Wearing an Engagement Ring and Wedding Ring on Right Hand

If you are planning for a proposal or engagement party you may ask which hand is better to wear your engagement ring. Left or right? There are different rules for wearing the engagement ring and wedding band. We will review the varying traditions of wearing rings in this blog.

Can I wear an engagement ring on my right hand?

I t is up to you to decide how to wear the ring depending on your culture or your priorities. Culturally and religiously, there are different rules about how to wear the engagement ring and wedding band. Most countries prefer to wear the engagement ring on the left hand, but some others choose to wear on right.

     Most people prefer to consider all aspects of wearing the engagement ring because it is your most special and romantic jewelry. Whether you want to wear the engagement ring and wedding band on the left-hand or wear it on the right hand, you may want to know more acceptable reasons for those choices. In this article, we will help you make your final decision.

Why do people put engagement rings on their right hand?

     Although in most cultures, couples choose the ring finger of the left hand to place the engagement ring, some other people prefer to wear the ring in the right hand. But why? Part of this choice comes from a culture of individuals rooted in people's long standing social and religious beliefs. Some brides, not just because of their long-standing tradition, but simply because of their preferences and tastes, preferring to wear the ring in their right hand. Here are some of the reasons:

Brides who are left-handed

     The engagement ring is usually a diamond ring and is precious. If a left-handed individual who does all their work with her left hand also wears a diamond engagement ring in their left hand, then the ring may be damaged at any moment. So if you are left-handed, you should wear your engagement ring in your right hand.

To more sparkle and visual beauty of the diamond ring

     Some brides wear an engagement ring in their right hand that is not overshadowed by the wedding ring. Wearing a diamond engagement ring alone (without being overshadowed by other jewelry) is an effective trick that will  make the diamond look brighter and bigger.

To feel more comfortable

     We do not always have to come up with complicated reasons to wear the engagement ring in the right hand. Sometimes the reason is very simple. The right-hand may be chosen to wear the engagement ring because the wearer feels more comfortable.

Personal reasons

     Every person has a logic and motivation behind their personal choice. Taste, preferences, patterning of another popular character or even a romantic story between bride and groom can be the reason for choosing the right hand to wear the engagement ring and wedding band. This ring belongs to you and you decide how to cherish it. If you're still unsure which finger is suitable for your engagement ring, I recommend checking out the blog that specifically addresses this issue.

How to wear my engagement ring and wedding ring?

     To answer this question, again, it is up to you to decide. As I mentioned above, although many people often wear the engagement ring in their left hand, there are various reasons that you may want to wear your engagement ring in the right hand too. Some brides also prefer to move the ring from right to the left after the wedding ceremony.

     About wearing the engagement ring and wedding ring, some believe that you should wear it in the order you have received, it means the engagement ring will be placed at the bottom and the wedding ring on the top. But others say that the wedding ring should be closer to the heart, so wear it first and put the engagement ring on top of it. But ultimately the shape of the bridal set design, the bride's taste, and comfort of the rings determine how to wear the rings.

Is it true that your left ring finger has a vein to the heart?

     In ancient Greece, it was said that a vein named "Vena Amoris" reaches directly from the heart to the left ring finger. There is even a belief that the root of selecting the ring finger goes back to this old belief. Although today's science denies the existence of this "vein of love" in the anatomy of the human body, in most cultures the fourth finger of the left hand is a symbol of closeness to love and has always been a special place for the wedding band.

What cultures wear their engagement ring on the right hand?

     Some people who put the ring in their right hand adhere to the longstanding tradition and cultures that have passed down from generation to generation. This tradition of wearing the engagement ring sometimes refers to religion, customs and even it may come from the culture of a geographic region. For example, while in most countries Catholics and Protestants, and even other religions wear the engagement ring on the left, in some countries such as Netherlands, Catholics wear the engagement ring on the right hand and Protestants wear it on the left hand.

