Men?s Wedding Rings - Should a Man Wear One or Not?

Strange as it may seem the use 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 a symbol of everlasting love enshrined in marriage can be traced back thousands of years. But not so much for men.

It was, in fact, during the second world war that the use of wedding rings by men became more common. (Note that mens wedding 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 happy to make public their commitment to their wife by the wearing of a public symbol that declared that commitment to all. Given that this habit of wearing men's wedding bands was reasonably new it was all the more creditable that these men were willing to forego the marital obscurity available to them from not wearing a ring and actively chose to make a public statement about their choice.

Men's wedding rings have become increasingly more common since that time. Today it is probably as common for a newly married man to wear a ring as not. This may be due to several factors. The modern man may consider it his duty to choose 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. After all, in these days of equality, if she is prepared to make 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 is in fact almost obligatory due to the fact that it is so common. Many women do not even consider the possibility of not wearing one. Often, however, a man usually considers the wearing of a man wedding ring very carefully.

There are a number of issues to consider. Firstly, is he concerned 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 whilst the wearing of jewellery by women is so common as to go unremarked that is not necessarily the case for men. For many men the wearing of mens wedding bands is just a case of being asked to wear jewellery. Men often do not feel comfortable wearing jewellery and in many cases have never done so before. Whilst some men see their wedding band as different to wearing ordinary jewellery, others feel just the same as if they were being asked to wear ear rings. "It's just not done by men". The author, for example, wears a man wedding band, but would never consider wearing any other form of jewellery.

And as many men have never worn any form of jewellery before they have no idea what it will feel like to have something permanently on the finger. Is it heavy? Does it rub? Silly as it may seem to women this can be of concern to some men.

(If this genuinely is of concern it is quite possible to find a cheap jewellery shop, buy the cheapest ring available and wear it for a while. See exactly what it feels like. And find out your size at the same time.)

Men's wedding 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 common, but is still an issue with many men.

Culture is also a consideration. In many cultures the wearing of wedding rings by men would never be considered. Men must think about how their particular culture, and also their religion, would view the wearing of a wedding band.

There are also practical considerations. Many men are engaged in trades where the wearing of a man wedding band would be downright dangerous. Although unlikely it is quite possible for a ring to get caught in machinery. In some jobs a ring cannot be worn on the job, and must be removed. This can also apply to women.

Ultimately though, the wearing of a men's ring is just one of the many choices the man will have to make once he makes the commitment to marry. And it is often a choice made by the couple together, maybe one of the first they make in conjunction about their wedding.

Which finger is the ring worn on, and 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 not familiar with the concept, is the fourth finger of the left hand. This is considered to be the finger closest to the heart.

This notion came originally from the ancient Greeks who believed that this finger had an artery which flowed straight to the heart. Whilst anatomically incorrect this makes for good fable.

So you have both decided that he will wear a men's wedding ring! Once the man or couple have made the decision to purchase a men's wedding ring for him there are still choices to make. Do they want to wear a matching set? Or does he prefer that his ring looks quite different to his wife's. It is perfectly possible for a couple to buy a ring set where the style of the rings match perfectly, or even with matching engraved messages of love.

Generally though, even where the couple are to wear a matching ring set, the two rings are different. It is more common for the man's wedding ring to be wider than the woman's. This is because men's hands and women's hands are different. A woman usually has narrower finer fingers, and so a narrower band suits her hand. A man on the other hand 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 many innovative styles available now. Many men prefer a simple unadorned band, however others enjoy highly decorated styles which make a loud statement. The wearing of, for example, very wide and highly adorned Celtic rings is becoming much more common.

When considering the styles of men's wedding rings it is well worth thinking about the personality of the individual. While different men have very different personalities different rings will suit different personalities as well. A loud outgoing man, for example, can wear a loud outgoing unique men's ring.

There are many different ring materials which also reflect the personality of the individual. Titanium or Platinum are both becoming much more popular. Whilst diamonds are not, of course, as popular with men as with women, they do make a clear statement which pleases some men who choose them. Diamond men's rings clearly say "I can afford it" or at least the big ones do. But it can be a brave man who chooses to wear a large diamond band.

Ultimately there are no rules about choosing a man wedding band. It is up to either the man or the couple together to make 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 there is a whole world of choice about styles, widths, materials and the type of statement the ring makes, both for the man and the woman.

