Many people, even those who are not and have never been engaged, know that engagement rings, as well as wedding bands, are generally worn on the left hand. It has become so common that no one really ever gives much thought as to why this is. Why DO you wear engagement rings on the left hand? The answer to that is actually quite interesting.
The Legend
Long ago, it was believed that the vein from the ring finger on the left hand was directly connected to the heart. This gave the ring and the finger the name of being the “love” hand and finger, and was the accepted place to wear wedding rings and later, engagement rings.
Christopher Designs G52-CU Diamond Engagement Ring
The Practical Reason
Though the first explanation is the more romantic reason as to why we wear rings on our left hand, there is a more practical explanation as well. Since most people are right handed, it only makes sense to wear valuable jewelry on the hand that does not get knocked around all of the time.
Christopher Designs G52-EC Diamond Engagement Ring
Easier to be Seen
Along the lines of being worn on the hand less used, another reason for wearing rings on the left hand is in order for them to be seen more. The right hand is often busy writing or moving, and is not visible for people to see whether or not you are engaged or married. Wearing it on the left hand makes things a bit easier.
Christopher Designs G52-PER Diamond Engagement Ring
There may be many more reasons why the left hand has become the chosen hand for the most part, for wearing both engagement rings and wedding bands. However, a lot of this has to do with culture. For instance, in Spain, women wear their engagement rings on their right hands. Other cultures use various signs to signify that they are taken, such as nuns who simply wear special clothes to indicate they are married to God and the Amish, whose men grow beards when they get married as a sign that they are off the market.
Many things we do, don’t really have very significant reasons for why we do them, and yet we do them anyway. Sometimes traditions are so wonderful, we really don’t need to know why and other times we do and whatever feels right. Every woman can decide for herself if she really needs to stick with tradition or not by wearing her rings on her left hand or switch it up a bit.
