Meaning of wearing wedding ring on right hand

Wearing the wedding ring on the ring finger of the left hand (Vena Amoris) is the most known and accepted tradition throughout the United States and perhaps the world. So many are unaware of the meaning of wearing wedding ring on right hand which, believe it or not, has good foundations and today we will talk about it.

It is important to note that all the content of this article is based on cultural references and not on impositions of any kind, no one can or will take away your right to choose which hand to wear your beautiful rings on.

Let's see if after today you are encouraged to wear your wedding ring on the right hand.

What is a right hand ring?

First of all, let's decipher what is a right hand ring. The origin of this type of ring was born in the USA during the prohibition years in the 1920s.

Upper class women who attended speakeasies and wished to show their social and economic independence wore flashy right hand rings to show that they could buy their own fancy jewelry and wear it where they wanted, how they wanted and regardless of "rules".

The flashier these cocktail rings, the more social status they acquired in the underground alcohol environment, as a way of showing power. Since then a woman wearing a ring on right hand is probably trying to express a message of autonomy and independence.

An idea immortalized by De Beer in 2003 with his powerful "your left hand rocks the cradle. Your right hand rules the world".

Meaning of wearing wedding ring on right hand

The ring in right hand meaning is not universal nor does it represent the same thing in all cultures. For some women an engagement ring on the right hand, if this is her dominant hand, can be a way to make her stand out.

In general protocol it is common to see engagement rings on the right hand a few days before the wedding ceremony to give space on the left hand, prior to the arrival of the wedding ring.

Some women after the wedding ceremony decide to leave their diamond ring on the right hand as a symbol of their change of status from engaged to happily married.

In the case of eternity rings, anniversary jewelry, heirloom or graduation pieces, the right hand is usually the norm.

In some countries, the whole tradition of ring setting begins on the right hand, so chances are that if you see a woman wearing her engagement ring on the right hand, she comes from a country where this is the tradition.

Which countries wear wedding ring on right hand?

Bulgaria, Germany, Norway, Colombia, Australia, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Brazil, Uruguay, India and Venezuela are just a few examples of countries whose cultures support wearing wedding rings on right hand.

This from a traditional point of view. Over the years, it has become more and more common to see couples establishing their own rituals and traditions, defining their own wedding ring on right hand meaning.

The wedding ring on the right hand, but on which finger?

Although not all cultures around the world agree with the use of engagement rings on the right or left hand, all traditions converge that the finger for engagement rings and wedding bands is the ring finger. Always the ring finger.

A ring on right ring finger has the same meaning as for the left ring finger. For the Romans, the ring finger was the fastest way to reach the heart through the "vein of love" which was believed to be located on the left hand, although today we know that the idea does not exist.

For cultures far from the Roman influence, each finger represented a special meaning. In some cases the love of the family, in others the love of the partner who was closer to the children (the little finger).

Women right hand rings VS ring on right hand meaning man

Wearing the wedding ring on the right hand usually means the same thing for both men and women. In some Asian cultures, men and women wear the ring on different hands, as a way of balance.

In the case of diamond rings that are not engagement pieces, placing it on the right hand usually means a clear message in men: "I am still available".  Since men don't usually wear engagement rings (they might as well do it more often) they probably don't want to look engaged if they are not.

It will all depend on the cultural nuances of each region, each family's traditions and so on. At all times, each person has the power to choose what the ring represents to them and it can never be seen as an imposition.