A ring is any circular band, usually made of metal, often of platinum or gold, worn as adornment jewelry. The word “ring” on its own always refers to jewelry worn on the right hand; when worn alone, the other body part is specified in the term, e.g. earrings, finger rings, wrist rings, neck rings, bracelet rings and toe rings. The history of rings traces its origins to ancient Egypt, where it was worn by pharaohs. It was eventually adopted by Romans and Greeks, and into the Middle Ages, it was used by aristocrats in weddings and other ceremonies. Rings have also remained popular as amulets or talismans, representing various values such as courage, loyalty, protection, luck, etc.
There are some groups of people who consider thumb rings as an unworthy gesture. These people argue that thumb rings do not promote good health because of their small size. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. Since the thumb has the most contact with the skin, it follows that any damage to the thumb will cause skin irritation to those around him. Therefore, ring sizes were typically larger than the smallest available so that they could fit on the thumb without damaging it.
Today, many people wear thumb rings as an expression of their individuality. Some wear them to indicate a branch of the family tree or past. Many use the rings as engagement or wedding rings after their wedding date. Others wear them when going for a job interview. It all depends on how comfortable the wearer is with the size of his or her thumb.
The thumb ring can be worn either on the right or left hand separately. Traditionally, however, left hand rings are worn by those belonging to the female group while right hand rings are worn by men. The contemporary trend is to wear both rings together. This is particularly common when the wearer is of Celtic descent and wears Celtic jewelry.
Right-handedness is inherited but left-handedness is not. Therefore, left-handed people may also wear thumb rings. Wearing a ring on the right-hand side, was once considered to be a sign of intelligence. Today, however, wearing a thumb ring of the opposite gender may increase one’s chances of getting into fights. Therefore, it is advisable to keep a balance.
Other popular thumb ring styles include: Bezel, French bezel, princess, heart, marquise, pendant, chain, and Sanskrit bezel. A Sanskrit bezel ring, which means “dream ring,” was inspired by the dream world. It was only later that people began to understand its religious meaning. No matter the style of the ring, a citation needed to be given when purchasing.