Wedding rings are considered sacred items that reflect the spiritual union of partnership which may or may not be connected on a divine level. “Spiritual,” in the case of marriage, can reflect the love between two committed individuals. Engagement rings and wedding bands communicate the reality of this loving bond before and after the proposal and wedding celebrations.
You should wear your engagement ring every time you’re in public if the values in your relationship dictate that it’s necessary to do so. Many people believe that forgetting to wear their rings shows a lack of investment in their partnership. However, others care less about symbolic representation.
The engagement may also be a ritual carried out for performance and communicative purposes. Many couples work together to execute the engagement to inform others of their intention to get married. Read on to learn more about when to wear (and not wear) your engagement ring, as these choices relate to symbolic and communicative intent.
When Should You Take Off Your Engagement Ring?
Engagement rings and wedding bands symbolize eternal love. Given that these rings hold significant value, people take care of them to ensure they hold up over time. To care for rings properly, there are certain times when not wearing them is a smart idea. For example, taking off one’s rings before swimming is common, as chlorine may damage the material.
Some other events or activities that warrant the removal of your engagement ring include the following:
- Before exercise and working out: Wearing your engagement ring during exercise may increase the likelihood of it falling off or getting damaged from knocking into equipment, accidental slips, and falls. Moreover, it can pose some risks of injury to your finger.
- Before heading to unfamiliar or dangerous places: If you lose your engagement ring in these places, you may not have great luck finding it. Some thieves may also recognize the value of your engagement ring, making you an ideal target.
- When using cleaning products: Using harsh chemical products may dull your engagement ring’s appearance over time. If your job also involves using chemicals, it’s best to take off your ring at work, as the chemicals can tarnish the ring material.
- Before sleeping: Wearing your engagement ring overnight may cause it to get stuck from natural swelling during sleep and subsequently cause you discomfort.
- When doing intensive, hands-on work, such as woodworking or landscaping: Hands-on activities increase the chances that your engagement ring may get damaged.
How Often Should You Wear an Engagement Ring?
Traditionally, the engagement ring is worn throughout the engagement and the marriage. It may be important to you to flaunt your ring, or you may wear it just for yourself and to affirm your own excitement and awareness of your engagement. For many couples, wearing engagement rings is motivated by both reasons.
Discuss your romantic, spiritual, and cultural values with your partner if you are still determining how often you should wear your engagement ring. Together, the two of you can decide what makes the most sense for your shared values regarding your engagement and eventual marriage.
Depending on your cultural and religious values, you may feel that following specific rituals over the wearing of your engagement ring is important. In these cases, stay true to your values and follow the practices that align with your culture and/or faith.
Other Reasons To Wear Your Engagement Ring
To Avoid Unwanted Attention
Some people feel that wearing their engagement ring is essential to avoid unwanted attention. Individuals who don’t want this attention may go as far as to purchase fake engagement rings to offset confrontations.
Likewise, engaged couples may also choose to wear their rings in public spaces to avoid this unwanted attention. Locations that people frequent, such as the bar or the gym, can be places where courtship is pursued.
As A Self-Expression of Going Against Marital Norms
Some people don’t want their jewelry and self-expression dictated by marital norms. Individuals with such values may choose to wear an engagement ring on a different finger (other than the fourth finger of their left hand) to make this known.
In other words, denouncing the marital influence of the ring placement is essential to individuals who don’t want to be defined through the lens of a marital construct.
To Establish Togetherness in Social Settings
You may also wish to wear your engagement ring in social settings such as:
- family gatherings
- formal and informal parties
- holiday events
- family photos and greeting cards
- anniversaries (especially your wedding anniversary)
Any social situation where you and your partner feel it is necessary to communicate your togetherness is an appropriate time to wear your engagement ring.
Work Influence on Wearing Engagement Rings
When Wearing Your Ring at Work Matters
In some corporate environments, marriage is a value that is displaced onto company employees. Business reputation may be intertwined with marriage, even to the extent that an employee going through a divorce may be valued less than an employee that is married or recently engaged.
It’s up for debate whether the entanglement of personal and work life is appropriate, but these dynamics do exist and influence one’s decision of when it is appropriate to wear their engagement ring.
When Not Wearing Your Ring at Work Matters
Workplace dynamics can also influence people’s decisions regarding when to wear their engagement ring. They may feel that protecting their position at work requires an intense effort to keep their personal life separate from the workplace.
Conversely, some feel that signifying their marital status at the workplace by wearing their engagement ring is problematic.
Tattooed Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands
For some couples, the permanence of the engagement ring and wedding band matters greatly. Getting tattooed engagement rings and wedding bands is one way to signify the permanence and unbreakable bond between two people in love.
Tattooed rings may take the place of traditional engagement rings and wedding bands or may be used in addition to traditional rings.
Depending on your values and your partner’s, tattooed rings may be worth considering, especially if you’re debating when to wear your engagement rings.
Final Thoughts
Deciding how often to wear an engagement ring is influenced by many factors. Ultimately, what you decide to do is up to you and your partner. A thorough discussion with your significant other may be the most effective approach to understanding when to wear your engagement rings according to your shared romantic, spiritual, and social values.
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