Engagement Ring – worn on your middle finger?
April 28, 2007 by Christine Gooding
Filed under Getting Engaged, Wedding Rings
I didn’t realise that the engagement ring is meant to be worn on the third finger of the left hand? I’ve always thought it was worn on your ring finger on your left hand! Not that it bothers me but if you like following traditions and etiquette then this is worth noting.
DEAR ABBY: We have a ring controversy at the office. Some say the engagement ring should be worn on the ring finger of the left hand before marriage. Others insist it should be worn on the ring finger of the right hand until after the ceremony. Which is correct?
- Frank in Milford, N.H.
DEAR FRANK: According to Emily Post, in the United States the engagement ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand – next to the little finger – although in some countries it’s worn on the right hand. It is removed for the wedding ceremony, when the wedding band is placed on the bride’s finger, and replaced immediately after the ceremony outside the wedding ring.
Source: Philly
I found this post a little confusing – you said “I didn’t realise that the engagement ring is meant to be worn on the third finger of the left hand? I’ve always thought it was worn on your ring finger on your left hand!” – the third finger next to your pinky IS the ring finger, as Emily Post said: “According to Emily Post, in the United States the engagement ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand – next to the little finger”
The third finger and the ring finger are the same finger! You fingers are, in order: Thumb, Index Finger(1st Finger) Middle Finger(2nd Finger), Ring Finger(3rd Finger) and Pinky.
Crystal is right. Emily Post is saying it is to be worn on your ring finger that’s the finger that’s next to your little finger, IE pinky. “engagement ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand – next to the little finger “
The reference to finger numbering is incorrect. In the medical or anatomical terms, the first finger is the thumb (or big toe), and you count towards the little finger (pinky, or little toe). So the ring finger is the fourth finger, not the third. In the medical profession it is known as the fourth phalange, the one between the middle finger and pinky.
Hey Doc, you are so stupid. Who cares what they call it in the “medical field.” We are effin’ talking about a ring, you snobby F!
hey! you guys dont really know what you’re saying. what finger wears the engagement ring? in Africa, Nigeria to be Precise, It is worn on the third finger or the middle finger.
Isegwari!
hey!
what do guys think you’re saying? are you giving answers to the question or complicating issues?what finger wears the engagement ring? in West Africa, Nigeria to be precise, the engagement ring is worn on the third (middle) left finger
Isegwari!
I just learned this today:
If a lady or gentleman is willing to marry, but not engaged, a ring should be worn on the index finger of the left hand; if engaged, on the second finger; if married, on the third finger; but if either has no desire to marry, on the little finger.
However, I wear my engagement ring on my ring finger. A lot of people do. And there’s a very practical reason for this: If you change fingers after you’re married, you’ll have to get your ring re-sized. What a pain.
websurfer you’re a prick. i’m pretty sure you understand middle fingers. they probably get flashed your way quite often.
that was funny as hell, good call j.
Machomatix
Hi All!
I would tend to think its the mid-finger(2nd) thwt you place the engagement ring on!
What if the marriage wasn’t going to happen coz of any God forbid reason.
How will you start explaining to the guys who thought your married?
I’ve just placed my engagement ring on my Angel’s mid/(2nd) finger.
God Bless You All!
Regards from Kenya!
The engagement finger is your ring finger (aka the finger between your pinkie and your middle finger) of your left hand. When you are married it is switched to the same finger on the right hand.
here’s a pic to help you out!! http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/files/my_radiant_ring_hand.jpg
If one is not engaged, but desires to be married they wear it on their middle finger of their left hand.
If one doesn’t not desire to be married one wears a ring on their pinkie finger.
Stop complicating the matter so much. Its as simple as this, the 1st finger is the thumb, pinky is the fifth. simple maths. You should wear you engagement ring on the third finger(middle finger).
what about the middle finger of the right hand?
The whole “ring finger” thing came from an ancient culture belief that the finger next to your pinky had a vein in it that ran straight to your heart. This is why this finger was originally chosen when having weddings, engagements, etc. Also, the cake is a symbol of fertility with as many tiers as you would want children, and the veil being over the face was just a superstition of the husband not seeing the face until after he was prepared to say “I do” to a woman for her beauty inside, not out. Everything can be traced back to myths… this one, I happen to believe. Why else would that particular finger be chosen by more than 60% of the world?
i did not learn anything from these posts. living in the us, i’ve seen engagement and wedding rings on the left hand ring finger. the way you tell if it is an engagement or wedding ring matters on the size of it, simple and elegant being engaged and loud and sparkly meaning married. nothing else really matters. i wear my just for fun rings on my right hand.
Americans are idiots. Engagement rings are worn on the left hand ring finger (next to the pinky). Moved to the right hand ring finger (next to the pinky) once married and the marriage ring is placed on the left ring finger (yes, next to the pinky for those moronic americans).
Bec – since you’re living in the US, I’m assuming you’re an idiot as well… Engagement rings are usually loud and wedding rings are usually elegant and simple.
