HOW TO WEAR YOUR SIGNET RING
POSTED ON JANUARY 20, 2015
The ‘rules’ of where to wear your signet ring is a topic often discussed with our customers at the Rebus workshop. Opinions vary because the signet ring is an item of jewellery which is so steeped in tradition, yet it’s identity and purpose is ever evolving as fashions change, evident not only over recent years but across the centuries. I choose to wear mine on the ‘ring (third) finger’ on my right hand. I have also seen them worn next to wedding rings or instead of wedding rings, as well as the most popular finger, which in this country is the little finger, aka. ‘The pinkie’.
However, there are traditions; these can vary across cultures and religions. In the UK the signet ring has traditionally been worn on the pinkie – or smallest – finger, on the non-dominant hand. Therefore, if you are right-handed, you will tend to wear your ring on your left hand. In Switzerland, men wear signet rings upon the right finger of their right hand, while in France men use the right finger of their left hand.
Since the Middle Ages, the pinkie finger (which comes from the now defunct adjective ‘pink’, meaning ‘small’) was the favourite finger for the signet ring. Wearing the signet ring on the smallest finger ensured that the wearer was easily able to use the ring for its traditional means – as a tool to emboss wax, creating a wax-seal for the purpose of identification and authentication.
A practice which first started in ancient Egypt and later carried on by the Romans, the seal was widely used from the Middle Ages in royal proclamations, legal documents, or to authenticate correspondence. Incorporated into the signet ring, it was safely kept on the hand of the owner and was of course close to hand whenever needed.
During the seventeenth century the signet ring briefly fell out of fashion. Instead, during this period the prominent members of society preferred to have their seal in an ornamental mount. They would then wear these mounted seals on a chain or ribbon, often as a fob, along with a watch. This practice continued until the latter part of the eighteenth century, when the signet ring once again became popular. Nowadays, the signature has replaced the signet ring as the primary means of authenticating a person’s identity. Despite this, the habit of wearing an engraved signet ring on the smallest finger continues.
As the use of the signet ring to provide an official wax seal has all but disappeared today, where you choose to wear your ring is largely a matter of personal choice. In the United States, for example, it is quite normal to see people wearing a signet ring on their ring or middle finger, think of Steve McQueen who was never without his ring. Winston Churchill typically defied tradition by wearing his gold signet ring, bearing the family crest, on his third ring finger. Prince Charles wears his wedding ring on his pinkie finger stacked next to his signet ring.
Ultimately, as the signet ring becomes increasingly a means of personal expression, where and how it is worn will be as unique as the person who wears it.
https://www.rebussignetrings.co.uk/blog/how-to-wear-your-signet-ring/
Despite my restriction to the ring finger (I want to uphold tradition in that sense) I wanted to look into the importance of ring placement and how a company such as Rebus sees the meaning of each finger. I love the idea that through simply choosing a different finger to wear your ring on you’re creating a different statement and portraying a different message. I especially love the end line “where and how it is worn will be as unique as the person who wears it. ” as I want to drive the point that each ring should be tailored to the receiver – not everyone thinks, does or wears the same thing and a wedding ring shouldn’t be any different.
ON WHICH FINGER SHOULD I WEAR THE RING?
Many women have complimented me on the Red pill rings I wear and will always ask, “what does that mean?” I simply answer: “It means I am my own man and no one owns me.” They love that response because it sounds very “alpha male” and they never realize I just told them that they have no hope in getting anything from me. The ring itself has meaning. The choice of which finger to decorate with a Red pill ring is a matter of personal taste however the finger on which you wear your ring also sends it own message.
Index Finger: THE RING OF POWER: “I am ruler of my life.”
The index or “pointing” finger is the finger upon which important men like kings and ambassadors, historically wore family or association rings. It is the ring that would be kissed. In the movie “Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring” there is an opening battle scene wherein the Dark Lord Sauron is shown wearing the “ring of power” on his right index finger. Frodo would also wear ‘the ring of power” on his index finger. This is the proper placement for a “ring of power.” When pointing or directing, this symbol of power and authority is on that pointing finger. When holding a weapon such as a sword, the ring is closest to the blade. It is closest to the enemy. By wearing the ring on this finger, the wearer is declaring that he is lord of his own life. He has power over his own life. He will not be kowtowed.