The right hand for engagement ring and the left hand for the wedding band

     Some people do not consider engagement as a formal marriage. Instead, in the tradition of these people, the wedding is considered as a formal celebration for marriage. So the engagement rings are worn in the right hands (this is not considered a formal ring finger) and the wedding ring will be placed on the left hand (the fourth finger on the left, which is the special ring place). In this tradition, the fourth finger of the left-hand is reserved for a wedding ring that will be exchanged at the wedding ceremony. These people prefer to wear the engagement ring in their right hand and keep the left ring finger empty for wearing the wedding band.

The right hand is divine and the left hand is evil!

     Another group of people who wear the engagement ring on their right ring finger believes that the left hand is unclean. For example, some people in India adhere to this tradition. They think that the left-hand is a symbol of the devil aspects and everything that is attributed to the left-hand will be portentous. They believe that the left-hand is created only to do worthless things, not valuable works. Brides who grow up with such beliefs will never be satisfied with putting the holy ring on the left. They put the engagement ring in their right hand to stay lucky in their romantic relationship and make a happy marriage in the future.

     Of course these days, most modern Indian Individuals are less likely to follow this tradition, but there are still people who respect that tradition and wear the engagement ring in their right hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear my engagement or wedding ring on the left hand?

Traditionally, in many Western cultures, the engagement and wedding rings are worn on the ring finger of the left hand. This practice is rooted in ancient beliefs, such as the idea that the "vena amoris" or "vein of love" runs directly from the ring finger to the heart. However, cultural and personal preferences vary, and some individuals choose to wear their rings on the right hand. In recent times, there has been a growing trend of breaking away from traditional norms, allowing people to express their individuality and cultural backgrounds by choosing the hand that feels most significant to them. Whether it's the left or right hand, the symbolism of commitment and love remains the same, emphasizing that the choice is ultimately a personal one.

Do men wear engagement rings?

     The engagement ring, especially in American culture, is usually for women. However, sometimes men want to wear the engagement ring to show their pure love. But you should notice that as in the popular culture the engagement ring is for women, so by seeing the ring in the hands of a gentleman people may unconsciously judge that this gentleman must have already married. In the other world, the ring for men in society does not represent the engagement ring and is often confused with the wedding ring. So if you have a conservative family that cares about adhering to marriage customs, or if you don't want your engagement ring to be considered as a wedding band, then I recommend you be more cautious about the engagement ring for men and its design.

Do you wear your engagement ring on your wedding day?

     Traditions dictate to us that during the wedding day, especially when the bride walks down the aisle, the time of saying vow, as well as when the bride and groom must exchange the wedding rings, you should not wear the engagement ring on the fourth finger in the left hand, but you can wear it on the right hand. The tradition is that when you want to wear your wedding band, your ring finger must be empty and after the wedding ceremony, you can place the engagement ring next to the wedding band.

     I recommend you to ask one jewelry company to make both the engagement ring and the wedding bands so that they can perfectly match. Check out the link below, this article talks about how to find the right jewelry store to order your engagement ring and wedding band.

     We also teach you what to do in order to keep your rings over the long years of living together. 

Why can't an engagement ring be the same as a wedding ring?

     The engagement ring and the wedding ring are both structurally and functionally different. So they are usually not considered the same. The engagement ring is usually a diamond ring and is offered by the groom to the bride after receiving a “Yes!” during the proposal. So this ring is for the bride and shows that she is engaged to marry her lover and is no longer available. Whereas the marriage ring looks simpler and after the bride and groom say the vow in the wedding ceremony, they will exchange the wedding band as a symbol of married life.

     Engagement is a new phase in your life and it is obvious that many questions from different aspects of it are in your mind. In this article, we have tried to cover all aspects of the ring finger. You can also read the planning stages for the engagement party here.

Why should I come to you to design my ring?

     We involve you in every step of the process. At first, we will sit next to you and go over any concerns you have and any specific design elements you mind the ring to have. Once we have established exactly how you want the ring looks like, we will proceed with the design process. Once you see this design, if you want to make any change or if you have any questions or concerns we will be happy to address them for you. Our role is to help you to create the perfect ring and that means we will listen to you and make sure that your ring is indeed one of a kind.

We'll help you to design your dream engagement ring without  stress and spending countless hours searching for your perfect ring. All you need to do is click on "Free Consultation" to get started.

By: Koorosh Daneshgar CEO/Design Chief

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