But once he has his ring on it is rare that he decides that he doesn't like it. And even if he doesn't, it is rare that the woman will let him take it off!

Find out more about Mens Wedding Rings as well as many other types of Mens Wedding Rings including Custom Men's Wedding Rings and Unique Mens Wedding Rings Platinum, Gold, Silver, Diamond, and inexpensive Mens Wedding Rings at Peter's website, Cool Mens Wedding Rings.

© 2005 Peter Crump

Related News

Brad Pitt On Today: Make It Right, Marriage, Adoption Fears (VIDEO) - Huffington Post ABC News Brad Pitt On Today: Make It Right, Marriage, Adoption Fears (VIDEO) Huffington Post, NY -Dec 2, 2008 ... and potential wedding plans with partner Angelina Jolie. "If we feel it's important to our kids, we would," he said of marriage, adding of his six kids, ... Brangelina Marriage Depends on the KidsTango How the Oscars race is shaping upTVNZ Brad opens up about marriageCroydon Advertiser all 656 news articles Marriage most common path to US citizenship, residency for foreign ... - WND.com WND.com Marriage most common path to US citizenship, residency for foreign ... WND.com, OR -15 hours ago I know brothers who entered the US with the scam of the wedding publications, claiming they were Egyptians and not revealing their true identity and they ... 6 Common Mistakes on Your Wedding Day - Best Syndication Best Syndication 6 Common Mistakes on Your Wedding Day Best Syndication, CA -2 hours ago The marriage license. There are many rules and regulations pertaining to a marriage license. These rules usually vary from state to state. ... A Career As an Event PlannerBest Syndication all 2 news articles Florida governor's bride-to-be chooses her gown for Dec. 12 wedding - Sun-Sentinel.com Florida governor's bride-to-be chooses her gown for Dec. 12 wedding Sun-Sentinel.com, FL -Dec 1, 2008 Hung's salon is also altering cream-colored, floor-length dresses purchased elsewhere for Rome's two preteen daughters from a previous marriage, ... Gays to Demonstrate at Fla. Gov. Crist’s MarriageEDGE Boston Gay rights group to protest at Crist's weddingWWSB ABC 7 Charlie Crist's fiancee to wear silk gown to the nuptialsABC Action News Palm Beach Post all 41 news articles Why Impact Florida will demonstrate outside of Governor Crist’s ... - Creative Loafing Tampa Why Impact Florida will demonstrate outside of Governor Crist’s ... Creative Loafing Tampa, FL -2 hours ago We are not opposing or trying to stop the wedding. (That would be pretty silly since Impact Florida is explicitly and enthusiastically pro-marriage. ... Julianne Hough to Hear Wedding Bells? - Great American Country Julianne Hough to Hear Wedding Bells? Great American Country, TN -2 hours ago 3, 2008 — If Julianne Hough ends up walking down the aisle, she might want to skip the traditional white wedding dress in favor of a paisley one. ... Heidi Montag's Mom Says Marriage To Spencer Pratt Will Last 'Six ... - MTV.com MTV.com Heidi Montag's Mom Says Marriage To Spencer Pratt Will Last 'Six ... MTV.com -1 hour ago 'It wouldn't surprise me if he had her drugged,' Darlene Egelhoff says of the 'Hills' stars' wedding. By Jocelyn Vena Heidi Montag's mom is not happy that ... Heidi and Spencer’s Marriage Doomed, Says MomThe Gossip Girls all 31 news articles The dearer the wedding, the poorer the marriage - Telegraph.co.uk The dearer the wedding, the poorer the marriage Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom -19 hours ago By Rowan Pelling It's no wonder the institution of marriage is in meltdown. The cost of the average wedding has doubled in a decade and now stands at just ... Wedding Videography: The Best Way to Share Your Love Stories Over Time - Best Syndication Best Syndication Wedding Videography: The Best Way to Share Your Love Stories Over Time Best Syndication, CA -1 hour ago It is a perfect way to show to your friends how love has kept your family together, may it be 25 or 50 years of marriage. This wedding videography is long ... California lawmakers decry gay wedding ban - United Press International California lawmakers decry gay wedding ban United Press International -2 hours ago Prop 8 would amend the state constitution to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples, ending a brief period in which it was legal for same-sex couples to ...