Middle Finger: THE RING OF DEFIANCE: “F— your gynocentric society.”
Displaying the middle finger has long been a sign of defiance and contempt. Going MGTOW is itself giving the finger to the gynocentric world. Going MGTOW is showing defiance and contempt for every THOT or White Knight that would have you believe that your life has no value other than to serve as a slave. Therefore wearing a Red pill ring on this finger seems to be a very appropriate placement. On the practical side you can use the ring to fly people the “MGTOW BIRD.” You don’t have to flip off a person. Just give them a respectful salute or “tip of the hat” and let the ring highlight your middle finger and the contempt you feel. (This is very useful in the workplace. One MGTOW is a delivery driver and uses the ring to waive to people/customers. If he likes them, they see the palm of his hand, if not, we waives with the back of his hand.)
Left ring finger: THE RING OF OWNERSHIP: I am my own man.
This is the finger that our culture has reserved for the wedding ring. When asked, “what does your wedding ring mean” a man will typically answer, “It symbolizes my dedication to my wife.” A woman will typically answer, “It symbolizes my husband’s dedication to me.” These attitudes are consistent with what people pay. A man is supposed to spend 3 months salary on an engagement ring. The woman in turn buys about the cheapest ring she can find. The wedding ring in our modern gynocentric society is a symbol of slavery.
By wearing a Redpillring on your left ring finger, you are showing that your heart, mind, and money are not open for exploitation. You are your own man and no one owns you. There is no room on that finger for a ring of slavery because you wear a ring of freedom.
Pinky: THE RING OF CONFIDENCE: I laugh at your gynocentric world
The pinky ring is an understated display of elegance. It exudes confidence and an attitude that you don’t care what other’s think or do. It harkens back to the golden age of Hollywood when men like Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks, and Errol Flynn defined men’s fashion. Following WWII and the rise of feminism pinky rings fell out of fashion and were discourage by men’s fashion consultants and fashion gurus. These modern blue-pilled advisors believed and taught that the only jewelry a man should wear is a wedding ring. These same sources advocated spending thousands of dollars on women’s jewelry. (It makes perfect sense. If a man wanted to be a good slave to a corporation, he had to display that he was a good slave to a woman.) Wearing a Redpillring on the pinky is therefore now a subtle and defiant wink to those who would want to subjugate you. It shows that you are silently laughing at the SIMPS and women who would try to drag you into slavery.
NOTE ON HOW TO WEAR THE SYBMOL RING: When wearing the MGTOW symbol ring on the middle finger, the symbol should be pointed toward the fingertips. In this way, when you lift up your hand to show the MGTOW BIRD, the symbol in facing the correct position. When wearing the symbol on any other finger, the symbol should point up toward your arm so that in a natural position or when showing it to someone, the symbol is in the correct position.
https://www.redpillring.com/page/which-finger-do-i-use
HE Said Yes: The Unspoken History Behind Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands
August 18, 2018
After an engagement becomes Facebook official, family members and friends of the newly betrothed couple participate in ring ogling that is so common, it seems like its own tradition. Rumor insists that diamonds are a girls’ best friend, but history has another tale to tell about its significance. When I was a little girl, I have a distinct memory of my father mentioning that you could tell a lot about a person by the presence of a ring on their finger. He told me that the ring symbolized commitment to another person, and that commitment could transcend to other pieces of that person’s life—a similar presentation of Jack Byrnes’ “Circle of Trust” in Meet the Parents. In Western society, many believe that the engagement ring is the utmost symbol of commitment to another, and although there are some links to ancient practices, rituals, and the rumored vein to the heart, the diamond ring did not become a symbol of marital promise in the United States until after the Great Depression (Ogletree, 2010).