According to Nigerian culture,the engagement ring is worn on the middle finger of the left hand.
friend of my gave me a 3 carat diamond ring for verymas to wear on my right third hand, everyhbody is saying something different about my friends intention to me. what does this mean.
friend of my gave me a 3 carat diamond ring for Xmas to wear on my right third hand tell what does this mean.
estellav – it means that you should take it to a jeweller and don’t be surprised when he/she tells you that it is indeed cubic zirconia (CZ).
I got engaged two nights ago and my fiance’ placed an 18 carrat gold ring on the ring finger of my right hand. I think he understands why he chose the finger.
Silly rabbits!! Different countries, different traditions. In the US the Emily Post etiquette is followed. In other countries, other cultures, different traditions are followed. Do what your people do. The ring finger in the US is the one next to the pinky. The engagement ring is worn there until the wedding when the wedding band takes it’s place. Then the engagement ring is placed back on the “ring finger” on the leading outside edge (closest to the nail). Is this so hard to visualize? Or accept? In the US? And those of you who bypass the engagement ring and go for a wedding band only – no problem. Put it on the ring finger and live happily ever after.
Okay people enough is enough!!! lol..=]]
Firstly,Mr. Nigeria…if you like it wear it on your middle finger since it is just a matter of cultures.
Secondly, I partially agree with ‘John and Humma 1′ but the right answer to this is
1)The partners wear the engagement ring on the left ring finger(next to pinky finger) on the Engagement day.
2) During the marriage ceremony, the engagement ring is transferred to the ring finger of the right hand and the left ring finger is left empty for the wedding band.
3) After the wedding band is put into the ring finger of the left hand, the engagement ring is transferred to the left ring finger after the wedding band and is nearer to the nail OR can simply remain on the right ring finger as you like and since maybe your wedding band and engagement ring both cannot fit together on the left ring finger or it is uncomfortable.
**Wedding bands are usually simple and plain while the engagement rings are sparkly and loud.
[I really hope this helped!]
It really varies. I know people especially in the Netherlands use to wear them on their middle finger. I think it’s ok, doesn’t mean they are bad people…
i dont really care were i have my engagement ring aslong as i no the purson im with loves me nothing else matters xx
Stop confusing people and give us one opinion.
The engagement ring should be worn on the third finger (or fourth digit) of the left hand next to the little finger. If he calls off the engagement then it goes on the bird finger where you can flip it at him frequently. If you get married the engagement ring should be made into a nipple ring which is closer to the heart than your ring finger and transferred there during the ceremony. The wedding ring should be then worn on your middle finger to flip off people who try to pick up on you after you’re married.
It’s your life, I don’t see the point of these superstitions really, or why people get huffy about them.
If I ever get married I’m probably not going to wear a ring since they drive me crazy, but if I have to wear something then the simpler the better.
What is a really expensive wedding ring supposed to mean, anyway? Is it supposed to tell everyone that your spouse was able to buy you off? Or maybe he paid a big dowry as a bribe to your family so they would let you, their prized piece of female property go?
Wedding traditions are so medieval (and not in a good way). Do what you want and enjoy it.
the engagement ring according to “western traditions” north america and most part of europe goes on the ring finger of the left hand, which is:the “third finger/4th digit/the finger close to the pinky”( they are all the same finger).
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after the wedding it goes where the hell you want basically. all the traditions are “quite recent” : same finger closer to the nail, ring finger of the right hand, middle finger of the left…
the real tradition dating back 2000 and more years is about the wedding ring and says that goes on the ring finger of the left hand, so basically when you get the engagement ring you keep it there until you get the wedding one, and then its up to you.
engagement ring by “tradition” are the sparkling and expensive ones ( if you really follow the tradition it should cost 3 times what the man earns in a month with your job … : you earn 500 a week? the ring should cost no less then 6000-7000…good luck hehehe)
ps: i`m sorry to you all nice ladies, but by the same nice tradition the engagement ring is propriety of the man: that means that if you break up it should be returned to the man ( then you can decide if throw it at him, stick it up his…, whatever you want
I have always thought the obvious and then suddenly two of my collegues got engaged and started to wear it on the right hand. To prove them its incorrect i landed on this page and did so.
Place your engagement ring on your left ring finger otherwise you’re just going to confuse the hell out of everyone.
Whether you’re married or engaged, part of the purpose of the ring is to let people know you are taken, and a ring on the left ring finger says this loud and clear. A ring on any other finger leads to long threads like this, missed opportunities, and canceled engagements.
The thumb is a finger. It is the first digit. The ring finger is the fourth digit. The book follows a tradition of error. There are other mistakes in the book as well. For example, on the flight to Italy, it says the two languages spoken were French and English. Try Italian and english. But who cares. It’s an entertaining read.
If your ring comes at a right size for your middle finger, I say put it on your middle finger. If the ring is the right size for your ring finger, I say put it on your ring finger.
Then when the wedding band comes, well you make sure your have the size right this time and wear the wedding band outside the engagement ring on the ring finger as a ring guard.
Simple.
But really, do what ever you like.
i wear mine on my middle finger, cause my ring finger is too thin, will slip off easily