Which hand does a wedding ring go on: a global perspective

When it comes to weddings, one of the questions that often arises is, "which hand does a wedding ring go on?" This seemingly simple query can have a variety of answers depending on cultural, religious, and personal preferences. In this blog post, we'll explore the traditions behind wedding rings and which hand they are traditionally worn on across different cultures and religions, from Christianity to Buddhism.

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The hand you wear your wedding ring on—right or left—depends on religious, cultural, and regional customs. Christians typically wear engagement rings on the left and wedding rings on the right. Protestants follow this custom but move the wedding ring from right to left upon a spouse's death. Jewish brides wear wedding rings on the right index finger during the ceremony and then move them to the left ring finger. Islamic traditions vary; in some regions, rings are worn on the right, while in others, they are worn on the left. Your choice ultimately depends on personal and cultural factors.

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The tradition of wedding rings

The tradition of exchanging wedding rings dates back thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians are believed to be the first to use rings in their wedding ceremonies, representing eternity and the unending cycle of life. The circle of the ring symbolises eternal love and commitment between the couple.

Which hand is the wedding ring on in different religions?

Religious beliefs and customs play a significant role in determining which hand does a wedding ring go on. Different religions have their unique traditions and symbolic meanings attached to the placement of wedding rings.

Christian traditions

Christianity is still the largest religion in the world. At least 31.2% of the global population is Christian. This makes it likely that you will follow all the customs and traditions associated with it even if you are not a believer. If this is the case, then the engagement ring will be worn on the left hand and the wedding ring on the right. Wearing an engagement ring on the left ring finger comes from the Romans. Just like the Ancient Egyptians and the Ancient Greeks, they believed that the 'Vena Amoris' or 'vein of love' ran directly from the heart to this finger.

So, which hand you choose for your engagement and wedding ring as a Christian depends on where you live. More and more women also wear both rings on the same finger

Protestantism traditions

Protestantism has around 560 million believers, making it one of the largest Christian denominations. Orthodox believers who live according to Christian traditions and dogma also follow this custom. A typical Orthodox custom is to move the wedding ring upon the spouse's death.

The wedding ring moves from right to left when the spouse dies. This tradition comes from old folklore that believes the left-hand side to be associated with evil.

Wedding rings are so heavy that it takes two people to bear them. Sometimes three.
Alexandre Dumas jr.

Jewish traditions

According to Jewish tradition, wedding rings are essential, whereas engagement rings are non-existent. But some Jewish women still wear engagement rings. This all depends on the denomination within Judaism.

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Nowadays Judaism has around 16.6 million followers, of which 6.4 million live in Israel. The bridegroom puts the wedding ring onto the bride's right index finger during the marriage proposal. After the ceremony, she moves her ring to the left ring finger. It is very important to Jews that this is a plain and smooth gold ring without precious stones or engravings. The plainer, the better. This is because the woman must be able to estimate the value of the ring herself. Embellishments would make this difficult.

Islamic traditions

Islam is the 2nd largest religion in the world with around 1.8 billion followers. The question of whether a wedding ring should be worn on the right or left hand is secondary to the question of whether a wedding ring is permissible in Islam at all. These materials are reserved for women. But a man may wear a wedding ring made of a different precious metal such as platinum. In this case, the wedding ring goes on the right hand. Women generally may not wear engagement rings. Unless there are no superstitions attached to it.

Younger Muslim couples are increasingly choosing to have an engagement ring anyway. It is important to recognise that Islam is the most widespread religion. It forms the religious majority in at least 49 countries. Its broad geographical distribution means that Islamic practices can vary across different countries and regions.

How strong is the influence of one's home country?

Muslims and other cultures wear their wedding rings on different hands depending on their customs. Muslims wear the wedding ring on the right in Jordan but on the left in Iran. But we do not only see differences according to country and region in Islam. In North America and South Africa, most bridal couples put the wedding ring on the ring finger of the left hand regardless of religion. Even in little Belgium there are differences according to province. In East and West Flanders men often wear the wedding ring on the left, whereas they tend to wear it on the right in Antwerp and Brabant. Limburgers do it differently: for them it varies from place to place.

Confused? Just choose which tradition you want to follow when deciding whether to wear your wedding ring on the right or the left. Don't forget to take other aspects such as comfort and personal convenience into consideration.

a map showing the hand and finger on which the wedding ring is worn globally

A brief overview

As you have read, there are various customs all over the world which determine which hand you wear your wedding or engagement ring on. You can see a brief overview on this map of the world.

Frequently asked Questions

What is the correct hand for my engagement ring?

The correct hand and finger for your engagement ring or wedding ring will depend on your faith, your region and practical considerations. The choice for your ring is completely personal.

Learn more about the correct hand for your engagement ring or ask BAUNAT’s diamond experts for advice.

Engagement ring which hand/engagement ring which hand Muslim/engagement ring which hand Christian

The engagement ring: on which hand do I wear it? The engagement ring: on which hand do I wear it as a Muslim? The engagement ring: on which hand do I wear it as a Christian?

In most cultures, people wear both the engagement ring and wedding ring on the left-hand ring finger. As a Christian, you can also wear the engagement ring on the left hand and the wedding ring on the right hand. In countries of the Islam culture, the hand on which rings are worn varies from country to country. Jordan Muslims wear their wedding ring on the right hand, but in Iran people choose the left hand.

How to wear your engagement ring and wedding ring?

In most Western cultures, the engagement ring is worn on the ring finger of the left hand. In the past, people believed that this finger was the 'artery of love' that was connected directly to the heart. After marriage in some countries, the engagement ring is moved to the middle finger of the left hand to make room for the wedding ring on the ring finger. Here, most people wear both rings on the left hand, although some prefer to wear the wedding ring on the right-hand ring finger.