How to Wear an Engagement Ring

Co-authored by Karen Brown

Last Updated: December 29, 2021

There are few things more exciting than receiving a ring from your partner that promises a lifetime of commitment and love. Actually wearing that beautiful ring rivals the excitement of receiving it though. Engagement rings can be worn any way that you want, but sometimes a little inspiration is helpful. Choose a way to wear your ring that works best for you, and then take care of the ring to keep it shining for years to come.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing How to Wear the Ring

1
Wear it on your left hand. The ring is typically worn on the third finger of the left hand. This is the most common way to wear an engagement ring in many countries, especially in Western cultures. This dates back to the highly romantic idea that this finger has a vein that leads directly to the heart. That isn’t true, but it’s a nice thought for when you’re looking down at that pretty ring of yours.^{[1]
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2
Flaunt the ring on your right hand. Wearing your ring on the third finger of your right hand is absolutely acceptable as well. The right hand is actually the traditional hand in countries like Russia, Greece, and Columbia. Wearing your ring on your right hand doesn’t have to signify your culture, though. It can simply be a personal preference.^{[2]
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3
Stack it on top of your wedding band. Once you’ve decided on the hand you’ll wear your ring on, consider how you will wear it after the wedding ceremony. You may decide not to have a wedding band, and that’s okay! If you have a wedding band, you will typically wear your engagement ring on top of it.^{[3]
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4
Choose to wear it on any finger you want. There are traditions, but in the end, the choice is yours. Wear it on whatever finger feels the most comfortable. This could be your index or middle finger. If the size of the ring is the reason why you need to wear it on a certain finger, you may want to consider resizing it.
5
Wear it around your neck. Sometimes wearing the engagement ring on your finger isn’t the best option for you. This could be because of your career, a physical reason, pregnancy, or simply because you don’t like to wear anything on your fingers. Choose a chain that you like and slip the ring onto the chain. Wear it around your neck as you would any other necklace. It will be even closer to your heart.
- You can also look into companies like Ring My Neck, which makes necklaces specifically for engagement rings.

Method 2

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Caring for an Engagement Ring

1
Keep your ring clean. A buildup of oil and dirt will prevent your ring from looking as shiny as it could look, and you may want to keep it ready to show off at a moment’s notice! To clean, put the ring into a mug filled with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Let it soak for a few minutes. Then, scrub it with a soft-bristle toothbrush and then dry it with a soft cloth.^{[4]
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- It’s recommended to clean your ring once every few weeks.
EXPERT TIP

Karen Brown
Wedding & Event Planner
Karen Brown is the Founder and Creative Director of Karen Brown New York, a full service event planning company. Karen has planned hundreds of successful weddings, corporate parties, award ceremonies, product launches, galas, and fundraisers over the past decade throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Karen Brown
Wedding & Event Planner

Don't wear your ring anywhere you might lose it. Wedding and event planner Karen Brown says: "Typically, your jeweler will give you instructions on how to care for your particular engagement ring. Some jewelers may even offer or include lifetime cleaning services. Aside from regular cleanings, try to take precautions to protect your ring. For instance, avoid wearing your ring to places like the pool or the beach, where it could be lost or damaged."
2
Take it to a jeweler once a year. Bringing your ring to the jeweler once a year is recommended so that a professional can determine if your ring is in good condition. Usually, the jeweler will check the prongs to make sure that your stone isn’t close to falling out. If you don’t want to take your ring to a jeweler just yet, take a look at the prongs yourself.^{[5]
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- To check the prongs yourself, make sure that one of the prongs isn’t shorter than the others. Then, shake the ring while holding it up to your ear to check that nothing rattles.
3
Take it off before intense exercise. Intense exercise could mean tennis, bicycling, lifting weights, etc. The stone could pop out with a lot of fast movement. Also, using equipment, like weights or ropes, while wearing the ring could dent and scratch it.^{[6]
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- You should also avoid wearing your ring at work if you handle heavy machinery.
4
Avoid applying lotion and perfume when you wear your ring. We all want to smell great, but smelling like a fresh rose isn’t worth damaging your beautiful ring. The oils, chemicals, and alcohols in these products can damage your ring after a while. The gem could become clouded, and the metal could become dull. It’s okay to wear lotion and perfume, but make sure it doesn’t come near your ring.^{[7]
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5
Think carefully before resizing. At some point, you may feel the need to resize your ring. It could feel too loose or too tight for a number of reasons, like pregnancy, a change in weight, and temperature. Think of all the reasons that could have caused this, and consider if these changes are temporary before going to the jeweler. If the ring stays too loose after a long time, then it is a good idea to take it in.^{[8]
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- Getting your ring sized in the afternoon or after exercise to accommodate swelling is ideal.
- It’s recommended to get your ring one size up from what you need if you live in a tropical environment.
- Leaving the ring loose for too long can cause excess wear on the stone.

Method 3

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Keeping Your Ring Safe

1
Have your ring insured. A lost, stolen, or damaged ring is a nightmare, but that doesn’t mean it’s a problem that can’t be solved. Your partner may have already gotten insurance. If not, this is an important first step after receiving your ring. Many companies will allow you to add the insurance for the ring to your homeowners or renters insurance.^{[9]
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2
Put your ring in a designated spot. You might never want to take off your ring, but the time will probably come when you have to. Designate a place to store your ring safely. This will take the stress away from frantically trying to remember where you put it last. Keep a ring box in your bedroom, and a ring dish in the kitchen.^{[10]
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- Make sure the ring dish is kept far away from the drain.
3
Leave your ring at home when you travel. This isn’t necessary, but it can be a good idea when leaving for a trip where you will be moving around a lot. Moving from place to place, especially when going to the beach, may result in a lost ring in the whirlwind of the fun (or business). Consider going without a ring or wearing an inexpensive ring during the trip.^{[11]
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- The ring can also be damaged when lifting bags or using bags that roll.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I hide my engagement from my friends? I have been recently engaged, and my husband-to-be has hidden his engagement from people other than family. (Both of the families know about it.)

Community Answer

Take of the engagement ring, if there is one. If you don't say anything about it, it's unlikely anybody will ask.

Warnings

You should avoid wearing the ring when using cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals.^{[14]
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Avoid wearing your ring while gardening. The loose stones, dirt, and branches can put a dent or take a chip out of your ring.^{[15]
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