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Nomenclature of Jewelry Part 3: Rings
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In this third installment of The Nomenclature of Jewelry
series, we explore rings, including the parts of a ring and
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the various types. Rings are worn by both men and women
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of all ages. While some rings are symbolic of something,
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such as wedding and engagement rings, other rings are
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purely ornamental and selected because the wearer found
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the design appealing. Most rings are made from precious
metals, including silver, gold, and platinum, although you
can also find novelty and costume rings made of nickel,
stainless steel, and other less expensive metals. Ring
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designs run the gamut from simple to ornate, so there is a
style for every taste. Some rings are comprised of metal
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only, such as a simple gold wedding band, while others
Synthetic
feature gemstones or other decorations. Historically
definitions-class
speaking, rings were worn on your ring finger, which is the
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finger adjacent to your pinky, though today, you see people
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wear rings on every finger, including the thumb.
Mini-Quiz.
hallo from
The basic component of a ring is the shank, which is the
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part that wraps around the finger. Ring shanks come in Ruby
many styles, sizes, and shapes. Some have stones added, Inclusions
while others are made solely of metal. April 15
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Mini-Quiz

Examples of unadorned gold rings. Scholarships

IGS seeks to
Ring Types encourage the
advancement of
While there are a plethora of ring types available today, students pursuing a
there are a handful that are the most common. These are higher education.
the rings you are likely to encounter on a regular basis. Learn more about the
Knowing these terms can help you picture a ring when 2015 Clark
reading a description or identify a ring if there is no Scholarship.
accompanying description.

Solitaire
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A solitaire ring features a single large stone, which is either
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prong or bezel mounted. Most solitaire rings are rather
simple in design, although you can find solitaire rings with
ornate bands and designs. A diamond solitaire ring is often email address
used as an engagement ring and, as such, is the most
common type of solitaire. You can also find solitaire rings Subscribe
with other gemstones, including sapphires, emeralds, and
tanzanite.

Cocktail Ring

Whereas a solitaire features a single stone without any

smaller stones, a cocktail ring features a larger stone
surrounded by smaller stones. The smaller stones may
form a halo around the larger stone or they may be
grouped on either side of the band. Cocktail rings can be
made of precious metals and real gemstones, or they may
be made of less expensive metals and crystals or fake
stone, as is common in costume jewelry.

Pinky Ring

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As the name suggests, a pinky ring is worn on the pinky.

These rings are popular with men and women because of
their versatility, although the designs for each gender differ
significantly. Men’s pinky rings typically feature more metal
and if they have gemstones, the stones are usually
smaller. Women’s pinky rings may resemble rings worn on
other fingers, though on a smaller scale, or they may be all
metal rings with an attractive design.

Class Rings

Popular among high school and college graduates, class

rings are worn to commemorate graduating from either
high school or college. Class rings feature a stone in the
center, often with the name of the high school, college, or
university around the stone, and designs engraved on
either side. These designs may include the year of
graduation and the major or other interests. Class rings
can be made of gold, silver, or cheaper metal and may
contain real or simulated gemstones based on the wearer’s
preferences.

Ring Enhancer

A ring enhancer is a ring with a gap in the middle in which

you place another ring. Commonly used as wedding rings,
ring enhancers protect and enhance another ring. These
are popular as wedding rings because they wrap around a
diamond solitaire, which is often given as an engagement
ring. When the ring enhancer is slid into place at the
wedding, the wedding band set is complete and the bride
can wear both her engagement and wedding rings on a
daily basis.

Ring Guards

For people with arthritic knuckles, there are ring guards.

These guards are not part of the actual ring, rather they
are purchased separately and fitted inside the ring. The
spring mechanism in the ring guard opens to allow the ring
to pass over the enlarged knuckle and then tightens to fit
securely around the base of the finger to hold the ring in
place.

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A ring guard makes it easier

for individuals with arthritis to
wear rings.

Click here to go to The Nomenclature of Jewelry Part 4:

Earrings

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