Strange as it might seem the usage of a wedding ring by men was not common until recently. Whereas women have worn wedding rings for eons, men have not. The use of rings as symbolic of everlasting love enshrined in marriage can be traced back thousands of years. However, not so much for men.
It was, actually, during the second world war that the use of wedding rings by men became more common. (Remember that mens marriage rings and men’s wedding bands are interchangeable, both meaning the same thing.)
It became the custom for US soldiers going to war to publicise their marital status by the wearing of a man’s wedding ring. They were pleased to make public their commitment to their wife by the wearing of a public symbol that declared that commitment to all. Considering that this habit of wearing men’s wedding bands was reasonably new it had been even more creditable that these men were ready to forego the marital obscurity available to them from not wearing a ring and actively thought we would make a public statement about their choice.
Men’s wedding rings have grown to be increasingly more common since that time. Today it is probably as common for a newly married man to wear a ring as not. This can be due to several factors. The present day man may consider it his duty to select to make the same public marital statement as his wife will. And his wife may well consider it a condition of the marriage that he do so. In the end, in these days of equality, if she is prepared to create a statement then should he not do so as well?
Despite the fact that the wearing of a ring by a woman is a matter of choice, it really is in fact almost obligatory because of the fact that it is so common. Many women do not even consider the chance for not wearing one. Often, however, a man usually considers the wearing of a guy wedding ring meticulously.
There are a number of issues to consider. Firstly, is he worried about a public display of his marital status? Some men, whether rightly or wrongly, are threatened by this. Others are not in the least concerned.
Secondly as the wearing of jewellery by women is so common as to go unremarked that’s not necessarily the case for men. For many men the wearing of mens wedding bands is a case of being asked to wear jewellery. Men often do not feel safe wearing jewellery and in many cases have never done so before. Whilst some men see their strap as dissimilar to wearing ordinary jewellery, others feel likewise as if they were being asked to wear ear rings. “It’s just not done by men”. The writer, for example, wears a man wedding band, but would never consider wearing any form of jewellery.
And as many men haven’t worn any type of jewellery before they have no idea what it’ll feel like to have something permanently on the finger. Could it be heavy? Does it rub? Silly as it may seem to women this could be of concern for some men.
(If this genuinely is of concern it is quite possible to locate a cheap jewellery shop, choose the cheapest ring available and use it for a while. See exactly what it feels like. And find out your size simultaneously.)
Men’s marriage rings are, in the eyes of some men, effeminate. “Real men” don’t wear rings or jewellery at all. This is becoming less of an issue as the wearing of a man’s wedding ring becomes more prevalent, but is still a concern with many men.
Culture is also considered. In lots of cultures the wearing of wedding rings by men could not be looked at. Men must think about how their particular culture, and in addition their religion, would view the wearing of a wedding band.
Additionally, there are Tungsten Rings . A lot of men are engaged in trades where in fact the wearing of a guy wedding band will be downright dangerous. Although unlikely it is quite easy for a ring to obtain caught in machinery. In a few jobs a ring cannot be worn on the job, and should be removed. This may also connect with women.
Ultimately though, the wearing of a men’s ring is merely one of the many choices the man will need to make once he makes the commitment to marry. In fact it is often a choice created by the couple together, maybe among the first they make in conjunction about their wedding.
Which finger is the ring worn on, and just why?
Generally a man’s wedding band is worn on the ring finger, the same as for women. The ring finger, for those unmarried men unfamiliar with the concept, is the fourth finger of the left hand. This is regarded as the finger closest to the heart.
This idea came originally from the ancient Greeks who believed that this finger had an artery which flowed straight to the heart. Whilst anatomically incorrect this produces good fable.
So you have both decided that he will wear a men’s wedding ring!
After the man or couple have made the decision to purchase a men’s wedding ring for him you may still find choices to make. Do they want to wear a matching set? Or does he prefer that his ring looks quite dissimilar to his wife’s. It is perfectly possible for a couple of to buy a ring set where the style of the rings match perfectly, and even with matching engraved messages of love.
Generally though, even where in fact the couple are to wear a matching ring set, both rings are different. It is more common for the man’s wedding band to be wider compared to the woman’s. This is due to men’s hands and women’s hands are different. A woman usually has narrower finer fingers, therefore a narrower band suits her hand. A man however has wider chunkier fingers and so a wider man wedding band is more suited.
This often results in the mans ring costing more than the woman’s ring even with matching styles, as the mans ring uses more, often expensive, material.
There are various innovative styles currently available. Many men prefer a simple unadorned band, however others enjoy highly decorated styles which make a loud statement. The wearing of, for instance, very wide and highly adorned Celtic rings is becoming much more common.
When considering the styles of men’s wedding rings it really is well worth thinking about the personality of the average person. While different men have very different personalities different rings will suit different personalities as well. A loud outgoing man, for instance, can wear a loud outgoing unique men’s ring.
There are many different ring materials which also reflect the personality of the average person. Titanium or Platinum are both becoming much more popular. Whilst diamonds aren’t, of course, as favored by men as with women, they do make a clear statement which pleases some men who choose them. Diamond men’s rings clearly say “I could afford it” or at the very least the big ones do. But it could be a brave man who chooses to wear a big diamond band.
Ultimately there are no rules about selecting a man wedding band. It really is up to either the man or the couple together to generate a decision. Will he or won’t he. There are a variety of considerations. First, will he wear one? Once that decision is made in the affirmative then you will find a whole world of choice about styles, widths, materials and the type of statement the ring makes, both for the person and the woman.
But once he’s got his ring onto it is rare he decides that he doesn’t like it. And also if he doesn’t, it is rare that the woman will let him remove it!