Which order do you wear engagement, wedding and eternity rings

Are you losing sleep over which order do you wear engagement, wedding and eternity rings? Read on to know more. 

Engagement and Wedding – two of the most special occasions every woman wait for throughout their lives. And why not? Besides becoming a wife to her beloved husband, she also gets different rings that mark these two occasions perfectly. 

Engagement ring and wedding rings are commonly accepted trend. However, once you add eternity ring to the equation, it becomes a bit confusing as to which order do you wear engagement, wedding and eternity rings. And often we get puzzled in questions like: 

• Which one to go on which finger?
• Should I wear all three together?
• Does one ring replace another?

Further, choosing accessories that complement these rings can be difficult. Which earrings and necklace to pair with which ring for a particular day – deciding this is hard. 

But no more worries! We’ve put together this guide to assist you in wearing your sentimental rings in the right order.

The first thing to do is to examine the purpose of each ring as well as the occasion on which it is given:

Wedding Ring and Engagement Ring Order

So, which finger do you wear engagement ring on? Traditionally, women wear an engagement ring on the ring finger as the wedding ring. It is placed second on top of the wedding band. Now, you might want to ask which hand the engagement ring needs to go on. So, the answer is: it usually goes on the left hand. Also, it is worn along with the wedding band. But if your engagement ring and wedding band don’t match, you can wear your wedding ring on the left hand and your engagement ring on your right-hand ring finger.

Historical Interpretation 

Do you know the fascinating history of engagement rings?  The ancient Romans, Egyptians, and Greeks started using rings as a symbol of commitment. Engagement Rings were then called Betrothal Rings. These rings signified a man’s intent to marry a woman. Also, these rings marked the woman as connected to or taken by her future husband.

Unfortunately, love, during this time, had little to do with engagements. Over time, the Church made certain rules. It stated that a man had to give a betrothal ring both to show his commitment and financial status. This proved his ability to take care of the family. As time passed, the gemstone rings replaced the plain band. Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave the first diamond engagement ring to his fiancé in 1477. It was then that diamond rings became the standard for engagement rings. (Source)

How to Wear Wedding Rings?  

If you are a to be-bride, you might have a question to ask: Where does the wedding band go? And the answer to this question is: Traditionally, you should wear your wedding ring on the fourth finger, between the middle and little finger. You should wear it on your left hand. It is for this reason that the fourth finger is also called the ring finger. According to the ancient Greeks, the fourth finger is connected with the ‘vena amoris’ (‘vein of love’), which is further linked to the heart directly.

Similar to the engagement rings, the history of wedding rings dates back to the same period. Both of these served as a symbol of love or ownership. This was entirely based on the culture and tradition the bride and groom belonged to. 

Over the centuries, different materials have been used to design weddings bands. These include different brass, leather, silver, gold, lead, and platinum. Also, these days, it is prevalent to find bridal sets, which comprise both the engagement ring and a complementing wedding band.

Where does an Eternity Ring Go?

Before we dwell into knowing which finger does an eternity ring go on, let’s first understand the significance of an eternity ring. 

When do you get an eternity ring?

Wedding Rings and engagement rings symbolises two special occasions, the wedding and the engagement, respectively. But what does an eternity ring symbolize? People these days gift an eternity ring to celebrate a milestone in their relationship. So, once you marry, you can ask your hubby to gift you an eternity ring on your first anniversary, and then when you give birth to your first baby, may be.

So now, coming back to: where does an engagement ring go. In reality, there is no proper way to wear all three sentimental rings together. However, one way of wearing them could be to put on your wedding band on the ring finger, followed by the engagement ring, and the eternity ring at last. 

Eternity Wedding and Engagement Ring Sets

The order of the three rings also depends on the ring design. Since some rings are wider than others, wearing all of them close together may become weighty. If this is the case with you, you can wear your eternity ring either on the left-hand ring finger or any finger of your choice. Here, your comfort should be the priority. Another way to wear the three rings together could be to put on your eternity ring in between your engagement ring and wedding ring. 

However, some women also prefer wearing their eternity ring first, followed by the wedding band, and then the engagement ring.

How To Wear Wedding And Engagement Rings?

If, as it often happens, you have both an engagement ring and a wedding ring, you can wear them together on the ring finger, i.e. the finger between the little and middle finger on the left hand. Further, the wedding ring is worn first followed by the engagement ring on top of it.  

Wearing the wedding, engagement and eternity ring all together

Several women who prefer wearing all the rings together. If you are among those, you can wear them together on the ring finger on the left hand. The order you could follow here is: wear the wedding ring first, then the engagement ring followed by the eternity ring. This, however, may not always seem a practical option. Hence, many women choose to wear the eternity ring on the ring finger of the right hand.

The Take Away

So, which order do you wear engagement wedding and eternity rings? Where and how you wear your rings is a matter of personal preference, in most cases. This is because there is no right or wrong way to wear them. For those who like going by the tradition can follow our guide. For some, it might get impractical to follow the suggested order due to the size and style of their rings. As such, you can figure out what works best for you keeping your comfort and lifestyle in your mind.