Once upon a time, betrothed women were protected by the Breach of Promise of Action (Brinig, 1990). This law entitled a woman whose fiancé had broken the engagement to sue him for damages, which included embarrassment, humiliation, and potential future marriage prospects—all important to women at the time since marriage was considered one of a woman’s only career opportunities (Brinig, 1990, p. 204). Most states repealed this law in 1935, which some scholars argue created a need for “a bonding device” within society, while others simply thought that the Depression created a need for tangible assets (Brinig, 1990, p. 209). It is difficult to know for certain considering that there are little-to-no records of engagement sales from this time period. Four years later, De Beers, a diamond importing company, partnered with Ayers, a New York advertising agency, on a campaign that promised a “diamond is forever” (Brinig, 1990). Hollywood starlets were given diamonds to wear and movie scenes were scripted to include marriage proposals.
By 1965, 80% of brides chose diamond engagement rings. Today, popular wedding planning website (and a world completely unfamiliar to me), The Knot, has pages upon pages of engagement rings organized by style (vintage, classic, elegant, glamorous, and unique) and cut (princess, asscher, cushion, emerald, heart, marquise, pear, radiant, round, and oval). These rings, exclusively advertised to women, were once a failed advertisement to men in the 1920s–well before De Beers’ campaign even ran (Howard, 2003). In 1926, jewelers across the country participated in a campaign to popularize male engagement rings–advertised as symbolic associations of masculinity situated in heterosexual tradition. Jewelers knew that in order to create a new tradition, they would have to defy the social norm that jewelry was strictly a feminine accessory (Howard, 2003).
After the Depression, a new marital trend started making its way around jewelers’ windows: wedding bands for women and men. Before World War II, most marriages took place with only one wedding band–this is largely thought because Roman Catholics only required that the bride’s ring be blessed (Howard, 2003). By 1937, etiquette books began to suggest that double-banded wedding ceremonies were more common, however, the trend did not solidify in America as a tradition until the late 1940s and early 1950s, when double ring marriages increased from 15 to 80% (Howard, 2003, p. 845). So why did male wedding bands catch on, but male engagement rings are an often unspoken aspect of marital history? Timing.
During and after the war, marriage became a patriotic act: “The groom’s ring became tradition when marriage, weddings, and masculine domesticity became synonymous with prosperity, capitalism, and national stability” (Howard, 2003, p. 846). Thus, jewelers could cater advertisements to men at war abroad, fighting to protect the families they left behind at home.
Today, engagement advertisements, although somewhat evolved, still reflect De Beers’ original ideology that a diamond is forever, but when 40-50% of marriages result in divorce, I am left wondering what piece of forever today’s couples are fighting to preserve (APA).
To my surprise, I found a piece of myself in The Knot–research. The Knot performs a study every two years on wedding jewelry and engagement rings entitled, “The Knot Engagement Ring Trends & Insight Report.” The most recent report released in November 2017 reveals several important takeaways:
Engagement ring spending is at an all time high;
People are spending more time researching, but looking at fewer rings;
Women are increasingly more involved in the selection of the ring and proposal;
Men care more about price, while women care more about size;
Couples desire the proposal to be filmed; and
Wedding bands rarely match.
The Knot caters its data to wedding industry providers, as opposed to those exchanging vows. The report suggests that jewelers, photographers, caterers, and wedding planners should centralize their businesses based upon data trends in order to successfully market their services to modern couples. From a marketing perspective, this rationale makes sense. As a researcher, I am left wanting more.
Historically, wedding traditions evolve and establish themselves over time. Some (the diamond ring and double wedding band) survive generations, while others (the male engagement ring) fade away into an unspoken history. It seems that most (but not all) couples embrace such traditions in a way that fulfills a marital obligation or expectation, rather than a choice. A marriage is as distinctive as the personalities of its partners. Couples not only have the prerogative to choose a style of ring, but also the power to forego tradition. A diamond ring may represent forever to America, but the success of a marriage is not dependent on the presence of a piece of jewelry.
https://www.emilydepasse.com/eldsoul/2018/8/7/he-said-yes
Dressing the Anthropocene 