An engagement ring is a ring indicating that the person wearing it is engaged to be married, especially in Western cultures. But these days the custom have been prevalent throughout the world, engagement rings can feature diamonds or other gemstones and are worn only by women. In other cultures men and women wear matching rings. In some cultures, engagement rings is also used as wedding rings.

An engagement ring is the ultimate expression of love, a permanent mark of your relationship, as well as a cherished memory of your commitment. Whether you are engaged or not, almost everyone knows one thing for sure when it comes to engagement rings- it is worn on the ring finger or the fourth finger.

Why the fourth finger of the hand is is known as the ring finger?

There are actually many reasons why engagement rings go in the ring finger.

A quite convincing explanation has been given by the Chinese that states that every finger in your hand represents a part of your life and the fourth finger or the ring finger represents your life partner.

According to ancient legends, it was believed that a vein of blood from the fourth finger of the left hand is directly connected to the heart, so it is befitting that an engagement ring, which is a sign of complete love and devotion towards your partner, is worn on the finger that keeps it closest to your heart.

Getting Practical

It is more practical to wear the ring on the left hand considering that most people use their right hand for work, daily chores, and so on, which causes less damage to your precious and fragile ring.

What’s more?

Different cultures observe different rituals. In the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Italy and other Commonwealth nations, an engagement ring is worn on the left hand ring finger.

Orthodox Christians and Eastern Europeans wear it on the right hand. Amongst Muslims, there is no difference on which hand the ring is worn as there is no set tradition. Even in few Indian cultures, engagement rings are worn on the right hand, as that hand is considered to be more auspicious.

Some countries follow the tradition of wearing the wedding rings on the right hand because it is the more dominant of the two hands, in turn symbolizing the strength of the marriage between a husband and a wife.