Rings have been around for millennia, with the custom of giving and receiving them said to date back to about 4,800 years. The materials used are vast and include metal, glass, plastic, bone, wood and gemstones. Designs are prolific with rings nowadays not only being worn by the rich, but also by those who are not.

While they can be worn on any finger or other parts of the body like the neck, arms and toes, wedding rings are typically worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. This is attributed to the belief that the said finger is connected by a vein directly to the heart – the vein of love.

Of the many types of finger rings, some of the more popular ones are solitaires, trinity, cluster, eternity and tension rings ( In Danish ringe ). There are some also inspired by movies like those worn in the hit Hollywood franchise ‘The Lord of the Rings’, giving fillip to this ancient form of jewellery.

Wedding rings (In Danish Vielsesringe) have their origin in Europe and were at first only worn by wives. Signifying fealty, love and commitment, they later came to be worn by men too. Though gold is the preferred metal, there are those who also use silver and platinum.

It is interesting to note that in Irish folklore, it was thought to be bad luck and even illegal to be married with a ring made of anything but gold. Other superstitions are that if the ring is not a perfect fit, the future of the marriage may be jeopardized. In some cultures like in parts of India, Hindu married women wear a toe ring or an iron bangle.

Arm rings, armlets or arm bands, meanwhile, are bands of metal worn on the arm, usually made of precious metal. Though mostly worn by men, they are now worn by both sexes, mainly as fashion accessories.

Neck rings, on the other hand, are typically worn by Kayan women to elongate the neck. They are also worn by some African and other Asian tribes.

More and more people are sporting rings as the materials used range from expensive to downright cheap. They have remained and will continue to remain one of the most popular forms of jewellery. Be it as a status symbol, fashion, identity or ethnicity, their popularity shows no signs of diminishing.