Here is our top guide on the types of rings you should be aware of before buying one in 2023. Read through the entire article to learn about the top ones.
Rings are one of the oldest pieces of jewelry that date back to more than 5,000 years. During those times Egyptians used to exchange the rings that were made using leather to express their love and devotion towards one another. It has a tradition that has carried on for thousands of years. Even today rings are considered to be a symbol of love and commitment.
However, in recent years they are more commonly used as a piece of jewelry or accessory that completes a look or an outfit. There are different types of rings out there that are designed for different purposes and occasions. Some rings are used for wedding and engagement purposes while other types of rings are specifically designed as party-wear and are used to complement certain wardrobes.
Another important fact about rings is that initially they were considered something to be only worn by women. However, nowadays there are various types of rings out there that are specially designed and worn by men. Similar to their female counterparts, these types of rings are specifically designed and are worn on various occasions ranging from special occasions all the way to casual parties.
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Types of Rings
In the olden times, there was little choice when it came to rings and these choices were limited to the material used in these rings. However, in today’s world, there are hundreds of types of rings worn by people all over the world. Some of these rings are fairly common while others are obscure and unique. If you are not someone who is an expert when it comes to rings it might be easy to get confused by all the different types of rings that are available in the market today.
Luckily for you, below we have compiled a list of the 25 most popular rings that everybody should know about. We have also discussed the purposes that these rings are commonly used for which will also help you in making the right decision when buying a ring below;
1. Wedding Ring
As the name suggests, this type of ring is used for wedding ceremonies to finalize the bond between the husband and wife. Traditionally, this type of ring was given to the woman by the man. However, nowadays the rings are exchanged by both parties. This is one the most common and oldest types of rings that exist in the world and are in both the lists of 11 types of rings for women and the 10 types of rings for men.
As it is a pretty simple type of ring, people all over the world use bands that are simple, round, made using solid metal. This metal can be anything from platinum all the way to gold. In fact, the wedding ring is also in the top 10 types of golden rings that are sold in the market today.
2. Anniversary Band
3. Antique Ring
Different people use different definitions to classify these types of rings. However, according to different ring experts, any ring that is at least 100 years old can be classified as an antique ring. Antique rings that are normally sold in the market can be from any period ranging from the late 1300s all the way to the early 1900s.
These rings are usually more expensive than newer rings and the most expensive antique ring in history was sold in 2011 for an estimated 80 million dollars. This type of ring is also commonly used in wedding proposals and is on the list of the 10 unique wedding rings all over the world.
4. Birthstone Ring
This type of ring has only become popular in recent times as they are worn all over the world by both men and women. These rings also make the list of the 11 types of rings for women and the 10 types of rings for men respectively. The birthstone rings are constructed using a metal band that holds a unique stone that matches the wearer’s birth month.
These types of rings became very popular in recent times as they can be worn on different occasions. They also have the added bonus that they are a personalized piece of jewelry that acts as a reminder of your family or loved ones. There are twelve different stones that can be placed in these rings with one stone for every month.
5. Claddagh Ring
This is a type of ring that has a long history behind it. This type of ring was initially worn in Ireland where it was used as an engagement ring. The word ‘Claddagh’ means friendship, love, and loyalty.
Rings of this type are also engraved with a heart that represents love, two hands that represent friendship, and a crown that symbolizes loyalty. Nowadays, these rings are used all over Europe and are one of the 10 unique wedding rings that are used all over the globe.
6. Cluster Ring
This is one of the most popular types of rings that are worn by women all over the world. A cluster ring normally comprises a primary stone in the middle that is surrounded by a cluster of other smaller stones with bright colors. Normally emeralds, rubies, and diamonds are used in these types of rings.
The band is normally made of gold which puts this ring in the list of the 10 types of golden rings that are worn around the world.
7. Cocktail Ring
These rings became popular in the 1920s as a symbol of wealth as they were worn by women belonging to rich and powerful families. These were not everyday rings. They were specifically designed to be worn at different functions and parties were a normal occurrence in that era.
These types of rings regained their popularity in the last decade where they are used as props in various fashion shows and movies in different parts of the world.
8. Halo Ring
A halo ring is a lot similar to a cluster ring with one key difference. This type of ring also has a large stone in the center that is surrounded by smaller stones. The main difference between a cluster and a halo ring is that in a halo ring the surrounding stones are of a different material than the center stone.
