Ring

Slim or Bold Ring: Style Comes First

A ring is chosen first by the size of the band as seen on the hand, not by the number of carats listed in store. On slender fingers, a bold ring overwhelms the joint and breaks the line of the hand: a thin band or a discreet setting that visually elongates the finger works better. On wider fingers, the opposite rarely holds true: a piece that’s too thin disappears, while a medium-width band, leaving the middle joint free, gives a balanced result. A ring is never worn alone for long: it ends up paired with a bracelet, necklace or earrings, so the choice of metal also depends on what the person already owns.

Gold Purity Affects Color, Durability and Price per Gram

A ring’s color almost always comes from the metal itself, not a surface treatment. 18-karat gold corresponds to a purity of 750/1000: 75% pure gold, with the rest made up of copper, silver or palladium alloy depending on the desired shade (yellow, white, rose). 9-karat gold, at 375/1000, contains less pure gold and costs less per gram, but holds its color less well over time. Solid 925 silver (92.5% pure silver) remains the sturdiest choice for a tighter budget. 18-karat gold plating at three microns thick wears down with the repeated friction of a ring worn daily, unlike vermeil, which legally requires at least five microns of 750 gold deposited on 925 silver and holds up noticeably better with everyday wear.

Engagement Ring or Wedding Band: Two Pieces, Two Moments

A wedding band is typically chosen as a classic plain or diamond-paved band depending on budget, in 18-karat gold, platinum, or silver for a more affordable price. Its purpose is to be worn every day without catching on clothing or getting in the way of manual work: hence the clean lines and a setting that doesn’t protrude too much from the hand. An engagement ring, on the other hand, stands out with a showcased center stone: a diamond solitaire remains the most common choice, but a colored stone (sapphire, amethyst) allows for a different budget while still making a strong statement. The two rings don’t have to be worn on the same finger at the same time: the engagement ring comes before the wedding band, and many women stack them once married.

Finding Your Ring Size Without Leaving Home

French ring size corresponds to finger circumference measured in millimeters, not an arbitrary number. To measure it, a flexible tape measure (or a strip of paper) wrapped around the joint gives a length in centimeters: a 5.1 cm finger circumference equals 51 mm, so a size 51. The measurement should be taken at the end of the day, when fingers are slightly swollen, to avoid a ring that’s too tight in summer. Between two sizes, it’s better to round up for a wide ring (signet ring, bold band) and round down for a thin band that slides off less easily.

Which Finger to Wear Your Ring On

Western tradition reserves the left ring finger for the engagement ring, then the wedding band once the marriage is celebrated: this finger is linked to the heart by a vein the Romans already called the vena amoris. The right ring finger then hosts the wedding band in certain Eastern and Central European countries, where custom reverses the left and right hand compared to France. The other fingers are worn freely, with no fixed rule: the index and middle fingers for bold rings, the thumb for a wide band. The little finger remains the least commonly worn finger day-to-day, but it is historically the one for the signet ring, once used to seal an official document before the advent of the modern signature.

• Left ring finger: engagement ring, then wedding band in France
• Right ring finger: wedding band in several Eastern European countries
• Little finger: traditional use for the signet ring
• Index, middle finger, thumb: no convention, free choice depending on band width

Giving a Ring to a Man: Wedding Band, Signet Ring or Plain Band

A men’s wedding band is generally chosen to be more understated than a woman’s: a simple band in 18-karat yellow or white gold, platinum, or silver for a tighter budget. Outside of wedding bands, a ring given to a man stands out more than a necklace or bracelet, which can stay hidden under clothing: it requires knowing the person’s habits before buying. The signet ring remains the most recognizable choice, whether it features an engraved crest on a flat gold face or is set with a stone. Stainless steel, silver, 18-karat white gold and platinum cover most requests, with bands generally wider than on a women’s ring, except for the wedding band, which by convention stays understated.