This is my quarter ring

[xoder]

It is a ring made of a quarter. Specifically a 2001 New York State quarter. Erin got it for me as a birthday present, but I've been wearing it kinda as an engagement ring. I just want to get something straight: women wear such rings on their left ring finger, right? This is the same for wedding bands, right? Don't men wear the latter on their right? If so, then a man should wear an engagement ring on his right, no?

I've never worn a ring before, so it's been taking a little getting used to. Isn't there a point when you are no longer aware of it? I take it off while drying my hands to dry under it. I don't wear it to bed, TKD, or to shower. Are any of these strange?

Can you actually see any of the details of the ring in this photo? What about if you load the full-size image by clicking on it here and then clicking on it again when you get to the slightly bigger version?

Can you believe I'm asking so many questions?

Comments

[proserpia.livejournal.com]

The hand that you wear the ring on depends on the culture and/or religion. As per American custom, it is traditional for the rings to be worn on the left hand as it was thought to house the "love vein" making it closer to the heart like others have mentioned. Also, men wearing any form of ring as related to marriage is a recent development; in the past women were the ones to wear rings to show that they were claimed, a sexist practice. There was some culture that gave their women puzzle rings with the idea that if you took it off and it came undone, there was some potential hint about infidelity. Total crap, totally sexist. Some cultures also have the betrothal ring worn on the right hand until the actual wedding where the ring is then shifted to the left hand. Greek Orthodox tradition dictates that the ring should be worn on the RIGHT hand because the left hand, the sinister hand, well, you get it, negative left handed conotations.

What else? Oh, I know of people who wear the engagement ring on one hand and then when they have the actual ceremony shift the engagement ring to the other hand to make room for the wedding band. Others wear both engagement and wedding rings on the same hand. Some people only get an engagement ring and upon ceremony the person without the ring gets one so each person only has one ring.

Also, concerning removal of the ring, it is not weird, it's actually what you're supposed to do to care for the piece and for your own health. Taking the ring off to wash up/shower is always a good thing to do, taking it off to dry underneath it is VERY good practice (soap has a nasty habit of getting stuck under rings and can yield some DISGUSTING rashes, I speak from experience), taking it off for TKD is always great to prevent dinging it up or bruising yourself. Any jeweler worth their salt will tell you to do all of those things and to actually take it off at home to preserve the quality- this should be more fervently and religiously applied to jewelry with stones in them. Regular cleaning, drying and polishing are all good practices as well.

[proserpia.livejournal.com]

My internet crapped out and I never actually got to the point: You should wear the ring on whichever hand you and E. agree upon. There are so many conventions (some cultures are against rings on hands in general!) that you have to make the decision for yourselves and not be concerned with anyone elses ideas or traditions. You're in love and want to get married, you're taking the relationship to the next level and it's totally up to you guys to make some of your OWN family traditions. You guys need to do what is right for the two of you.

*hugs*