While it’s commonly accepted in most Western countries that an engagement ring is worn on the left hand, this practice differs across various parts of the world based on the culture of the region.
The general custom for wearing an engagement ring is on the left hand, more specifically, the ring finger of the left hand.
By general custom, we mean in most countries and regions of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, and most of Southeast Asia, where engaged couples all wear their engagement rings on the left hand.
This custom comes from a long tradition that dates back to the time of the Ancient Romans, who believed that the left ring finger had a vein that was connected directly to the heart, making it a romantic way to pledge your heart to someone. This vein was known at the time as the vena amoris, or “vein of love”.
Fast forwarding to our modern age, advancements in biology have since proved this to be false — lots of veins in both our hands are connected to the heart. Still, we like to think that wearing the engagement ring on the left hand still holds its significance, especially in terms of openly displaying your commitment to a relationship.
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Yes — frankly, you can wear it wherever you want! Most will determine where they wear the engagement ring by tradition, culture or country of origin. In many countries and cultures, such as Germany, India, Russia, Spain, and Colombia, the right hand is where the engagement ring is worn.
Aside from cultural traditions, there are also practical reasons for wearing your engagement ring on your right hand instead. Left-handed individuals may wear their engagement ring on the right hand to prevent it from getting in the way when writing or doing other tasks, especially if they have a large-sized ring that can get easily caught on things.
Superstitions claim that taking your engagement ring off is considered unlucky. However, there are many situations in which it will be wise to take your engagement ring off, at least temporarily!
An engagement ring is a precious, one-of-a-kind personal item, and should be treated with care to ensure that it can be worn for a lifetime of love. Leaving your engagement ring off your hand for safekeeping is not a reflection of your relationship, especially in situations where it can become tarnished, damaged, or worse, lost.
Going to the gym, taking a bath or shower, doing the dishes or laundry, or going for a swim can expose your engagement ring to chemicals that can degrade it over time. If you’re travelling for a holiday to another country, it may also be a good idea to leave your engagement ring at home to reduce the likelihood of it going missing during your travels.
Aside from these extenuating situations, feel free to wear your engagement ring every day. After all, what good is a beautiful engagement ring if you can’t show it off?
Eventually, you’ll have your big day and see the addition of a wedding ring to your hand. So, how do you wear both your engagement ring and wedding ring at the same time?
If tradition is important to you, wearing both rings on the ring finger of the left hand is the usual approach. The wedding ring goes on first, followed by the engagement ring. This symbolises the wedding ring being closer to the heart, although it is also due to the belief that your wedding ring should never be taken off.
Ultimately, which hand you wear your engagement ring will be up to you. It could be that you and your partner have a special significance for wearing it on the right hand instead — if that’s the case, you should worry less about committing a social faux pas and wear it how you like.
If you’re still doing your research to create the perfect engagement ring, we can help! At GS Diamonds, we have a stunning collection of custom engagement rings online, as well as a team of expert jewellers at our diamond showrooms in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.
