by Jesús Zabala - 6 min read
What Does It Mean When a Man Wears a Ring on Necklace?
Men have been wearing jewelry for centuries, way before women started wearing it. But due to many constraints in the past, men have been ashamed of wearing visible jewelry, except for family heritage rings.
Nowadays, rings and necklaces have become staple accessories for many men. Men have even taken a step further; they made wearing a ring on a necklace a trend. So what does it mean when a man wears a ring on a necklace?
We took the wearing of the ring on a necklace to a different level. We tried unveiling any mystery behind it and discovered a few things. One, the ring type is completely unimportant; two, many interpretations exist of why men wear the ring on the necklace.
Let’s dive into it!
What Does it Mean When a Man Wears a Ring on a Necklace?
From unique men's silver rings to a stack of a couple of gold-plated rings, men have worn all kinds of rings. However, we’ve noticed, time and time again, men lose their rings. Usually, it’s because of work reasons or they’ve simply left the rings somewhere and forgotten because they’re not accustomed to wearing them.
So to prevent the rings from getting lost, men have turned to wearing them as a necklace. But after our research, we discovered there’s much more to wearing a ring on a necklace than losing it.
Memorabilia
Wearing a ring as a necklace truly has only one symbolic meaning. Men usually wear rings as a necklace for practical reasons, but that’s not always the case. When a man wears a ring on a necklace, he’s honoring the memory of a deceased person they loved and cared for.
We’ve concluded that most of the time, the ring belongs to a parent, sibling, or grandparent. Although some men wear the ring of a spouse that has passed away, men tend to avoid it as it is seen as shameful and inappropriate by society.
Protecting a ring from damage
The ring could easily get damaged if a man works a physical job. Turning the ring into a necklace might be the best solution to the problem. The ring could get scraped or stained, or if it has many protruding details, it could get damaged and fall off if kept on the hand.
Additionally, the more a ring is worn, the faster it tarnishes. It could also stain fingers if not cared for properly. As the ring mixes with the sweat and water, it loses its color and oxidizes. Almost all materials, no matter the quality, start to tarnish over time. So, as we said, you need to take care and store it properly.
Protecting themselves and others from injury
If a man were to choose to wear a ring on a necklace, we imagine it might be because they do manual work day-to-day and find it impractical to wear the ring on their finger. The ring could do more harm than good in the workplace, leading to injury or ring damage.
Also, a ring getting caught on something in being pulled off aggressively is called ring avulsion. We imagine everyone fears the excruciating pain that a ring avulsion would cause. Therefore, wearing the ring on a necklace is safer to avoid abrasions and possible amputations.
Some men, however, might be allergic to metals and aren’t able to wear jewelry. This way, the ring could be worn over the shirt without touching the skin.
Moreover, men who work with patients, such as doctors, nurses, and dentists, are required to remove their jewelry from their hands as it can fall off and cause an even bigger problem. Plus, rings tend to rip latex gloves. In such instances, men wear rings that are dear to them in a necklace so they can have it on them at all times but tucked away in a shirt to avoid it getting in the way of work.
Personal style
We wear accessories to highlight certain features, to make an outfit flashier, or to make us look more put together. Some men like to accessorize more, so they would wear both necklaces and rings. Some men prefer the more subtle toned-down look and would wear only a couple of pieces.
For those men who want to be more expressive, they can let the ring dangle around their neck, which highlights their neck, shoulders, and chest. Others, however, can wear a simple ring on a necklace so that the jewelry piece is not so much ‘in your face.’ Also, they could tuck the ring into their shirt.
Another thing to consider is that some men might have never worn rings up until a specific moment in life. It might feel unnatural and uncomfortable to wear a ring on the fingers. So, they prefer wearing it as a necklace, which is totally chic.
To hide a marriage
We understand this interpretation is controversial. But we’ve come across personal experience stories where men insist on wearing their wedding band as a necklace so they can pass it off as random jewelry.
However, hiding the marriage doesn’t refer just to cheating. Rather, some men might have to hide their marriage from their bosses. Some employers look for people that pursue a ‘no strings attached’ type relationship so that their employee is flexible.
Meaning Behind a Man Wearing More Than One Ring on a Necklace
Two rings
We’re big fans of the meaning of two rings on a necklace. They represent the indestructible tie between two individuals. The rings could represent any relationship, between a parent and child, between lovers, or between friends. These rings usually are engraved with meaningful initials or dates.
Three rings
The meaning behind why a man wears three rings on a necklace has to do with religion, Christianity, to be exact. Each ring signifies one element of the Holy Trinity: the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Also, a necklace with three rings is referred to as the Trinity Ring.
We've discovered that men wearing a necklace with three rings is thought to have originated in the 19th century as an Orthodox Christian practice. However, these claims aren’t truly proven to be factual or not.
For those who wish to wear the three rings, there’s an easier way to achieve the look than buying three separate rings and stacking them up. We recommend searching for the Russian Three Rings. This ring contains three small bands attached to make the wearing of the rings more practical. Also, the ring looks very stylish.
Seven rings
When we first came to the information that seven-ring necklaces are often worn, we were caught by surprise. It’s difficult enough to know what does it mean when a man wears a ring on a necklace due to many interpretations, let alone when there are seven rings on the necklace chain.
If a man wears a necklace with seven sterling silver rings, the rings represent all the elements that comprise happiness. Those seven elements are peace, love, longevity, material riches, health, friends, and optimism.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when a man wears a ring on a necklace, it carries personal meaning and significance. It can symbolize a special connection, serve as a reminder of a cherished memory, or represent a commitment.
This unique style choice allows men to express their individuality and create a captivating statement. The ring on a necklace becomes a personal talisman, evoking emotions and showcasing personal values. Ultimately, it is a powerful form of self-expression that adds intrigue and sparks conversations, making it a meaningful and distinctive accessory for men.
Jesús is the founder and designer of JewelryLab. He is the Head of Design and also oversees production, quality control, and precious metal sourcing.
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