These rings are more commonly used as wedding or engagement rings today and they are also on the list of the 10 unique wedding rings that are commonly used in multiple countries.
9. Estate Ring
An estate ring is like any other type of ring with the only major difference being that it has been owned and worn by someone before. It does not matter if someone owned the ring for 2 days or 20 years, it will be classified as an estate ring.
Some people think that the estate ring and antique ring are the same but there is a key difference that separates both types of rings. If a pre-owned ring is older than 30 years then it is an antique otherwise it is an estate ring.
10. Eternity Band
An eternity band is in the 10 unique wedding rings that are worn all over the world. Some people mistake a traditional wedding ring for an eternity band but that is not the case. An eternity band has stones all around it while a traditional wedding ring is only decorated halfway.
These types of rings are more expensive than traditional wedding rings and because of that, they are relatively unique.
11. Flexible Ring
Unlike traditional rings, this type of ring is not made using solid metals. These rings are normally constructed using a flat and intertwined link that you can move around freely across your finger. These types of rings are usually designed for people that have medical conditions which make it difficult for them to wear traditional rings as they put no pressure on the fingers.
12. Gimmel Ring
A gimmel ring is one of the most obscure types of rings on our list. This is a ring that is made up of 2 or 3 hooks that are linked together. These rings were more popular in the early 1500s where they were used as wedding rings and are in the 10 unique wedding rings that are worn today.
During those times, one hook was given to each person until the wedding where they would replace these hooks with actual rings.
13. Nugget Ring
These types of rings are normally worn by men and they make the list of the 10 types of rings for men all over the world. These rings are normally made using a gold band that has a rough or rocky texture on the front. Most of these rings have a simple and elegant design however you can get them customized according to your needs.
14. Mood Ring
A mood ring is thought to display the current mood of the wearer. Although this is not true, their design makes them an attractive purchase for both men and women. These types of rings have a special type of liquid crystal that changes color based on your finger temperature. These rings normally use an iron band which can be customized.
15. Posy Ring
A ring is a simple band that is made using gold. These are one of the 10 types of golden rings that are commonly used in the world today. These rings became popular in the 1600s where they were used as wedding rings to solidify the bond between a wife and husband.
16. Puzzle Ring
This is a multi-purpose that serves both as a piece of jewelry and a brainteaser. These types of rings are usually constructed using multiple interlocking bands. These can be taken apart and reassembled if manipulated in a specific pattern. These rings have a varying number of bands ranging from two to six based on your preference.
Semi-Mount Types of Rings
This type of ring is rather unique in terms of design. A semi-mount ring is constructed with small stones. A place is purposefully left out for the feature stone. This allows you to select a center stone and customize your ring in whatever way you want.
17. Signet Ring
These types of rings became popular in the early 1300s where they were used as a form of signature. They had a symbol or a name engraved on them which was stamped on using wax. Nowadays, these rings are particularly popular among men because of their unique style and level of detail.
18. Spinner Ring
As the name suggests, this type of ring is made using two bands. This is done in a way that one band is locked and placed on your finger. The other band is layered on top of the first band and can freely spin around your finger. These rings are normally used by people who suffer from anxiety as they allow them to reduce their anxiety.
19. Stack Ring
These types of rings are fairly new and have become popular in the last five years. These rings are available in a large variety of designs. They are constructed in a way that allows you to put multiple rings on a single finger. These rings also provide you the benefit of mixing and matching. You can rotate between different rings depending on your mood or wardrobe.
20. Vintage Ring
A vintage ring is a lot similar to an antique ring. The key difference is the year in which they were made. Vintage rings are normally classified as rings that became popular after the 1920s. They are comparable to rings used in Hollywood movies and the rings worn by different celebrities.
21. Engagement Ring
This type of ring is commonly used to profess your love for someone. These rings show that the wearer is engaged to be married and are traditionally worn on the left ring finger. Engagement rings come in different shapes and sizes with some of the most common ones being;
22. Classic Solitaire
This is a type of engagement ring that is constructed using a single metal band. And it has a single central stone.
23. Side Stone
This is a type of ring that has a central stone surrounded by smaller side stones. These are spread across the visible half of the band.
24. Three Stone
These types of rings are similar to the classic solitaire. The obvious difference is they have three identical stones instead of a single central stone.
25. Princess-Cut
This is the most popular type of engagement ring. It is made using a simple metal band that is decorated with stone. This stone however has been cut into a square shape. It has a pyramid profile which adds to its overall beauty.
26. Contemporary Ring
