When we talk about rings for women, we are actually referring to multiple pieces of ornamentation that are worn on various fingers in order to hold on to or show off a particular sign or feature. The most popular of these jewelries is the wedding ring, which is usually worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. In fact, the tradition of putting the wedding ring on this finger dates back to biblical times. Other popular forms of rings for women include toe rings (which go on the ring finger, next to the toe), stud earrings (also on this finger), belly rings (on the sixth finger of the left hand), and floral rings (on the third finger of the left hand).
Rings have a number of interesting properties, which make them a popular choice for jewelry. For one thing, rings can be made with any number of precious metals and gemstones, which make them a versatile piece of jewellery. A ring is usually a flat, smooth band, sometimes of multiple precious metals and/or gemstones attached to a frame, which can be either fixed or removable. The word “ring” itself also denotes jewellery worn around the finger; the entire body part is therefore defined within the term, i.e., rings worn by women are earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, finger rings, toe rings, belly rings and finger rings.
Rings have an interesting history, going back to Babylonian times thousands of years ago. Their name comes from a Babylonian phrase meaning “a ring in the eye”. A more literal interpretation is that these rings prevent dust from entering the eyes, hence protecting the eye against harmful light. The phrase was later adopted by modern astrology, which interpreted the Babylonian ring as representing the planets and stars. This symbolism has continued into our modern culture, often appearing on planetary rings; for instance, those on North American flag.
Planets and stars also have a large bearing on rings: planets appear in the rings of planets, and certain stars carry certain planets and stars. A ring around a particular planet is called a “star cluster”, while a ring around a star is called a “planetary ring”. The “planetary” aspect refers to the actual position of the planet as it appears in the night sky – though, of course, not all stars can be seen in the night sky. In terms of actual significance to humans, the most common “planetary ring” is that which shows the full moon during a full phase. A “solar ring” is another example, where the moon appears to block out the sun. There are also “galactic rings”, which are thought to be a product of solar wind erosion – in this case, a “galaxy” is used to describe a cluster of stars.
Giant planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, comets, and many others are also important, and there are even “semi-giant” planets such as Pluto. This is often taken into account in designs and can play a part in the choice of the ring system. For instance, in spiral rings, a variety of elements can be incorporated. For instance, spiral Saturn rings may have more diamonds, sapphires or rubies, or other stones set in the ring system.
Some rings have evolved over time to include elements from many other sources besides the original element(s). For instance, one type of ring has elements from multiple gases, as well as sulfur. In recent times, some rings have added elements from comets. One of the largest comets in our solar system, Halley, has been incorporated in some very large hammer rings, and many believe it to be the source of the original “humea” name.