Which Hand Does an Engagement Ring Go On?
In the US, Canada and the UK, an engagement ring goes on the fourth finger of the left hand, the one known as the ring finger. On the wedding day the wedding band joins it on the same finger. Customs differ around the world, though, and many people wear their rings another way. Here is where the tradition came from, where the right hand is the custom and how to wear an engagement ring and wedding band together.
Why the left ring finger
The custom goes back to ancient Rome, where people believed a vein ran from the fourth finger of the left hand straight to the heart. They called it the vena amoris, the vein of love. Anatomy has since disproved it, since the veins of every finger lead back to the heart, but the tradition stayed and spread across Europe and North America.
Where the right hand is the custom
According to GIA, it is common to wear wedding rings on the right hand in Russia, Germany, Poland, Greece and India. In Germany, for example, many people wear the engagement ring on the left hand and move it to the right at the wedding. In some Jewish wedding ceremonies the ring is placed on the right index finger, and it may be moved afterward.
If your partner's family follows one of these customs, find out before you propose. The hand matters for the ring size as well as for tradition.
On the wedding day
Shown: Catalina Round Moissanite Baguette Bridal Set
Many people move the engagement ring to the right hand for the ceremony, so the wedding band can go onto the bare left ring finger. Afterward, the engagement ring goes back on the left hand, above the band. Others leave the engagement ring off for the ceremony.
Which ring goes on first
By tradition, the wedding band sits closest to the hand, so it is nearest the heart, and the engagement ring goes on above it. An eternity or anniversary ring added later goes on the outside, toward the fingertip.
Shown: Corinne Marquise Moissanite Solitaire Bridal Set
The two rings should sit comfortably side by side. A low setting, a halo or a three stone ring often needs a curved band to sit flush. A bridal set solves this, with a band made to fit its engagement ring. Our wedding band guide explains how to match a band to the ring you have.
Wearing them your own way
There is no wrong hand. Some people wear the engagement ring on the right hand and the wedding band on the left, so each ring is seen on its own. Others take the engagement ring off for work or sports and wear only the band. Whatever you choose, take your rings off for sports, the gym and heavy work.
Size the finger it will be worn on
Fingers on the same hand differ in size, and the dominant hand is often slightly larger. Measure the finger the ring will actually be worn on, and if the engagement ring will move hands after the wedding, size it for the hand it will spend the most time on. Our ring size guide shows how to measure at home, and our guide to finding a ring size without asking covers a surprise proposal. Our women's rings come in US sizes 5 to 9, and size exchanges are free within 60 days of delivery.
Common questions
Which hand does an engagement ring go on?
In the US, Canada and the UK, the left hand, on the fourth finger. In Russia, Germany, Poland, Greece and India it is common to wear wedding rings on the right hand instead.
Which finger is the ring finger?
The fourth finger, counting the thumb as the first: the finger between the middle finger and the little finger.
Does the wedding band go above or below the engagement ring?
Below. By tradition the wedding band sits closest to the hand and the engagement ring goes on above it. Many people move the engagement ring to the right hand during the ceremony, then put it back on top.
Can you wear an engagement ring on the right hand?
Yes. It is the custom in several countries, and many people choose it to keep the engagement ring and the wedding band on separate hands.
Browse our moissanite engagement rings and bridal sets.