Which order do you wear engagement, wedding and eternity rings?
Two of the most special occasions in your life are becoming engaged and getting married. So there are traditionally different rings to perfectly mark each occasion — those are eternity rings, engagement rings, and wedding rings. So, it’s important to know the right order of rings on fingers.
The most important is to find the perfect eternity ring matching your engagement and wedding ring. Once you include an eternity ring into the equation, it can become a bit confusing with which order to wear engagement, wedding and eternity rings. This brings the following questions to light:
- Do you wear all three together?
- In what order?
- Does one ring replace another?
It can be difficult enough simply selecting which pearl & diamond necklace or pair of earrings to wear on any given day. The last thing we need is a dilemma over which do you wear an engagement ring, wedding ring and eternity ring. That’s why we’ve put together this expert guide to assist you in buying and wearing your beautifully sentimental rings correctly.
The first thing to do is to examine the purpose of each ring as well as the occasion on which it is given:
Where to wear an engagement ring: which finger?
So, which finger does the engagement ring go on? The engagement ring is generally worn on the same finger as the wedding ring (the ring finger), placed second on top of the wedding band. If you’re unsure which hand the engagement ring needs to go on, it’s usually the left hand along with the plain band wedding ring. However, in some cases, when the engagement ring and wedding band don’t match, for example, they have different metal colours or gemstones, like rings sapphire, a bride will wear her wedding ring on her left hand and her engagement ring on her right-hand ring finger.
The engagement ring has a fascinating history. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans were among the first to use rings as a symbol of commitment. Betrothal rings or engagement rings, as they are better known, were designed to show a man’s intent to marry and marked the woman as taken by, or connected to, her future husband. There are various types of diamond engagement rings depending on the metal (yellow gold engagement rings, white gold engagement rings, rose gold engagement rings, platinum engagement rings), shape (round diamond engagement rings, radiant cut engagement rings & more), style (solitaire with shoulders, halo, etc.).
Love, unfortunately, had little to do with engagements during this time as they were usually more matters of business than emotions. As time passed, the Church made a ruling requiring a betrothal ring to be given, both to show the man’s commitment as well as his financial status and ability to care for a family.
Eventually, the plain band was replaced by gemstone rings and sometimes bared more intricate details. The first diamond engagement ring was not given until 1477. Archduke Maximillian of Austria presented it to his fiance, Mary of Burgundy. Since that day, diamond rings have become the standard for engagement rings.
How to wear a wedding ring: which finger?
If you’re about to be married it’s common to ask the question: which hand and finger does the wedding ring go on? What is the right wedding ring order on finger?
The band wedding ring is traditionally worn on the fourth finger from the body (digitus annularis), between the middle and little finger, on the left hand. It is often referred to as the ring finger for this reason. The ancient Greeks believed that this finger contained the ‘vena amoris’ or ‘vein of love’ which is connected directly to the bride’s heart.
The wedding ring history dates back to the same period as the engagement ring history. They served both as a symbol of love or as a symbol of ownership, depending on which culture you use as a reference.
Wedding bands have been made from all types of materials over the centuries including leather, brass, silver, lead, gold, and platinum. It is very common to find bridal sets that include both the engagement ring as well as the matching wedding band.
Where to wear an eternity ring: which finger?
How to wear an eternity ring? When one of these sentimental rings is presented, the proper way to wear all three together isn’t as well defined. One suggested way of wearing them is to wear your wedding band closest to the hand, followed by the engagement ring, and finally the full diamond eternity ring.
Since some ring styles are somewhat wider than others, this method may become cumbersome. In that case, the eternity ring can either be worn on the left-hand ring finger or the finger of the bride’s choice. Another suggested order of rings on finger is to wear your eternity ring in between your wedding ring and engagement ring. Some also suggest wearing your eternity ring first, then your wedding band, and then your engagement ring.
An eternity ring can be described as a dress or formal wedding band. It is a solid band, set with gemstones, usually, those are diamond and sapphire rings, with a special meaning of an eternity ring that brings memories about your special day.
Traditionally, a white or yellow gold eternity ring in UK was given to celebrate an anniversary, with some dispute over which anniversary they should be presented on. While anniversaries such as the tenth and fortieth list gemstones as traditional gifts, many people take this to mean that an eternity band with that particular gemstone is appropriate for that anniversary.
The larger jewellery companies, however, are trying to persuade people that the first-year anniversary is when an eternity ring should be presented – a very ingenious marketing technique. Eternity rings are also common gifts a husband gives to his wife to celebrate the birth of the couple’s first child.
Wearing a wedding ring and an engagement ring
Traditionally, when you already have both an engagement ring and a wedding ring, they are both worn on the ring finger between the little and middle finger on the left hand and the wedding ring is worn first followed by the engagement ring above it.
Wearing the wedding, engagement and eternity ring all together
Traditionally if all rings were to be worn on the same finger, they would be worn on the ring finger (between the middle finger and the little finger) on the left hand with the wedding ring going on first then the engagement ring and then finally the eternity ring. However, this may not always be practical and many people choose to wear the eternity ring on the corresponding finger of the right hand.
After the most common question of how much should you spend engagement ring, the second one is here and how you wear your engagement, wedding and eternity rings is your choice as there is no right or wrong way to wear them. The guidance we’ve put together here is based on tradition and advice but the order in which the rings are worn is essentially a matter of personal preference. Often, the suggested order isn’t practical due to the size and style of each ring, like ladies wedding ring with diamonds. Therefore you also need to figure out what works best for the style of the rings in conjunction with each other. The most important thing is that you are comfortable and happy with the fit, style and order of rings on finger.
What is the best shop to buy engagement rings, wedding rings, and eternity rings in UK?
Visit our online shop at PurelyDiamonds.co.uk and discover the best collections of diamond rings crafted at our own UK jewellery workshop.