings, and other types of signet rings that indicate membership in an organization or group are often worn on the index.
The rings on the index finger have a lot of room to shine. The space between the index finger and the thumb is the most active part of your hand and its opening allows almost the entire circumference of the ring to be visible. It's the perfect place to experiment with intricate designs and large rings, so go for it.
THUMB
While it's not technically a finger, let's consider it as such in terms of style. Hinduism associates it with tejas, the element of fire. In the West it is related to Mars, the Roman god of war. Wearing a ring on the thumb means strength of will, strength of character, freedom of thought and self-affirmation. Very logical associations, since thumb rings are very rare and therefore make a great impression.
In some cultures, men wear thumb rings as a symbol of wealth and influence. The brighter it shines, the greater the man's fortune. The thickness of the thumb, as well as its solitary location, are perfect for housing large and ostentatious almond rings with elaborate designs. They do not overload the environment. But be careful with the stamps, because they tend to stick out from a finger that already does.