A diamond on your ring finger is a tradition that many of us are more than familiar with.
Typically, a ring on the fourth finger of your left hand indicates that you're either engaged or married.
The fact that we call the finger between our index and pinky a ring finger is a testament to how engrained the idea is in our society.
Even the Marilyn Monroe anthem, "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," is a reflection of the widely accepted idea that rings are supposed to be gifted to women by the respective men in their lives.
When said diamond is received, a woman is expected to slide it onto her left hand, telling the whole world that she is off the market.
Engagement ring trends may have changed over the years, but one thing that hasn't is their place on the left ring finger.
But every now and then, you spot a woman wearing a ring on the fourth finger of her right hand.
What's the difference? Lots of famous actresses of old Hollywood knew the answer, but the symbolism might surprise you.
Elizabeth Taylor was one of the most famous jewelry connoisseurs in the world.
She was known for her extravagant earrings and matching jewelry sets, often purchased from Bulgari.
Perhaps best of all, she was known for her enormous diamond ring, the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. She wore it on her left hand, and a much smaller diamond that adorned her right.
So why did she wear the right-hand ring?
Liz was hardly alone in her love of right-hand rings.
The baubles have a long history, and adorned the fingers of many famous women. Bette Davis and Natalie Wood were both fans of the style, and often appeared with rings on their right hands.
The style has become more and more popular over the past century, and it's not because men have started buying more diamonds.
A ring on the right hand has come to represent a personal victory for a woman, or to simply celebrate her independence or femininity.
Jewelry Editor explains, "The right hand is often reserved for fun, flamboyant jewels."
The truth is, there aren't any set rules when it comes to a right-hand ring. And that's the beauty of it: a chance for women to express themselves and their style.
The New York Times Magazine speaks of a 2003 marketing campaign by the Diamond Information Center that goes, "Your left hand says we. Your right hand says me."
But this isn't the first time that this idea was conceived.
In the 1920s, a marketing campaign was launched to encourage independent women to purchase their own diamond rings, and to wear them proudly on their right ring finger, according to The Jewelry Editor.
This campaign was a symbol of women's changing place in society at the time, as well as flapper culture.
Women no longer had to wear corsets, and could wear whatever jewelry they wanted for the first time. They celebrated their independence with pride.
The tradition's roots in the 1920s is also part of the reason that right-hand rings are so often called "cocktail rings."
Not so surprisingly, the sassy ladies who originally popularized the style enjoyed a cocktail or two during the Prohibition era.
Of course, right-hand rings have only increased in popularity since the 1920s.
While diamonds are still a girl's best friend, more and more women wear only a right-hand ring, or add a right-hand bauble to match their engagement rings.
That's because so many modern women have their own careers and disposable income, and can afford to treat themselves for exciting life events, like a major birthday or a big promotion!
Elizabeth Taylor wore a right-hand ring to make room for a bigger, better left-hand ring.
She famously moved Richard Burton's engagement ring on her right hand, to make room for the much larger diamond on her left, an exquisite gem known to this day as the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond.
Elizabeth was married eight times (twice to Burton), so her choice seems to reflect that no matter who she happened to be married to, she was always true to herself first.
So, the next time you see a woman wearing a right-hand ring, compliment her style and impress her with your knowledge!
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