Information on Different Types and Styles of Rings

Rings are one of the most fashionable accessories for both men and women. There are two ways to classify rings; one is their symbolic meanings, the other is in the light of their styles. For instance, most people may think of engagement and wedding rings, these are referred to the first classification method, while beaded rings are included in the latter one. Actually there are also many different types of rings have been used to commemorate special occasions or important events throughout history.

According to types

Class Ring: Class rings are worn by students to symbolize their achievements and honors or commemorate their graduation, usually in high schools, colleges and universities. The design of class rings generally is a metal band with a pattern which may be your school’s mascot or a center stone which standards your school’s color. Traditionally, students wear the class ring on the third finger of right hand. Actually you can wear the rings on any finger or on a chain around your neck. If a boy gives his class ring to his girlfriend, it means that he wants to be together with his girlfriend exclusively.

Promise Ring: In some cases, a promise ring is a pre-engagement ring, while it generally stands for commitments and vows in a relationship. Both men and women can give promise rings and when you give a promise ring to you partner, make sure he or she knows what exactly the ring promises for both of you. A pearl is a traditional gemstone for a promise ring, while small diamonds are also popular choices. In fact, any ring can be a promise ring as long as you and your lover know its meaning. If the ring is wide enough, you can engrave names or initials of the promise inside.

Engagement Ring: An engagement ring indicates that the person wearing it is engaged to be married and it is traditionally given by a man to a woman he intends to marry. The engagement ring can be any style and any gemstone like a sapphire or diamond due to personal preference. However, diamond engagement rings are the most popular rings because diamond is a symbol of eternal love for most women contemporarily.

Wedding Ring: A wedding ring symbolizes that the wearer is married. Wedding rings are commonly worn on the third finger of left hand by both men and women because people believe that this finger is connected to the heart. These rings are usually made of precious metals such as gold or platinum and differ in various designs from a simple band to elaborate rings with diamonds.

Eternity Ring: Eternity rings are metal bands with a row of diamonds or other stones around the circumference of the ring. Typically, each stone has the same cut and setting to give the ring a uniform appearance which means everlasting love. Eternity rings have been traditionally been given by a husband to his wife at an anniversary or other special event, such as the birth of their first child, it depends. There are three style of eternity ring including full eternity rings, three quarter eternity rings and half eternity rings available. A modern style is the half eternity ring which the stones only go around half of the circumference.

Mother’s Ring: Mother’s ring is a type of memorial ring. It typically consists of the birthstones of sons, whether living and dead. In some cases, there are also birthstones of the grandchildren or parents in the ring.

Purity Ring: Wearing the purity ring means you have a faith and vow to remain a virgin until marriage. Sometimes there are words like “True Love Waits” inscribed with the ring.

Championship Ring: Championship rings are given to the winner or the members of winning teams in sport events.

Mood Ring: A mood ring is believed by some people to show the wearer’s mood by the color of the thermo chromic liquid crystal set in the ring. The ring changes color in response to small changes in body temperature of the wearer. Slight changes in the surrounding or body temperature of the person may cause the ring to change color, so to believe or not is dependent on you.

Posie Ring: Posie rings are popular during the 15th and the 17th centuries but not that common these days. Posie rings are generally simple gold bands with inscription or some special messages engraved on the surface as a gift for lovers.

Signet Ring: Signet rings are also popular centuries ago but still can be seen today. A typical signet ring bears a coat of arms of a family or engraves initials of the wearer. Beside for identifying the wearer, a signet ring can also be used to impress a seal on wax or other things.

According to styles

Beaded Ring: Beaded rings are made by weaving beads onto threads or wires. The designs are various from simple to elaborate.

Carved Ring: The patterns on carved rings are carved on wood, metal, bone or stone by hand or machines.

Stone Ring: Stone rings can be made with precious gemstones or synthetic stones. The reason why these rings are popular is that there are wide varieties of stones for people to choose from and many gemstones have special meanings.

Solitaire Ring: A solitaire ring is a band with single diamond or other gemstones in the center.

Band: Band is a plain ring from narrow to wide which can be found mostly as a wedding band, while fashionable bands also can be found in any materials.

Cluster Ring: Cluster rings are rings with a group of small stones in cluster setting or a large stone surrounded by many smaller stones.

Trinity Ring: A trinity ring is comprised of three intertwining rings to be worn together at one time.

Cocktail Ring: Cocktail rings also known as statement rings are oversized and dramatic rings that are set with two or more colored gemstones or diamonds. Women used to wear these rings at illegal cocktail parties during the Prohibition. Nowadays cocktail rings can be worn in many occasions even for a casual outfit.

Each type of ring is unique no matter its style or the meaning behind. There are so many different types of rings and some of them come from early times that you may not find them around, while others are relatively new. Very glad to share these information about all types of rings with you!