Wearing anything besides a simple wedding band can be intimidating for a lot of guys. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate rings into your wardrobe.
Ready to dip your digits into a new accessory pool? For a lot of men, adding more than a wedding or class ring can feel a little flamboyant, but the reality is that ring-wearing has become quite common in the past few years.
More and more guys opt to express their personality with cool modern, vintage, or bold rings. If you’re new to it, consider rings the next frontier in your style evolution.
The History of Men’s Rings
For much of history, men wore rings as a symbol of a bond or agreement, a seal of personal identity, and to signify wealth and status.
Of course, they were also worn to demonstrate marriage status, but they have been so much more than that throughout history. Men have been proudly wearing rings for centuries.
Nowadays, some view men wearing rings as associated only with marriage, alumni status, or sports affiliation. It also sometimes pairs with the stigma that rings are a much more feminine appearance. But the reality is that rings add another dimension to self-expression through style.
If fear of judgment has kept you from experimenting and learning how to wear rings, I hope this guide encourages you to break out of your comfort zone.
When to Wear Rings
Outside of marriage and other affiliations, rings are just like any other accessory. Treat them as a personal expression of your style.
There’s no real wrong time to wear rings. However, keep in mind that the more rings you wear at one time, the more casual your styling appears.
So, if you’re dressing up for more formal occasions, keep it to 1-2 rings. For everyday wear, feel free to explore and experiment using the tips that follow in this guide.
How to Size Rings for Men
The easiest way to size your fingers for rings is to pick up a ring sizer. Most jewelers have them available for free, but you can also head into most jewelry stores and they’ll take care of it for you. They use a simple plastic loop that fits over your finger and measures its circumference.
Make sure to size each of your fingers. Typically, there won’t be drastic variance between your fingers, but there are slight differences. If you’re not looking to buy rings for dedicated fingers, size them to your largest finger.
Keep in mind that a pinky ring probably won’t fit on your thumb, so if you’re just starting out, size for your middle three fingers.
How to Wear Rings
This guide breaks down the basics of wearing rings through easy-to-understand tips. If you’re new to wearing rings, you’ll get an idea of which fingers to wear them on, how to avoid overdoing it, and how to balance the look between hands.
#1 Which Fingers to Wear Rings On
First of all, there aren’t any fingers that you shouldn’t wear rings on. The thing to keep in mind is that depending on which finger you wear a ring on, you may be implying different things.
For instance, in many cultures, wearing a ring on your left ring finger will make people think you’re married. If you’re not, make sure you’re not sending an unwanted message.
Solo rings on pinkies and index fingers can also signify an affiliation, but shouldn’t be an issue if you’re mixing in more than one ring.
#2 Choose Rings You Want To Wear
The best way to make sure you’ll actually enjoy wearing rings is by choosing ones that catch your eye. The most unique pieces are often in vintage shops or flea markets and they also usually come with a good deal on the price.
There are a lot more retailers that offer affordable rings for men. Everything from department stores to small online businesses have what you’re looking for. Before you spend top dollar on premium metals and designs, do some exploring.
I also recommend collecting rings from your travels. They have the best backstories and lead to conversation when you inevitably get complimented.
#3 Ring Sizes
Ring size is not just about making sure the ring fits on your finger. You should also be aware of the physical size of the ring you’re wearing. Some are much larger and more opulent. Pairing very large rings can be considered showy.
Now, showy isn’t a bad thing. But if rings aren’t your forte quite yet, creating balance by varying the size of your rings is a good idea.
For starters, stick to a single statement or larger ring and supplement with smaller or thinner rings on neighboring fingers. That way, none of your rings are competing with each other.
#4 How to Stack Rings
You can wear more than one ring on a single finger to create a layered effect. This comes in handy when you have a thinner band that needs a little help standing out.
You can stack thinner bands and rings together on one finger to create a little more girth or you can stack larger rings with supporting smaller bands. It’s just like layering your clothes, the goal is to create an effect with more detail.
Avoid stacking large rings together on a single finger. You don’t typically have enough real estate on your fingers for it and you risk looking like a greedy cartoon monarch.
#5 How Many Rings to Wear on Each Hand — Creating Balance
I’ve alluded to it, but ideally, you want to create a balanced look with your rings across your two hands. If each finger sports a ring, it becomes a little too opulent and gaudy.
All the metal can also get heavy depending and cumbersome depending on how you use your hands.
First off, never wear so many rings that you’re unable to use your hands. Rings can get in the way, more so than other accessories. Keep your dominant hand more free during work hours, then layer on the accouterments when you’re ready to go out.
Secondly, creating a balanced look is all about spreading the love between your hands. If you wear a watch, you can wear fewer rings on that same hand to keep a balance of the metals on that side. Stick to 1-2 rings/stacks on that side.
On the opposite side, you can bump the rings/stack to 2-3 fingers. This spread gives you an even look across both hands.
#6 Should You Mix Metals
You’ve probably heard this rule before, but most style experts recommend avoiding mixing metals. That means sticking to all gold or all silver not only across your rings but any jewelry you’re wearing. That would include your watch, necklaces, and even your belt buckle.
For beginners, matching the color of your rings is the easiest way to make sure everything coordinates and works together. It’s one less thing to think about as you explore wearing rings.
However, mixing metals is not as much of a faux pas as some folks think. Mixing metals and jewels can create unique and interesting layered effects. You’ll even see single rings that incorporate both silver and gold in one band.
The key is to be intentional in creating a statement with the metals you mix. Don’t be afraid to try something new.
How Would You Wear Rings?
When it comes to styling and wearing rings, it’s mainly about finding ones that you like and experimenting with stacking, pairing, and balance. We hope this guide gave you some useful tips for wearing rings.
If you have any questions or comments, leave them down below!
